Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting diesel in a kerosene lantern

[Wyomingcowboy]

I bought a cheap little kerosene lantern at Wally Worl for $5 the other day. the gallon of kerosene they sell costs $10 so i thought I could just burn diesel in it instead. It is outside right now running but it's not throwing much light and is putting off pretty good black smoke and is turning the glass black as well. I have the wick just about 1/16" up but it still smokes. I assumed that since diesel and kerosene are very similar fuels I could substitute one for the other and save money, but the excessive smoke and lack of light may have me re-thinking this. Anyone else care to throw in some wisdom?

 

[WDixon27]

i usually run mineral spirits in our lanterns during power outages as with mom being a painter/general contractor its handy, you may try trimming the corners of the wick to a angle and see if that improves things, grandma always says to let it burn totally out once in a while to condition the wick when the subject comes up, your mileage may vary

 

[SNGLESHOT]

The flash points are higher for diesel so it needs more heat to burn completely. The black smoke, soot and low light are indicators of this. You need a more refined fuel with lower ignition points that will allow it to burn hotter, brighter which in turn will yield less unburned products of combustion. Yeah. . you can use it in a pinch... but it gets old real quick.

 

[mach92bill]

see if you locate some jet fuel

 

[Skydiver]

What you need is a tiny little fuel injector and a turbo. The FI will atomize the fuel and the turbo will supply oxygen to complete the burn. Don't ask me how to spin the turbo or pressurize the fuel.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Skydiver has probably got it right. I have a kerosene space heater which I ran some diesel in at the camp to see if it would work and how much fumes it would emit. It worked fine but I had to turn the wick real low. I suspect with the lantern, the problem is lack of air, you might try raising the globe a bit to see if that helps, if so you could add some air inlets below the globe. bg

 

[mwilson]

Get a gallon of K-1 Kerosene. A lot of our filling stations have a K-1 pump next to the Diesel pumps. Many people here have room heaters, space heaters, etc. that require K-1 so is easy to get and runs about $3. 45/ gallon right now. Just supply your own gallon jug and fill it yourself at the pump.

Beats the heck out of $10. 00 for the same identical thing at the Wally World.



Will work great in your little lantern if it's available where you live.





Or turbocharge it as mentioned above... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[HSpiering]

Buying kerosene varies in different states. You can buy 5 gal cans in Oregon and it runs $35-$45 a can. I saw some new heaters that used kerosene and you could not give them away at an auction. The cost to operate was prohibitive compared to propaine heaters or lanterns.

 

[Skydiver]

Just how could we spin the turbo and pressurize the fuel? LOL
We also run diesel in our kerosene turbo heater at work when the temps drop below freezing. When it first fires up (cold start) there is plenty of white smoke.
I would look into the propane mantle type light. If you can refill your 16oz fuel cans you will save $$. I also have the ability to refill my BBQ grill fuel bottles.

 

[MChildress]

We used to run diesel in a couple kerosene high hat heaters years ago. You would blow black soot out your nose the next day.

 

[Dl5treez]

#1 Diesel is close to kerosense, but not quite exactly the same. It will work much better than #2 Diesel, which is a far cry from kerosene.



You'd be better off with jet fuel over diesel fuel as was earlier mentioned, but the acquisition might be prohibitive as far as a pain in the butt vs. convenience ratio goes.



You're probably better off with finding kerosene, unfortunately.

 

[gtobey]

Throw out the $5 lantern, and go to BriteLyt and get you a real PetroMax multi-fuel lantern! These are super bright, and run on about any fuel you want to throw in them! You have a "real" truck, now get ya a "real" diesel lantern! Mine really impresses folks when I show them it runs on diesel! And is super bright, and more economical than the old Coleman lanterns! If we truly are a bunch of gearheads, we need a "gearhead's" lantern. Right?

 

[Dl5treez]

Had not seen those BriteLyt lanterns before. Thanks!

 

[guldam]

Wish you hadn't suggested these... now I'm distracted and want one. Well made stuff is good!



GulDam

Throw out the $5 lantern, and go to BriteLyt and get you a real PetroMax multi-fuel lantern! These are super bright, and run on about any fuel you want to throw in them! You have a "real" truck, now get ya a "real" diesel lantern! Mine really impresses folks when I show them it runs on diesel! And is super bright, and more economical than the old Coleman lanterns! If we truly are a bunch of gearheads, we need a "gearhead's" lantern. Right?

 

[gtobey]

BriteLyt Lanterns

Wish you hadn't suggested these... now I'm distracted and want one. Well made stuff is good!



GulDam

These are really cool, and be sure to watch the videos, especially about lighting one off! That pre-heater is like a "flame-thrower"! I'm looking for some Citronella oil to mix in the kerosene so I can keep the mosquitos away!... .



Check out the information on the website:

Pressure Lamps International. There is even a forum for Petromax lamp users!



I found that the best fuel is #1 kerosene or smokeless lamp oil (colorless) and then mix in about 10% Coleman fuel. It burns really clean and bright, and leaves very little residue around the mantle! It also lights easily in the preheater area!

 

[Skydiver]

I now remember reading about those petro lamps.
Since we're into big light I might as well set this link. I haven't read this forum in about a year. Last time I checked some body made the worlds brightest hand held flash light and was selling then for around $450. He sold out in a week. I saw a youtube on one that set a newspaper on fire. No it was not a laser.
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