Diesel Fuel

[tcason66]

Is there a difference between off road diesel fuel and home heating fuel oil?

[440 iron popper]

I asked that question to a ultramar refinery guy where I go for work from time to time. Diesel fuels like #1 and #2 used in vehicles and machinery are ok with todays norms of pollution. Coloured fuel, (the pink one) stands for stationary engines like genset, compressors, chippers... Cheaper in price. The bill can be high if they catch you with coloured fuel on the road over here.

The problem is that with the new low sulfur diesels, they have to put additives to protect and keep injection components working well. Removing sulfur dries the fuel... But home heating fuel don't need that because is going to burn and only that. So when they refine, diesel for machines gets additives and home heating fuel not. On older engines, It could damage injection parts as they were built tighter then.

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

Are you saying that #2 is ok in newer Equipment if you use injector cleaner more often?

[Lavoy]

From everything I have been told, all diesel fuel produced today is ultra low sulfur. The difference between dyed and non-dyed fuel is the road tax. Dyed fuel is for off-road use only, or heating, and is not subject to fuel tax. Clear fuel is subject to road tax, that is why they dye the off road, so the DOT or whoever can dip you tank to make sure you are not running non-taxed fuel in a vehicle using tax funded roads.
Heating fuel is typically #1 fuel, although if you have an inside tank, you could fill with #2, or you guys farther south may be able to get away with it too outside, but not up here.
Lavoy

[tcason66]

So the bottom line is, I can use home heating oil in my 1010.

[Tigerhaze]

My understanding is that there are a number of formulations for heating oil/fuel oil. I think what has been said is correct if speaking about #2 heating oil.

However I have read that in some places such as Canada there is also #4 and #6 heating oil for marine uses which has a greater percentage of heavier petroleum oil distillate (similar to motor oil) which would not be good to run through a diesel engine.

I think the key is knowing what product you are putting through your engine.

[whiteclipse16]

Well I'm not saying its the right thing to do but my grandpa ran heating oil in his 1010 numerous times.
Not sure if its hurting it or not but it still runs good.

[Lavoy]

Yes you can run it, but unless you are worried about gelling in cold weather, there is no advantage to doing so. In fact, #1 fuel has probalby at least 15% less BTU's per gallon than #2, and according to some operators manuals on larger tractors I grew up with, is not recommended in any circumstances above about 80 degrees.
Lavoy

[jim420]

#1 heating oil is kerosene. #2 heating oil is the same thing as diesel fuel.#4 & #6 heating fuel is only used for big commercial heating installs. at the college where i work we burn #4 & #6 . we have to preheat the oil to burn in the boilers since its so thick. it is much cheaper per gallon but more involved to use. you could never use it in a engine.

[Willyr]

BTW the red dye flouresces, so if DOT pulls you over as a commercial driver and it is in your tanks? They can measure the residue in the millionths (trace amount still gets you in hot water)

[440 iron popper]

My concern is more about the lubricating effect of the different fuels for the injection parts. Fuel lubricates, protects injection parts and makes the piston going. Not just piston going. After 1 year sitting, fuel degrades at a fast rate. Just think about your lawn mower that burps at the first job of the summer with some last year gas!

#2 gets paraffine amount in it that #1 doesn't get. And home heating fuel doesn't need that.

I work for Cat fixing genset. I know that sometimes when a rental unit goes out for a customer in fall with #2 diesel in it as a standby machine, you can expect filter to clog when cold arrives.

I tested a lot of genset on 100% load in hospitals that shares boiler's fuel and they have trouble getting full ouput without dying (less BTU). I even made 2 gensets run with Jet A fuel (close to #1 diesel but dry as hell) on a remote mine...adding some additive oil to avoid scrap injectors... power derates a lot. Today's fuel is not as good as it has been, so personnaly I would not put the crapiest one in my 53 years old hard to find parts crawler!!! I would put #2 in summer and #1 in winter with some additives. It all depends on how many hours you plan to use it in a year. That's my opinion.