Kerosene vs. Diesel question

JRSutton · Dec 12, 2011

Andrew Z just responded to another post - saying to run diesel in the trans to clean it out.

I didn't want to hijack the topic with this question though.

I'm sure diesel's fine for that - but I would normally do that with kerosene. I do everything with kerosene - cleaning parts, etc.

BUT - kerosene for some reason is disappearing in my area. You used to be able to get it virtually anywhere. They even used to sell 5 gallon cans at home depot.

But now, almost over night, I can't find it anyhere.

I'm down to one old timer who owns a small oil company, 15 miles away who keeps a 55 gallon drum and - he reluctantly fills my 5 gallon jug from time to time.

So two questions - IS diesel pretty much interchangeable with kerosene for cleaining? Pardon my ignorance, but I couldn't even begin to tell you what the difference is between the two - in how they're refined etc.

And second question - why is kerosene disappearing? Just lack of demand? Or has there been some new kind of regulation passed?

Andrew Z · Dec 12, 2011

I use it mainly casue it 'cheaper' (20-40 cents) then kero, im not sure why its hard to come by in the area, i see it time to time around you but no where near the frequency as in CT. Out of say 6 gas stations in my area 4 of them sell it. I would also have to mainly agree that kero and diesel are about the same for cleaning purposes, i do however use kero in the parts cleaner though.

Andrew

JRSutton · Dec 12, 2011

If you do happen to see it somewhere near me, please let me know where.

I haven't done an exhaustive search - just all the places I've always bought it have dried up.

mkirsch · Dec 12, 2011

I think kerosene is used in making crystal meth. They make you sign a paper when you buy it around here, same as when you buy Sudafed.

Gas stations may be deciding that the legal ramifications are not worth the limited sales they get.

It's still widely available in my area, but it's a pain to purchase because of the whole paperwork thing. My torpedo heater will burn kerosene, diesel or Jet-A, so next time it needs a fill-up, I think I'm just going to buy road diesel and pay the taxes.

mkirsch · Dec 12, 2011

By the way, most Hess stations sell kerosene, at least around here.

Super-H-Mike · Dec 12, 2011

It has been my understanding that Diesel is safer for cleaning because of being less likely to ignite than Kerosene. My buddy once mistakenly ran Kero in his diesel 706 , it ran okay, had tons of power he says, but had a steady flame out the stack ! lol Didnt hurt it apparently, but he was more carefull after that one.

JRSutton · Dec 12, 2011

Wow, I heard about the crystal meth - sudafed thing, but not the kerosene link. That's kind of depressing.

I use it (kerosene, not crystal meth) in a torpedo heater sometimes too - but swtiched to a propane heater - the kerosene always made my eyes burn. Figured if it's making me cry, it can't be doing much good for my already-over-asbestos-exposed lungs.

Probably just needs cleaning, but the propane heater was too cheap to pass up.

Now you got me wanting to try it in a diesel tractor, if it shoots flames out the exhaust!

Moline Man G1 · Dec 12, 2011

Kerosene will not make a diesel run better, it cant it has less btu,s but it wont wax or jell in cold temps.the lower the grade of fuel like #3 or higher will make more power if you can get it to go through filters and injectors,it has more btus per gallon.

JRSutton · Dec 12, 2011

Just for the record I WAS joking about running it in a diesel.

See, I'm surrounded by anti-bacterial lotion carrying soccer moms and bmw driver dads who complain about my rooster they moved in next to.

The thought of driving past their houses to go haying, with a steady column of flames shooting out of the tractor is ALMOST too tempting, but I know it'd only end in a special town meeting to ban tractors or something.

Plus I don't own a diesel.

sflem849 · Dec 12, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:01:51 12/12/11) I use it mainly casue it 'cheaper' (20-40 cents) then kero, im not sure why its hard to come by in the area, i see it time to time around you but no where near the frequency as in CT. Out of say 6 gas stations in my area 4 of them sell it. I would also have to mainly agree that kero and diesel are about the same for cleaning purposes, i do however use kero in the parts cleaner though.

Andrew

Does kero leave the super oily film like diesel? Our kero vs diesel difference is more like 90 cents.

(quoted from post at 07:19:58 12/12/11) I think kerosene is used in making crystal meth. They make you sign a paper when you buy it around here, same as when you buy Sudafed.

Gas stations may be deciding that the legal ramifications are not worth the limited sales they get.

It's still widely available in my area, but it's a pain to purchase because of the whole paperwork thing. My torpedo heater will burn kerosene, diesel or Jet-A, so next time it needs a fill-up, I think I'm just going to buy road diesel and pay the taxes.

No waivers here for kero, but we do have them for Sudafed.

Here in SE Wisconsin you can only get kero at a few stations. One in Burlington and one in Janesville that I can think of. You can get off road diesel from a pump just as readily and it is WAY cheaper. That is what goes in my pressure washer instead of kero. The pressure washer man says the diesel is "dirtier" but the pressure washer is rated for either fuel.

RedRoundhead · Dec 12, 2011

Kerosene is more volitile, which is why it cleans better and leaves less "film".

JRSutton · Dec 12, 2011

(quoted from post at 14:13:49 12/12/11) Kerosene is more volitile, which is why it cleans better and leaves less "film".

That's kinda what I expected. So I suppose in a transmission, it really doesn't matter. You're not going for squeaky clean.

But for cleaning other parts, might be better to just stick to kerosene while I can.

I looked for the nearest Hess station to me - it's even further than the guy I go to now.

Super-H-Mike · Dec 12, 2011

Yeah, I wouldn t reccomend it either. I guess he was out plowing and was getting low on fuel, sent the wife to get a can of fuel, and the station had the Kero and off-road diesel very near to one another, and she made the mistake. He poured it in , so it was diluted with what he still had in the tank, finished plowing only noting the flame from the stack. Wasn t until later when he glanced at the reciept that he found out about the mishap ! lol

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2011

Always before used kerosene because you could get the good stuff without sulfur. Now all on-road diesel has sulfur virtually removed, so now use diesel.

mkirsch · Dec 12, 2011

Sorry Super-H-Mike, but I call shenanigans on that story. I think someone was telling you a whopper of a tale.

If you're working a tractor real hard at dusk, you will see a flame shoot out the stack. I can make the old 856 glow red on the silo blower if I want to, and I know the fuel in it is 100% off-road diesel.

Kerosene can't give you more power because it has less energy than diesel.

Winter diesel fuel is cut with kerosene to prevent gelling.

Brian Dan · Dec 12, 2011

For those of you who can't find kerosene. Use #2 Diesel 5 gallons and add 1 gallon of gasoline to it. I use this mixture in my kerosene heater. Works good.

F-Dean · Dec 12, 2011

I have found that E-85 to be an excellent parts cleaner.

Super-H-Mike · Dec 12, 2011

lol, could be a whopper ! Thats how he told it though. I think anyone who cleans parts with gasoline or E85 is asking for trouble !

CNKS · Dec 12, 2011

Gasoline (does not have to have ethanol in it) is an excellent parts cleaner. We used it for years on the farm, my mother even cleaned grease out of clothes with it --but there is always the chance for a spark, -- I have never seen that but have heard of it happening. I now consider it too big a risk to take.

JRSutton · Dec 13, 2011

Gas makes me nervous. Those vapors really build and spread and things could get ugly in a split second.

Although nothing beats it for getting paint and even wood stain off your hands.

mkirsch · Dec 13, 2011

Dunno if the gasoline is really necessary for the torpedo heater... We've been running straight diesel in the torpedo heater on the farm for years, and it doesn't act differently at all.

sflem849 · Dec 13, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:41:31 12/13/11) Dunno if the gasoline is really necessary for the torpedo heater... We've been running straight diesel in the torpedo heater on the farm for years, and it doesn't act differently at all.

Same here.

Kerosene vs. Diesel question

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