Question for the HVAC Pro's here,

[JBourquin]

Believe it or not, I can get Kerosene locally cheaper than I can get fuel oil. So, needless to say, I just dumped 100gal of Kero into my tank. The question I have is: Do I need to change the nozzle in the boiler to run Kerosene instead of fuel oil? The boiler currently has a .85 80*B nozzle in it. I have spares in both a .65 70*B and a .75 70*A. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[Bondo]

Believe it or not, I can get Kerosene locally cheaper than I can get fuel oil. So, needless to say, I just dumped 100gal of Kero into my tank. The question I have is: Do I need to change the nozzle in the boiler to run Kerosene instead of fuel oil? The boiler currently has a .85 80*B nozzle in it. I have spares in both a .65 70*B and a .75 70*A. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance for your time.

Nope,.... No reason at all,.... Kero is just slightly lower Btus per gallon,...

It's used interchangeably up here in the frozen north, dependin' on prevailin' temps, 'n how the oil in stored, inside, or outside,...

#2 will gel at lower temps, #1 don't,...

Hard to believe #1 is cheaper than #2, especially here in NYS where energy is like Gold,....
'course, I guess it is Gold, atleast in the State's coffers,...

 

[JBourquin]

Thanks. I was always told Kero will run hotter than Diesel in a tractor so I figured it had more BTU's. Go figure.


Where on Chaumont Bay are you? I grew up in Three Mile Bay. Live downstate now, work in Albany.

 

[arsco]

Kero could scrub the tank a bit but I would worry about nozzle size. just have a filter on hand

 

[Bondo]

Thanks. I was always told Kero will run hotter than Diesel in a tractor so I figured it had more BTU's. Go figure.


Where on Chaumont Bay are you? I grew up in Three Mile Bay. Live downstate now, work in Albany.

Ayuh,.... Right at the mouth of the river, at the state hi-way bridge,....

Straight Kero is hard on some diesel motors because of it's Lack of lubricity,...
It can ruin a pump,...
in a bind, I've thrown motor oil into kero to get a job done,...

 

[danski0224]

Do that on a 2007 or newer pollution controlled diesel engine, you will have some nice expensive repairs...

No way to know if your nozzle size is still good without a combustion analyzer and the skill to use one.

 

[JBourquin]

Ok, just to clarify, the tractors I was referring to were the ones I grew up with on the farm. Long before any of this low-sulfur diesels and newer injection pumps. I wouldn't put straight kero in my tractor or truck now. Except to cut the diesel when it starts waxing. But even then it's less than 25%.

Anyway, thanks for the replies on the boiler, I guess I'll just let it be.

 

[TractorJeff]

Talking about Kero. It is over $7 a gallon in the stores in jugs(Wisconsin).
One Gas Station has it for $6 a gallon(use it in Shop heaters).
Anyways, every time I go to Bradford PA it is $3.** at the pump at the Mini-Mart.
Now when I go out there, I take 4 five gallon cans.
I figure it is at the pump because the locals must use it for heating fuel in something?

 

[Bondo]

Talking about Kero. It is over $7 a gallon in the stores in jugs(Wisconsin).
One Gas Station has it for $6 a gallon(use it in Shop heaters).
Anyways, every time I go to Bradford PA it is $3.** at the pump at the Mini-Mart.
Now when I go out there, I take 4 five gallon cans.
I figure it is at the pump because the locals must use it for heating fuel in something?

Ayuh,.... It's the preferred fuel for point of use heaters, like a Kero-sun,...

Works Great in tiki torches too,...

 

[JBourquin]

That stuff is WAYY overpriced when buying off a shelf. Diesel here is about $4.50/gal, the cheapest I could find Fuel Oil was $4.19/gal. Just drove to a local gas station and filled 2 55gal. plastic drums with Kero for $3.84/gal.

 

[Sidekick]

you will find that kerosene will burn a bit cleaner as well