Ok gang, I need a diesel fuel expert. Is fuel oil that is used for home heating the same as diesel fuel for a dodge truck. Ya know #2 diesel. Any and all information is appreciated.

-- YADA (YADA@YADA.COM), May 12, 1999

Answers

Yes: The colors are different so as to differentiate them. This is done so as to identify "home heating oil" (exempted from road use tax) from "diesel fuel" (user taxed for highway use). Additives are often blended into fuels that will be used in engines for "cleaner burning", cold starting problems in winter, etc.

-- Dave Walden (wprop@concentric.net), May 12, 1999.

Yada,

Home heating oil (#2 oil) is basically the same as highway diesel oil. However, there is a red dye in the home oil, and if you are ever caught with that red dyed fuel in a truck "on the road" there is a large fine involved. Also, I have seen stated by a diesel engine expert that the home heating oil, which has a slightly higher sulphur content, is better for the engine than road fuel. The road fuel has been modified slightly per EPA specs to create a little less pollution, but that made it a slightly less desireable fuel. My own local heating oil supplier tells me they deliver the same fuel to farmers around here as they do to homeowners. They also said that in the winter time when the temperatures are below freezing they mix about 10% kerosene in the fuel to keep it from thickening too much.

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), May 12, 1999.

Speaking of diesel fuel...

I bought a hobby farm last year that has a diesel fuel tank on the property with about a hundred gallons left in it. I don't own any vehicles that use the stuff but the house does have a fuel oil furnace. After sitting in the tank for almost a year, is the diesel still good enough to burn in my furnace? How long can diesel be stored before it goes bad?

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), May 12, 1999.

Gordon, that would be 10% gasoline or your leg wa being pulled as kerosene IS home heating fuel/diesel.

C

-- chuck, a Night Driver (rienzoo@en.com), May 12, 1999.

Chuck,

Incorrect, Kerosene is not the same as home heating oil. It is a different petroleum product. As far as highway diesel is concerned it can be used in your home heating system (provided you have oil heat) and you can use home heating oil in your diesel vehicle, 'IF' you buy conditioner that is available at auto supply houses. If you do not add the conditioner you will harm your diesel engine and exhaust.

-- ~~~~ (~~~~@~.~), May 12, 1999.

Please note the above posting, distillate, kerosene. There is a URL in that posting which will give you some detailed information about kerosene vs diesel fuel. Also, they do not mix gasoline with the diesel here for winter use, they use kerosene. I have seen web sites for diesel powered home electrics which also state that you should use kerosene (10%) for winter usage. As far as additives, I assure you that the farmers around here have been running staight #2 fuel oil in their diesel tractors for years and there is no problem. As I said, one old timer diesel expert says the #2 fuel oil is better for the diesel than road fuel. Still, there are some claims being made that some additives do improve the storage life of diesel fuel and help with smoke reduction. PRI-D and Dr.Diesel come to mind. I can't really say if these additives are good or a waste of money. Go figure.

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), May 12, 1999.

While fishing we would use home heating fuel. It worked fine, but we also used a wool felt hat to filter out the water and dirt before putting it in the tank. No shortage of junk! Also keep the filters drained eh!

-- Brian (imager@home.com), May 12, 1999.

As I learned it, kerosene is No. 1 fuel oil. So it is a little bit thinner than regular (No. 2 grade) heating oil, but heavier than gasoline.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), May 12, 1999.

Thanks to the group for the replies. I took my search one step further with your replies and contacted a local heating oil service and asked the head dude. He said yes home heating oil is #2 diesel and I believe it was Gordon who pointed out that home heating oil is actually a better #2 diesel. He is correct. The fuel specialist did speak off the record and also reminded me of the monitary penalties for using home #2 diesel in a vehicle. It is a federal law.

Thank you all for contributing to this hypothetical scenario.(hee hee)

yada

-- YADA (YADA@YADA.COM), May 12, 1999.

Just one last statement,

If you are going to use the home heating oil for either a tractor or a diesel generator, there is no problem with the law. It's only if you put it in a diesel car or truck and go out on the road with it that you can get in trouble, due to no road tax on the heating oil. Also, not to nitpick, but Kerosene is not #1 fuel oil, but it is close. If you go to the URL mentioned you will find a technical reply from Chevron which shows Kerosene, #1, and #2 fuel oil. They are not exactly the same, but #2 oil is the most different.

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), May 12, 1999.

I want to burn a pile of stumps & cuttings in my back yard. It is fairly damp and not likely to dry out soon. After 3 gallons of kerosene didn't get it going (at $8 a gallon), I'd like to try diesel fuel. Is this a safe bet? I know gasoline is explosive. Thanks, Stefan

-- Stefan Schweitzer (stefan@hawaiian.net), October 07, 2004.