shop heater

[JimScott]

I heat my shop with an old oil stove that uses #1 stove oil (same as Kerosene). The oil is getting increasingly diffucult to get at any reasonable price. The local bulk distributor says they do not normally carry #1 oil on their trucks but would do so on special order $$$. I would like to just put diesel in the stove but don't know what problems I might have. This stove burns the oil in a pan and it is fairly easy to light. I think diesel would be harder to light since it has a higher flash point. Will the diesel burn hotter if I can get it sarted? I don't want things to get out of control, so if anyone knows please comment.

Jim

 

[kenny61]

diesel has a higher BTU rating. I have a space heater one of the forced air long tube things that runs on both. heres a link to a thread you may find useful

kerosene vrs stove oil, AKA cabin confusion - Alaska Outdoors Forums

 

[DLane]

#1 stove oil=#1 Diesel=Kerosene. #2 will probably smell just a touch different but I am fairly certain that my folks have done this for 40 years.....

 

[daveshoe]

Is the stove a Seigler?

I inherited a Seigler that is a heavy ,cast iron pot with a carburetor on the back that pre-heats the fuel. You start the fire by placing paper in the burn pan,and then it vaporizes the fuel. I think this is the stove you are describing I may not have the answer, but why don't you try filling the carb with fuel #1, light it ,and replace the fuel with #2[while the stove is at operating temp] and see if it works?

I cannot see how a stove that heavy is going to have any ill effects from #2 fuel, but if the #2 is too "thick" or dirty to carbureate properly,the fire may go out. Then you have a carb to clean up.

I assume that this is a stove with a heat chamber and a chimney that vents to the outside, so no smoke would result inside your shop?

You also might try a blend of #2 and #1 fuel and see how she goes. Whatever amount of #2 that you use,you need to put it thru a filter first and it might be a good idea to use some sort of water trap or water trapping filter to keep the stove happy.

These are just guesses at what to try,so I cannot verify the rersults.

 

[jelag]

Jim...

I'm in Spokane and we have an old bulk plant that sells #1 out of a pump... we don't use it ourselves but when we are there for propane or diesel there's always someone filling either a 55 gal drum or several 5's... I don't have a clue what the cost is... but based on the way the people are lined up... . I guess its the best in town... .

We used to have a turbo style heater... that was 300K BTU designed for #1... . when we'd use #2 on it, the smoke and particulates in the air were so bad that unless a garage door was open your eyes watered... .

Hope this helps... . BTW - the heater ran fine on the #2 just the stuff in the air was so bad we quit doing it...

 

[kenny61]

local gas staition and rental shop sell kerosene for about the same price as diesel at the gas station its + or - 2cents the price of diesel

 

[sheamc]

As one has already said, it may be a Seigler. These heaters are stout. We have had two over the years and ran both types of fuels through it with no problem. The only problem you could have is where you store the fuel. As long as it won't gel you should be fine.



Shea

 

[JimScott]

Thank you all for the replys. I put diesel in the tank and the stove burns basically the same as with the stove oil. I thought it might be hard to start but I can't tell any difference. That will get me by for now and diesel is easy to get.

Jim