Several folks have mentioned burning kerosene in my Aladdin lamp because it is cheaper than lamp oil. I have never used kerosene for anything before. Are there different grades of it and what type of kerosene should I look for that would work with the lamp? Any brand names would be really helpful!

Thank you! Kathryn

-- Kathryn (ahimsa@premier1.net), January 26, 1999

Answers

k-1 kerosene is really the only kero Ive ever seen. it is available at many gas stations, usually you just pump it yourself, just like gasoline.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), January 26, 1999.

Before we went to solar, we used Allandin lamps and the other cheaper kerosene lamps. I believe lamp oil is kerosene with a little scented oil in it. Keresene is fine. From the gas station. Just keep the wicks trimmed, and don't leave the lamps burning unattended. Mary P.

-- Mary Phillips (blufrogg@garlic.com), January 26, 1999.

K-1 keosene is the purest. For Aladdin Lamps, you can burn oil or kerosene. The replacement wicks are expensive though. $8.00 each at a local hardware store. But what's the alternative? I'm calling American Wick located in Greer, SC tomorrow to see if they carry replacement wicks for Aladdin. I have a replacement for from them for my Kero-Sun heater (1/3 the price of Kero-Sun's), and on the package it has many different manufacturer's that they make replacement wicks for and Aladdin is one of them. I will post what I find out.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 26, 1999.

How long does a lamp run on a gallon of oil? Has anyone calculated this?

-- Jackee (not@this.time), January 26, 1999.

1. Under no circumstances use dyed kerosene in a lantern or unvented heater. The red dye is added to some kerosene for tax purposes (specifically, it is illegal to use dyed kero, a.k.a. diesel, in a vehicle, since it does not have road-use tax added), and will

A. clog up the wick, and

B. possibly make you ill from combustion by-products of the dye.

You must use grade K-1, water-white kerosene in lamps, lanterns and unvented heaters. It *is* available, but it does cost approximately 24 cents more than the dyed variety - thank the goonverment for this.

An Alladin mantle lamp will use, at full bore, about one gallon of kerosene for every 50 hours of use. Output is 3500 BTU's... more than enough to heat one well-insulated room in winter. In addition to light, you can cook on one... the heat escaping the chimney is over 400 degrees F. Inventive minds can design a sturdy, tall stand to hold a skillet for cooking. Don't have an inventive mind? Better cultivate one, or make close acquaintance with one soon... you'll need it to get through what's coming.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), January 26, 1999.

I just saw something called "Pearl Kerosene" at the store tonight next to the kerosene heaters. It was in a 5 gallon metal can. Is this the same as the K-1 that you can burn in the Aladdin lamps? The employees there didn't know if it was OK to burn in an Aladdin lamp.

Thanx!

-- Kathryn (ahimsa@premier1.net), January 27, 1999.

Kathryn:

If it's sold for use in wick-type, unvented kerosene space heaters, it'll be OK for the lamp. If the can's not sealed, ask them to open it and look inside (you'll need a flashlight). The kerosene, if it's K-1 water-white, will be as clear as water, maybe even hard to see in the can. Any trace of dirt, or even a slight yellowish tint, and it's no good. Same for the dye I mentioned above - if it's tinted pink or reddish, don't buy it. BTW, how much are they charging you for five gallons? K-1 at the pump runs about $1.24/gallon... probably cheaper for you to invest in a few 5 gallon blue kero jugs, and get the stuff at a service station that sells it.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), January 27, 1999.

Thanx for the help. They wanted $14.98 for a 5 gallon metal container. It was next to the wick type unvented kero heaters. Haven't seen it yet at the pumps (haven't really looked either - usually just fill up my truck when I am there) but I will look.

Thank again! Kathryn

-- Kathryn (ahimsa@premier1.net), January 27, 1999.

Can I use red kerosene in the petromax lamp?

-- Slick Willie's Willie (SlickWillie@WhiteHouse.gov), January 28, 1999.

Kathryn,

Ultra Pure Lamp Oil from Lamp Light Farms is often recommended for Aladdin lamps- especially for those who have allergies or may be sensitive to the smell of kerosene. Lehman's best Lamp Oil, however, is really wonderful. But I have yet to compare the two fuels against each other for fuel economy and brightness. Of course, K1 Kerosene is cheaper and if you are outdoors, it doesn't really matter how it smells. There's enough ventilation out there under the moon and stars.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), May 07, 1999.

This is excelant,, posting in the past :o)

red kerosene would just be dye like they use for gas in farm vehicles.

-- Brian (imager@ampsc.com), May 07, 1999.

In the fall of 1999 I called the chief toxicologist' office in Maine and asked about the red dye in commercially available K-i kero. Specificaally i asked whether it was ok for indoor use knowing that the heating season would son be upon us and that many people burn kerosene. There was a long pause and he said he would "get back to me". He never did but a month later signs went up in a local gas station rstrongly recommending that pink dued kerosene Not be used indoors for any purpose. I used some in a lamp last summer and it smelled terrible. Irving gas stations have water clear kerosene in 5 gallon pails that burns very nicely. $15.00 last fall.

-- Charlie (cstewart@ime.net), January 25, 2000.