Waste Oil Heater

[ERobinette]

I'm thinking of buying a waste oil heater to heat my shop. Anyone use one or have any ideas? Thanks, Ed.

 

[dseabaugh]

A week ago I checked with one of the local automotive warehouses about getting my Delco Steam cleaner repaired and they told me that they had so many broken down waste oil heaters to fix that they couldn't get close to fixing it for at least 30 days. This is what I have been told: No synthetis oils, no gear oil. Must be very clean oil. If there is any sign of antifreeze you are screwed. You cannot use oil from anything that is broken down. (blown motors, trans, because of metal, disc material in oil. No oil from tractor trans and rearends that have brakes that run in oil. No mineral oil. These things killed me fro buying one when I really wanted so I buy about $300 propane each year instead of buying a $3000 heater.

 

[Johnboy3]

We have two of them and love them. There are finicky things at times. Keeping them clean is the number one way to have no problems.



As for what goes in them, we dump everything in there. Gear lube, used oil, fuel, paint, gear box oil, atf, etc. The only thing you can't run is brand new oil. We got hooked up with a company that threw away like new oil. The dang stuff wouldn't burn. It has to be used.



You do need to be careful about water. If you get some water in the heater, it will be a pain in the ass. If your careful to watch for water when filling the tank, then it is really not a problem. You do have to drain water off the bottom of the tank on a regular basis because some will settle out.



All in all, if you have a source for used oil, go for it. There's no heat like free heat.

 

[merryman]

I have converted an old barrell type wood burner to burn waste oil (my son's business produces quite a bit of it). My set up is not lovely-----a 55 gallon drum on a 7' stand outside the shop, with a tube running into a shut off valve, then to ball valve for adjusting flow, into a "T" in a 1/2 pipe which goes into the side of the stove (at about a 45 degree down angle) and ends over a heavy metal burn tray. On the other outlet of the "T" is a small blowerr which blows air through the same 1/2" pipe into the fire box. I have to get a small fire going in the fire box, then I open the shut off valve and start the blower. It runs all day most days, and whill I do not get the heat of a commercial set up, other than a few pipe fittings, I put the whole thing together with "Junk" I scounged around my place and my sons.



Vaughn