Why is kerosene so expensive?

[Charolais]

Why is kerosene so expensive? Maybe the same reason unleaded gasoline is so expensive??? Now I'm no expert and can't say what the cost difference is in the refining, but 50 years ago when I was selling leaded gasoline for $.25 to $.29 a gallon, we also sold "white gas" (unleaded, in other words, and mostly for Coleman lanterns) and kerosene. Both the white gas and the kerosene were a dime a gallon.

I've seen some kerosene fuel bills from 1956 and it was 6 cent per gallon then. That's what we started using to cure tobacco then when we switched from wood. Oh they were the good old days. LOL LOL

 

[hockeyhead]

Outdoor wood boiler, that's overkill, those things have/cause to many problems. We use a wood insert in the kitchen/familyroom fireplace. The wife like it, tends to it 75% of the time, and she keeps it warm in there. I think it's some kind of old fashion hot stove in the kitchen thing. she make tea and soup on top of it. That room is at least 1/3 of our home, so it makes a big dent in our gas bills.

I'm thinking natural gas something like these; Garage heater that runs on natural gas and mounts to your inside wall
MHVFB30NGBT - 30,000 BTU Natural gas powered vent free blue flame heater

I know it is ventless, installation would be very easy as I have a gas line at the dryer just inside the wall shared with the garage.
the garage is drywalled and sealed pretty well except for the garage door which leaks as most garage doors do

 

[MadReferee]

The wholesale price of diesel and kero is just about the same regardless of the region you live in. There could be other factors involved like volume storage, trucking, etc. The retailers are selling it for what the market will pay. That, folks, is the american free enterprise way. At least you are free to buy elsewhere.

If you don't like the price then buy something else or somewhere else. It's about time everyone stopped whining and did something about those who insist on making a huge profit. Put your money whre your mouth is and buy elsewhere.

 

[Iowachild]

Hockeyhead,

I am curious. Are you buying the kerosene from a pump into your container or the prepackaged cans I have seen at places like TSC?
The price per gallon at the pump here is around $2.50.

 

[Mahana79]

i am with Iowachild on this. At the pumps it is around the $2.30 range but in the five gallon container at Lowe's it comes out to over $6/gallon.

 

[hockeyhead]

No, I'm buying it at the pump in my own blue container. I bought Sunday at a Marathon station 4 miles from my home. One station I used to buy from at the freeway because it's on the way home from work stopped selling kerosene, and changed that pump to diesel. The weekend befor I ran out on Sunday and was done. The 3 stations, within 10 miles including that Marathon all had " broken pumps" go figure. That Monday I bought at a station by work 30 miles away at 3.29 a gallon. It must be a local shortage and some gouging going on. I talked to some guys at work with similar lifestyles and they say the same thing. I'm still looking at a natural gas heater, I was told today that TSC sells them for a garage application.
That kerosene heater is on it's way to the pole barn.

 

[slowrev]

About $3.29 here at the pump in KY.

I burn offroad diesel in my torpedo heater.
It is not high sulfur, just no road tax.

 

[amigauser]

I agree that a vented propane heater is the way to go. They vent through the wall and are basically self contained.

eBay: RINNAI 1004FA DIRECT- VENT ROOM SPACE HEATER - NEW (item 200067122888 end time Mar-10-07 19:17:13 PST)

I plan on getting one when I have the $$ for my own garage.

Norm

 

[FritzII]

I just got a 275 gallon oil tank and an oil funace for free. ( I still need to pick up two 500 and one 275 gallon oil tank @ no charge ) I picked these up to heat my garage. I'm leaning towards #2 so I can run the tractors from it. I called the oil dealer and they told me K-1 kero is $2.30 gallon & #2 offroad diesel/heating oil is $1.98 gallon. It looks like the big difference must be in your area.

BTW. I don't think you want to go electric.

 

[Highbeam]

I have been trying to source cheap kerosene for a portable heater too. Buying by the 5 gallon pail at all the big box stores is more than 6$ per gallon for clear K1. Buying #1 kerosene dyed red at the pump of a larger fuel depot is 4.5$ per gallon. On road diesel at the pump is 2.65 per gallon. Off road red #2 diesel is almost always 40-50 cents cheaper than on road so just about 2.2 per gallon.

Best case in my region is kerosene is more than double the cost of #2 off road diesel.

If I do the math the 4.50 per gallon is equal to the cost of an electric space heater when comparing delivered BTUs and KWH price. It costs the same to use electricity except no handling, smell, and less danger. The kerosene is great when the power goes out though.