Thanks your update answered my one question. Back when I was a kid we used a Kerosene heater at home. In the late 80's home heating oil was $$$. The heater always smelled, especially at start up. Glad to hear that your diesel fix is not only less expensive and more accessible, but doesn't stink!
I watched this video yesterday and picked a heater up today.. I'm following your lead and so far so good. Winters up here in Nova Scotia can get downright mean so I'm looking forward to the cheap and efficient heat source. Thanks for the tips.
@@EdFilips Maybe it depends on the heater you are using? I know that the Blue Flame style heaters do not work well with Diesel although depending on model there are some solutions online.
For anyone to worried to try this, I understand I was too. After doing a lot of research on K-1 and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (now mandatory in the US for road use), it all makes since. The reason that burning "old" diesel used to smell so bad was because it had more sulfur. More sulfur, equates to a fuel that doesn't burn as clean and leaves a "stinky" residue. That residue may have been great for lubricating our diesel engines, stinking up our houses and clogging up kerosene wicks but today the old diesel is GONE! Google-Parts Per Million of sulfur in Kerosene and ULSD, then make the decision. Its working for me but would love to hear what I'm missing if you don't agree.
Thanks for the info. I have a similar kerosene heater that is running on diesel. I was out of town and my dad accidentally used diesel in my shop and low and behold it worked fine. So I have been running the low sulfer diesel and I agree, even less odor than the kerosene. The only thing I've noticed is it takes a little longer to warm up. The added fuel cleaner is probably a good idea.
Pascal Junger I'm running BP diesel with 3 ounces of 90% isopropyl alcohol per gallon in my kerosene heater and it does work fine with no smell at all.
I assume you are talking about ordinary diesel at the gas station that goes in cars and trucks. I don't know anything about #1 and #2 notations. I have been using JetA in my heater for years. It is high sulfur but still burns well with my glass wick. I have to get it at the airport so its harder to come by than street diesel. I may try your solution.
syenery7 I am just plain burning the ruby diesel in my fanco with a fiberglass wick, no issues, after each tank full of diesel i do a dry burn on it everytime and it does not clog the fiberglass wicks. Thats what fiberglass are for basically so y ou can do a dry burn everytime, and i been doing it for while and FIBERGLASS WICK buring home heating oil is no issues for me whatever. and i am not using no additives, straight fromt he storage tanke straight into the FANCO FUEL TANK.....
It works!!! Was skeptic- I tried diesel two winters ago because it works in our forced air kerosene heaters so thought it would with this style. It didnt so been using kerosene last two winters. which isnt to bad considering their are a few stations that still have it at the pump...apx 3.50 to$4.00 a gallon. Not bad but the stations arent convenient. Ran out of kerosene tonight and went to the station couple blocks away. Picked up 2 gal #2 diesel added the 6oz of the alcohol and tried it - no go - but noticed the alcohol was only 50% Isc not the 90 so dumped another six. It worked okay but actually paid attention and realized I also need the additive. Grabbed some out of truck added an oz and had some gumout injector in the garage handy and said hell threw in a shot of that too..... I cleaned the wick quickly with a little of that alcohol and a brush then tried it out. I got more smoke than kerosene at the initial start but this thing has been blazing all night now and zero smoke zero smell - Waaaaaaay hotter than kerosene. Unlike the others posting my flame is actually better??? . I cant believe how hot it is. ready for it to melt down - - awesome! Thank u so much. Free diesel from work makes this that much better
I hope you realize that your comment is not consistent. You start by saying that it worked, and then say that it didn't, then go back to saying it worked.
Thanks so much for this info. I just mixed me up 5 gallons of MurphyMart ULSD with 32oz. 90% isopropyl alcohol and 2 ounces of the diesel additive. Heater is working like a champ. No more $8/gallon K-1 for me!!!! I am burning a Home Depot Dura-Heat 23000 btu heater with no problems.
Just getting into a new heater season here in Texas and will be using the ULSD mix again. Good source of really cheap pints of 90% isopropyl alcohol is Target. Located in the drug/pharmacy section of my local store. Greed is a terrible thing. In the old days, kerosene was cheaper than diesel. I suspect that it still is coming out of the refinery but the guys in the middle are ripping us to pieces because of the market niche that they think they have. Even if I do foul a few wicks over the course of a heater season, it is still cost effective to burn the ULSD mix. As for combustion concerns/ CO generation from my heater with ULSD- NOT!!! The alcohol is a combustion modifier and actually oxygenates the fuel which is what the gasoline blenders have been doing to meet EPA guidelines for auto emissions. Same thing with my heater.
I wasn't sure of my ability to do this so I bought a dyna-glo at an auction for $35 and figured if I mess it up then no harm no foul. I replaced the wick with 100% cotton, and put in a gallon of diesel. I let it sit overnight so the wick could absorb. Lit it this morning and it lit with NO problems!!! No black soot and the smell is no worse than kerosene smell. I have it burning on low right now and am eager to see how long a gallon will burn on low. We live in Eastern Washington and last winter was brutal!!! Kerosene is so expensive and living in an old 1898 farmhouse our highest utility bill was $660 and that was supplementing with a fire and kerosene (so not including those) and it was a struggle to keep the temperature comfortable in the rooms that we live in. Kerosene here is about $10 a gallon. I am looking forward to being warmer this winter without it breaking the bank. Thanks so much for your video and updates!!!
Wow! I was in Misawa, Japan in 1987. Some of our Unit went to Team Spirit, but I stayed behind to man the fort...lol! I did get to Osan a few times on leave to do some shopping. Five dollar Rebocks and they were the real deal. Same thing that was shipped to the USA. Anyhow, thanks for your service bro.
Very cool! I'm excited for it to get cold now so I can bust out the heater in my shop! Kerosene is so damn expensive now days.. Thanks for this useful info, you are saving people a ton of $ with this
Thanks! Now that spring is around the corner, I found your video! Kero at FIVE dollars a gallon is killing my wallet here in NH. I am worn out from wick maintenance. Thanks so much for the tip!!!
I tried the treated ULS diesel in a Toyotomi WC-105. It buggered a new wick, but the one takeaway i have from this experience is that the USLD gives off so much more heat than K1! As the wick began loading with parrafin, i did notice that weak flame still gave me full heat output! Crazy! I will be switching back to the K1 source I found that is about 25 miles away. I did notice that you are using a full cotton wick. Bummer that it didn't work. If i ever do get my hands on an old Perfection heater, rock on I will used this method!
Tom Giacchi , Hey I noticed the same thing in my Dyna-glo but with adding acetone at a ratio of 4 cups klean-strip acetone to 5 gallons ULSD. I'm getting about 24-30 hours run-time off each tank. The clogging does get worse with each tank though. Saw another comment where everytime it got clogged up the guy washed his wick with Dawn dish soap and rinsed and dried it and it burned like new again. I'll be ordering an all cotton wick to see how much better it works. I've seen quite a few petroleum engineers who claim acetone is the best thing to add as it burns much hotter and cleaner. I hardly ever smell anything compared to K1.
I have an Dyna-Glo heater and it is putting out black smoke and soot. It is putting out very little heat and flame.I;m using # 2 diesel. I did every thing you did in this video.
John Richard Bereswill it sounds to me like you need to run a cleaner through it. The wick could need replacing however it sounds to me like you just have a dirty unit. There is some cleaner you can get from home depot that will clean it and should make it better unless it's really caked on soot. You will then need to manually clean it. You can mix 1/2 a gallon to a gallon of gasoline with the other 4 gallons of diesel to clean it. I always run at least 1 to 2 gallons of kerosene or the clean version of kerosene (kerokleen) I believe it's called or something like that. After that you can also use about half a bottle of 90% rubbing alcohol in the 5 gallon tank and there will be no smell and it will stay cleaner way longer!
I have a double burner kesense heater and I thinking to try this as fuel is not only expensive but getting harder to source here in Ireland, my only question would be air quality and fumes . Thanks for the tip,I'm thinking we will have a very cold winter here this year
Wonder if it would work in a zippo lighter as well adding the additive, if not it clogs up the wick, old ww2 stuff i read where people tried - glad to hear i can use diesel in a kerosene heater tho
I know that this video is quite old, but nowadays. K-1 kerosene is almost nonexistent. Especially the clear kind, which can no longer be purchased at the pump at filling stations in my area of Pennsylvania, anywhere. If you want the clear K-1, about the only places I know it to be available are Walmart, and Tractor Supply, but they charge astronomically high prices for it, at about $12-$15 for a two gallon can. And Kerosene with red dye in it is getting more rare, and very hard to find. If you are lucky enough to find it in a filling station, it costs around $2.69 or more per gallon. But very few places even sell it anymore. At the same time, diesel fuel has gotten ridiculously expensive in recent years, due to the road taxes. Currently, here in PA, diesel fuel is well over $3 per gallon. It's also my understanding that #2 diesel produces more BTUs than #1 kerosene, but they are both still pretty expensive. What I do, and many people I know do, is either order bulk delivery of #2 home heating oil, which is essentially the same as diesel, but with red dye added, or go to filling stations that sell what is typically called either, "Off Road Diesel," or, "Farm Diesel." These are basically both the same as #2 home heating oil, which is essentially #2 ULSD diesel, like what trucks or diesel vehicles use, with a tax exempt red dye added to it. They are both in the range of about $1.50 - $1.69 per gallon. About half the price of ULSD or kerosene. I have not tried adding isopropyl alcohol to it, which might help it burn cleaner, but I'm quite sure would reduce the BTUs substantially. I have had no problem using either home heating oil, or off-road diesel. I experience a little black smoke on startup, but it goes away after a few minutes, with virtually no smoke, after the heater warms up. I never felt I'll, or teary eyed in my garage using this, or any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning whatsoever. If you are going to use this indoors, in your home, I would highly recommend you light it outside, which can be difficult on a windy day. Then bring it in after it warms up, which only takes a couple of minutes. I use a fuel soaked piece of paper to light my Ker-O-Sun heater that the igniter stopped working on decades ago. I hope this information helps anyone looking to keep their old, "outdated," kerosene heaters, and get useful heat, without breaking the bank. I also hope it helps dispel any myths about using alternative, cheaper fuels besides kerosene. Don't be afraid to use #2 home heating oil, and/or Off-Road and Farm diesel in your old school kerosene heater. It's much cheaper, and #2 oil burns hotter than kerosene. About 220,000 BTUs to about 190,000 BTUs, from recollection, last I checked. Have Fun! 😀
If you're still not keen on using straight Diesel, you can simply blend 1:1 Diesel and Kero...it works pretty good and you can cut your Kero Costs in half. Truth be known...these heaters with proper additives in diesel will run just fine, but the Refiners try to discourage everyday folks from using anything but Kero because they rather you buy straight Kero at a much higher price! I still use Regular Unleaded Gasoline in my Coleman Stoves and Lanterns instead of Naptha...I just have to clean off the Worm Screws and Carberators more frequently. Other than that...it works just fine! (Cheaper too) Gallon of Naptha here in Canada is running about $20+ Dollars. So I don't mind seasonally cleaning a Carb or Worm Screw and emptying the tanks at seasons end, then I just run a small amount of Naptha through it.
Thanks for the great video! I have been using kerosene heaters every winter for the last 5 years, never knew I could also use diesel and am so glad I discovered this!
What works REALLY well in a kero heater is Jet Fuel. Yep Jet A1 is basically a more highly refined type of Kerosene and burns very cleanly in a kero heater.
Most likely you're a hundred percent right but let's all go to the airport and fills up LOL just saying this because I don't see where I can get jet fuel.
Team Spirit '88... the Chaplain's assistant distinguished himself as the first person to roll over a CUCV. To top this, he wrongly installed the diesel Yukon stove and burned down a GP Medium! I got sick in a tent, strep throat, laryngitis, AND pneumonia: the frickin medic gave me 24 hrs quarters in an unheated tent. Oh, but a kind tent-mate lit the tiny heater, walked away, and it wasn't trimmed so put out nothing but black soot. By the time I made it thru the field hospital to the 121st Evac in Seoul, I was completely black.
I listen to this other guy that did a check on the specs between kerosene and diesel and the found out that the new ultra low sulfur diesel is actually cleaner than kerosene. He runs it straight in his heater without any additives with no problem and no odor.
The new ultra low sulfur diesel in cleaner than kerosene and also has MORE BTU's per gallon, but is could clog the wick after a while if it is just run straight. The wick on my heater is the original wick from 1987, so if it works on mine it should be fine. I'm using the isopropyl alcohol and injector cleaner to be on the safe side.
i been doing good, just about the end of heating season, burned a hole drum full of HOME HEATING OIL, and no problem thank you ENERGY7. On the other videos you have, one said you been pouring it straight into the tank.. I been doing that, but having one problem, With the carbon buildup, i have a hell time getting it to light, but once its lit, it goes the hole night without issue. TRY TELLING YOUR DIESEL JOKE TO OTHER PEOPLE ON TH-cam, they will not get the joke. MAY THE KEROSENE GO STALe. HOME HEATING OIL I am running RED DYE DIESEL FUEL and the dye no issues for the perfection to burn. its just in ther because no road tax has been paid.
I keep reading other's comments about the diesel burning a lot hotter than kerosene, but I'm curious about just how much hotter. Modern heaters are made of thinner metal so I wonder if it is as safe and can accommodate the higher burn temperature.
I clogged a newer wick using diesel and a little alcohol a few times. Never tried the injector cleaner with it though. Never could get the wick to burn anything fuel right afterwards, even after burning it dry and cleaning it. MIght try this mixture with a new wick. Beats paying $10.00 a gallon for kerosene!
Hey, thanks for the tip. Just added 16oz 99% ISO to 4.5 gal diesel. No smell, runs great! Running an old Reddy Heater 55 [55,000btu] Home Depot & Lowes both want $10 per gallon for kerosene. Not gonna happen!
I had one 30 years ago and it heated the whole house, back when kerosene which is less refined than gasoline and a lot cheaper. Somehow kerosene got up to $10/gallon from the government taxing it to prevent truck divers from escaping taxes .
Kerosene won't work in a modern diesel truck, you'll blast injectors and pumps. Reason they taxed it a lot is to reduce civilian consumption of it for aviation
In an effort to make certain that information I was told is in fact 100% accurate, I have ordered a quality Made in the USA CO meter that will detect any amount of CO present. A properly running heater will show zero CO with either kerosene or the diesel fuel with the isopropyl alcohol additive. But you still need to crack ope a window. I am going to make certain by testing this with a quality Made in the USA CO meter. Btw, ordinary candles will also emit CO gas.
Syyenergy 7- Thank you so much for the amazing video and great information! I tested this and it works!! One question though! The Isopropyl alcohol bottle that you show in the video, is it a pint or a quarter? I saw in the comments that someone has used 3 oz per gallon, which will make it up to about a pint in 5 gallons.
An 'update' says that there was another video to see first. A lot of folks will NOT do that. K-1 kerosene (purified and clear) is the best choice, but it is not available at all towns...
as usual, you have the answers I need to my problems. I finally got a old kerosene heater going outside. the other one is frozen, who knows what's in the gas tanks. filled it with desil and used blow torch and it is going out there. a small flicker of warm in -5 or more degrees. Had to replace busted sheer pin in snow blower augers. but augers won't turn anymore. any advice? This friggin weather has me pounded.
Versus using expensive PB Blaster to un-stick the rusted snow-blower augers, I'd just use plain automatic transmission fluid mixed with kerosene in a spray bottle and spray all the parts down. It could work to free everything up. Any kind of cleaner-solvent like WD40 might free up a stuck wick on a kerosene heater if you let it soak a while. At least you are doing more than 50 MILLENNIALS. Gawd those people are the 'pitts'. :) lol
Friend of mine swears by a Jet Fuel, which I believe is close to Kerosine. He's not too far from a general aviation, small plane airport that has it. Look up Fixed Base Operators at your local Field, they usually sell fuel out of Pumps.
good evening to you and all the comments... 7 years later how has the diesel mix been working for you and all the people that has commented.. I use K1 and the price just went up to $6.89 a dollar more than it was last month. The diesel is $4.69/gal and that additive is $4.25. I'm sure the K1 at the pump will run out or stop soon and would like to try this.. I want to know if anyone stopped and went back to K1, did wicks clogged, who start feeling ill and who may have stopped using kerosene all together... thanks in advance of comments
I've been using Jet-A which is easier to get than Kerosene, but harder to get than diesel. Also, the prices vary widely from $2.33 to $7.85 depending on the airport. My wick is fiberglass so I'm leery of using diesel.
I have a kerosun 105f with the original glass/cotton wick.. to run diesel, all I did was move the wick up 1/4" and run straight #1 with no soot or odor at all... when I run kero, i just turn the wick down after it is completely lit...
Omin 105 heater dosen't smell with diesel once it worms up but the only thing I realized is it a little less heat and I might be wrong because I'm not sure it lasts longer.
I just did this with a Sengoku 23,000 BTU. FIberglass wick I believe.Heater started to get low flame in 1/2 tank. It completely clogged after two tanks. Very black soot everywhere.Maybe it works for pue coton wicks, but not fiberglass on my heater.
well i been heating my house for several years with diesel,without any additives ....no smell at all ....not sure what wick is in my old heater but no problems so far
syyenergy7 So let's say I only had 5 gallons..I would just use 1/20 of that amount of 32 ounce autozone additive...in the container. I dont have a big drum or something, and of course I dont want to add so much it ruins the fuel :)
+syyenergy7 Another update.. I found a place online named milesstair.com The guy there said he can make custom 100% cotton wicks for around $20 plus shipping, so maybe that's good news for the more modern heaters :) He is located in Oregon
Just ordered a kerosene heater today. Gotta keep working on the bldg during winter and the propane bullet heater goes thru gas too damn fast. What kind of diesel injector cleaner are you running and where do you get 90% isopropyl alcohol? How's the wick acting now that you're racking up the hours?
Well my heater won't work now. Used it for a week with Diesel and the additive and it started out great but now it's a no joy. Should I just use the 90% alcohol with Diesel and ditch the additive?.
how do you clean the wick use a wire brush ? i put a new wick in ran it till it ran out of diesel fuel and i guess it clogged up goes out when i light it and smokes have never used a kerosine heater before
Synergy7! Quick question. I am about to try this in my shed for preheating the hard-to-start ATVs here in Canada. Kerosene 20$ a gallon here, or 5$ for diesel. Can I get the precise mixture you are using? You mention BP diesel... But what is the mixture? 1 quart of 90% rubbing alcohol, to 5 gallons of diesel? And how much diesel fuel injector cleaner? I would like to mix a 5 gallon ideally. Or a 2 gallon would suffice I would think.
I've been using BP diesel. Initially I started using a about 5 ounces 90% alcohol in the diesel. Now I usually just use the diesel. The wick has to 100% COTTON. Each fill-up I scrape the top of the wick off to ensure clean burning. I use the Perfection 1550 Kerosene/Oil heater most of the time. This old Korean heater works because the wick is 100% COTTON. A few people got the cotton/fiberglass wicks to work (very few). If the wick has fiberglass, it will clog.
So, 5 ounces of alcohol to how much BP Diesel? 2 gallon? 5 Gallon? Or whatever your heater tank is sized? I have two models, one that heats 360 degrees, and one that I can put against a wall. The one against the wall is less BTUs, but takes a lot less room/ And I got it for 40$ so I don't mind risking the wick. How do I tell if the wick is 100% cotton is it is already installed?
I put 5 ounces alcohol in 5 gallon can of diesel. Likely it's not a 100% cotton wick unless it's ancient. There is injector clean in my diesel as a preservative, so maybe that helps too. Either way you are going to find that you will be able to at least use some diesel mixed in the kerosene even if you don't have a 100% cotton wick.
goliathsphinx Mine burns great and lights easy. I have a Korean heater I bought in Korea , so maybe something is different about it. It's the Original wick from 1987 too. I used the hell out of it too.
I heard you say you store diesel in aluminum fuel tanks for boats but I can't find any larger than 20-30 gallons. What're you thoughts on converting semi truck aluminum drum tanks? I can't find any info on it
When you say BP diesel do you mean the BP gas station? Or can I get the low sulfur diesel from any gas station and add the alcohol and injector cleaner to run through my kerosene heater? Thanks
Diesel in Kerosene Heater, Testing Carbon Monoxide (CO) th-cam.com/video/j6L0l7BMlM8/w-d-xo.html I tested the Carbon Monoxide (CO) output on the kerosene heater when running diesel fuel with some 90% isopropyl alchohol and the meter reads zero (0) Carbon Monoxide.
If you are using a 100% cotton wick the wick doesn't clog, although I scrap the very top of the wick off each fill-up. A lot of times I don't even bother with the alcohol additive and I'm having no issues. I've been running it this way for 2 years now.
Steve Elliot -- do you know how to "dry burn" your wicks? If not look that up, you need to do that every so often no matter what fuel you use. Also it is worthwhile to buy really good quality wicks (can find online).
Tried this in my heater and it's not going well. Flame is too yellow and at the highest setting I'm still not getting enough flame.....wondering if it's a winter blend or summer blend thing....is the diesel your using clear or neon green?
bugman5923 I an using BP diesel BP and Shell have twice as much biodiesel in them than most other brands. I use 3 ounces 90% isopropyl alcohol per gallon. see this videoth-cam.com/video/jfvsw39Q5bIa/w-d-xo.htmlt the 10 min 10 sec mark.
I am trying this, but mine is letting off a TON of black soot from the heater. I am adding the alcohol and the additive. Anyone getting a bunch of black soot? Any help would be appreciated.
Although this video is 4 years old, i am commenting, i just pour just straight diesel fuel into my FANCO, but to do always the "DRY BURN" and it does just fine, my sears kerosene heater doesn't like it too well, i do agree, I CAN'T STAND KEROSENE (JET FUEL) (WHO WOULD WANT TO BUY THE WORTHLESS OVERPRICED KEROSENE SHIT ANYWAY) AT $4.00 A GALLON... RUBY DIESEL IS about $2.69 A GALLON....its forever giving me a damn headache, and since using RUBY DIESEL for the past 3 years, i am able to sleep alot better and keep warm... i don't buy the onroad diesel fuel, its way overpriced, i use HOME HEATING OIL (#2 diesel fuel same as onroad but has red dye added to it) anD NO THE RED DYE HAS NOTHING TO DO HOW IT BURNS, AGAIN THE RED DYE HAS NOTHING TO DO HOW THE DIESEL BURNS, RED DYE IS FOR OFFROAD USE and cheaper to buy then onroad diesel.......
Got my KeroHeat 2300btu heater today. Got my diesel additive with slick, a few pints of 90% isopropyl, and a plastic yellow 5 gal fuel can. So here goes nothing.
Fired mine up today. 5 gallons of diesels mixed with 90% isopropyl. Filled up the kero heater. The first start smoked cuz it was brand new. Brought it inside and there was no smell. But when I turned it off I should've taken it outside cuz it smoked & smelled when I cut it off. I didn't throw the slick additive in it only the isopropyl. So far I'm super impressed. Let's see how it performs thru-out the winter. Just remember to light it & turn it off outside.
I have been through about two gallons of diesel in the last two days. I am not using Isopropyl, just the injector cleaner. The heater seems to work fine, but I never used kerosene, so I have nothing to relate to. The diesel is only $2.50 and the kerosene cost $7.50 all good over her so far. I plan on using isopropyl with my next five gallon can of diesel
Yeah my whole house smells totally of unburnt diesel, the only reason I couldn't smell it at first is because it's not the same pungence as kerosene but now it's already the next day and boy does it stink in here! Come to think of it all my clothes smell, too, I'll probably have to call that company "like it never even happened," what's their name, Servpro, yeah that's it, maybe they can clean this smell out lol hopefully it will be gone by summer (nyah I know it won't take that long but it really is pretty bad).
Emily Ball No. it's BP diesel at the pump. Remember I have 2 additives in it. Some alcohol and also injector cleaner, otherwise the diesel will clog the wick after a while.
I used off-road biodiesel with isopropyl alcohol (1 quart per 5 gallons) so far it s fine. But the price of off-road and ULSD are about the same in our area.
syyenergy7 Everyone I found is fiberglass/cotton. Will try adding alcohol and a new wick anyway, maybe that will work. I was burning some home heating oil I got free with no real problems, maybe it didn't have biofuel added. Started it today with k1 thinking maybe to break the wick in first also.
No, all open flame in a home needs ventilation. Without a source of fresh air, O2 will be used up and CO2 production will turn to CO (carbon monoxide) production. Each year, more than a few people die because they don't know or ignore these basic facts. I have nonvented natural gas heaters in my home. In addition to having a CO detector in every room I make sure there is always a source of fresh air.
I have a dyna glo kerosene heater that uses a 3C wick. I cannot find a 100% cotton wick anywhere. Only a fiberglass/cotton wick. Does anyone know where I can find one?
Don't do this. I ruined two new wicks. Diesel #1 and kerosene are different. Diesel will clog up your wick, even if you add alcohol. I know, I tried it both with #2 and then a new wick and #1. Kerosene is different from diesel #1. Don't ruin perfectly good wicks like I did.
Could be, but that also occurs when get in a hot car that sat in the sun with the windows closed. Benzene comes from the vinyl in the car. There are many sources. I now have a CO meter and will be testing the heater for CO.
The the second ultimate after Star Trek technology heating would be a clean burning wood stove because wood Is everywhere I bought a portable rocket stove last year and have Not used It because I was having a tough time finding lighter fluid to start It but finally I bought some diesel and gasoline and mixed 25% gasoline and 75% diesel the gasoline% mix still needs to be a little lower. I thought about buying a kerosene heater after I found out that diesel could be used In them but then seen Its a lot of maintain the wick. so Instead of focusing on heating the whole house I Am more focus on warm clothes and putting a Ice Shelter In the house and using Electric heater with a thermostat and hope to get where can use solar and wind for heating and when Its cloudy and the wind Is Not blowing use Propane which can now be purchased at many gas station and as unbelievable as It may seem even the nearest gas station to Me sells Propane but at $52.00 for a 20 pound tank with 15 pounds of Propane Its expensive so I mostly use Infrared radiant Electric heaters and heating pads.
I live In a Clam thermal Ice shelter Instead of My house there are No dead Animals under It It or In the attic or walls and pest have No place to hide, and the dinosaur room uses 6 Electric heaters and always having to replace the burnt out wiring from using so much Electricity and the Ice shelter take 2 Electric heaters but the dinosaur computer Is still In My house because I did Not want It stealing My space. I was using a Infrared Propane heater with the Electric heaters to heat the dinosaur room but using that much Propane seems like a waste so I bought some warmer clothing but My finger would still get frost bite from typing and I wanted a back up heat source If the Electricity went out even though I do have a Generator and a Rocket stove but the Rocket stove requires constant feeding It wood and It too smoky can Not be used Indoors without a exhaust, so I thought about a Kerosene heater, I was thinking what If I mixed Diesel and gasoline to make kerosene I thought of this a few months ago and stated saving up to buy a kerosene heater but then seen that the wicks are a pain to replace and decided Not to buy a kerosene heater but then I seen Yours and Others videos about burning Diesel In a kerosene heaters and how long the wick last and gave It another thought and ordered a 23000 BTU kerosene heater from Lowes January 14 which I wish I had done sooner, last night I finally got to the local gas station and bought 5 gallons of Diesel and this kerosene heater works with Diesels by Itself but the flame flickers and does have a smell but this Diesel has a smell without burning It and there was No smoke at all, and I believe You are right about adding rubbing Alcohol to It rubbing Alcohol Is what used to use to clean records and tape recorder heads, as long as this kerosene heater keeps working good then I Am happy with It. Do Not add gasoline with the Diesel because It will work with Diesel alone.
bout the only thing in use in my kerosene heaters, but i do a dry burn each time, smells everytime when doing a dry burn, but no smell while the heater is running.... I DON'T USE no additives of anything... just straight diesel in tank... Burning alot of home heating oil in the kerosene heaters at $2.54 a gullin 1/2 the damn cost of the WORTHLESS OVERPRICED SHIT KEROSENE AT $4.39 A gullin never have never will use that WORTHLESS OVERPRICED SHIT... no thank you...
I hope your not breathing that stuff into your lungs. During the last energy crisis of the late 70's, many folks were using those kerosene model Heaters that you have, they say the fumes (low odor or not) can cause lung cancer and Brain cancer. Be careful and make sure you have plenty of air circulation.
I had a window open and the place got to 83 degrees even with this thing on low. I'm aware of the potential problems. I'm just experimenting with it to make sure what I was told is 100% true.
I ordered an accurate Made in the USA CO tester than measures any trace CO. We'll see soon enough what this heater is doing. I have a Korean heater I bought in Korea , so maybe something is different about it. It;s the Original wick from 1987 too. I used the hell out of it too.
Yes and by the time I open a window I might as well be throwing my money out the window with it, I'd be kidding myself thinking I am somehow saving money just because the house is warm but hey, the earth is flat.
Thanks your update answered my one question. Back when I was a kid we used a Kerosene heater at home. In the late 80's home heating oil was $$$. The heater always smelled, especially at start up. Glad to hear that your diesel fix is not only less expensive and more accessible, but doesn't stink!
I watched this video yesterday and picked a heater up today.. I'm following your lead and so far so good. Winters up here in Nova Scotia can get downright mean so I'm looking forward to the cheap and efficient heat source. Thanks for the tips.
Cape Breton here....stay warm.
Im in Nova Scotia too, i use furnace oil, works good
Nova Scotia here too, tried Diesel with additive and methanol did not work so well for me.
@@EdFilips Maybe it depends on the heater you are using? I know that the Blue Flame style heaters do not work well with Diesel although depending on model there are some solutions online.
For anyone to worried to try this, I understand I was too. After doing a lot of research on K-1 and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (now mandatory in the US for road use), it all makes since. The reason that burning "old" diesel used to smell so bad was because it had more sulfur. More sulfur, equates to a fuel that doesn't burn as clean and leaves a "stinky" residue. That residue may have been great for lubricating our diesel engines, stinking up our houses and clogging up kerosene wicks but today the old diesel is GONE! Google-Parts Per Million of sulfur in Kerosene and ULSD, then make the decision.
Its working for me but would love to hear what I'm missing if you don't agree.
Thanks for the info. I have a similar kerosene heater that is running on diesel. I was out of town and my dad accidentally used diesel in my shop and low and behold it worked fine. So I have been running the low sulfer diesel and I agree, even less odor than the kerosene. The only thing I've noticed is it takes a little longer to warm up. The added fuel cleaner is probably a good idea.
i know this is a very old video, but it is still very helpful, thank you very much for sharing the results of your experience.
Pascal Junger
I'm running BP diesel with 3 ounces of 90% isopropyl alcohol per gallon in my kerosene heater and it does work fine with no smell at all.
I'm in Jacksonville Florida with the same 2000 sebring, and just wondering if you do work on the side of your own vehicle.
G ad
BP diesel. I also have a 100% COTTON wick.
G ad
Might not work. 100% cotton wick is what I found out is why some it works for and others it doesn't.
I assume you are talking about ordinary diesel at the gas station that goes in cars and trucks. I don't know anything about #1 and #2 notations. I have been using JetA in my heater for years. It is high sulfur but still burns well with my glass wick. I have to get it at the airport so its harder to come by than street diesel. I may try your solution.
syenery7 I am just plain burning the ruby diesel in my fanco with a fiberglass wick, no issues, after each tank full of diesel i do a dry burn on it everytime and it does not clog the fiberglass wicks. Thats what fiberglass are for basically so y ou can do a dry burn everytime, and i been doing it for while and FIBERGLASS WICK buring home heating oil is no issues for me whatever. and i am not using no additives, straight fromt he storage tanke straight into the FANCO FUEL TANK.....
It works!!! Was skeptic- I tried diesel two winters ago because it works in our forced air kerosene heaters so thought it would with this style. It didnt so been using kerosene last two winters. which isnt to bad considering their are a few stations that still have it at the pump...apx 3.50 to$4.00 a gallon. Not bad but the stations arent convenient. Ran out of kerosene tonight and went to the station couple blocks away. Picked up 2 gal #2 diesel added the 6oz of the alcohol and tried it - no go - but noticed the alcohol was only 50% Isc not the 90 so dumped another six. It worked okay but actually paid attention and realized I also need the additive. Grabbed some out of truck added an oz and had some gumout injector in the garage handy and said hell threw in a shot of that too..... I cleaned the wick quickly with a little of that alcohol and a brush then tried it out. I got more smoke than kerosene at the initial start but this thing has been blazing all night now and zero smoke zero smell - Waaaaaaay hotter than kerosene. Unlike the others posting my flame is actually better??? . I cant believe how hot it is. ready for it to melt down - - awesome! Thank u so much. Free diesel from work makes this that much better
I hope you realize that your comment is not consistent. You start by saying that it worked, and then say that it didn't, then go back to saying it worked.
Thanks so much for this info. I just mixed me up 5 gallons of MurphyMart ULSD with 32oz. 90% isopropyl alcohol and 2 ounces of the diesel additive. Heater is working like a champ. No more $8/gallon K-1 for me!!!! I am burning a Home Depot Dura-Heat 23000 btu heater with no problems.
+Preston White , any update ?
Just getting into a new heater season here in Texas and will be using the ULSD mix again. Good source of really cheap pints of 90% isopropyl alcohol is Target. Located in the drug/pharmacy section of my local store. Greed is a terrible thing. In the old days, kerosene was cheaper than diesel. I suspect that it still is coming out of the refinery but the guys in the middle are ripping us to pieces because of the market niche that they think they have. Even if I do foul a few wicks over the course of a heater season, it is still cost effective to burn the ULSD mix. As for combustion concerns/ CO generation from my heater with ULSD- NOT!!! The alcohol is a combustion modifier and actually oxygenates the fuel which is what the gasoline blenders have been doing to meet EPA guidelines for auto emissions. Same thing with my heater.
Thanks for including the make and model. that's the one I have and was wondering if it would work with mine. Thanks a bunch.
+Preston White Bless You! this is precisely what I want to hear.
I think I clogged up my wick. It ran good and hot the first day now hardly
anything.
I wasn't sure of my ability to do this so I bought a dyna-glo at an auction for $35 and figured if I mess it up then no harm no foul. I replaced the wick with 100% cotton, and put in a gallon of diesel. I let it sit overnight so the wick could absorb. Lit it this morning and it lit with NO problems!!! No black soot and the smell is no worse than kerosene smell. I have it burning on low right now and am eager to see how long a gallon will burn on low. We live in Eastern Washington and last winter was brutal!!! Kerosene is so expensive and living in an old 1898 farmhouse our highest utility bill was $660 and that was supplementing with a fire and kerosene (so not including those) and it was a struggle to keep the temperature comfortable in the rooms that we live in. Kerosene here is about $10 a gallon. I am looking forward to being warmer this winter without it breaking the bank. Thanks so much for your video and updates!!!
Yep. Back in the day they used home heating oil in these old ones no problem and diesel is way cleaner than that.
@@birdwing98 thanks thanks thanks awesome site
Wow! I was in Misawa, Japan in 1987. Some of our Unit went to Team Spirit, but I stayed behind to man the fort...lol! I did get to Osan a few times on leave to do some shopping. Five dollar Rebocks and they were the real deal. Same thing that was shipped to the USA. Anyhow, thanks for your service bro.
Very cool! I'm excited for it to get cold now so I can bust out the heater in my shop! Kerosene is so damn expensive now days.. Thanks for this useful info, you are saving people a ton of $ with this
Thanks! Now that spring is around the corner, I found your video! Kero at FIVE dollars a gallon is killing my wallet here in NH. I am worn out from wick maintenance. Thanks so much for the tip!!!
I tried the treated ULS diesel in a Toyotomi WC-105. It buggered a new wick, but the one takeaway i have from this experience is that the USLD gives off so much more heat than K1! As the wick began loading with parrafin, i did notice that weak flame still gave me full heat output! Crazy! I will be switching back to the K1 source I found that is about 25 miles away. I did notice that you are using a full cotton wick. Bummer that it didn't work. If i ever do get my hands on an old Perfection heater, rock on I will used this method!
Tom Giacchi , Hey I noticed the same thing in my Dyna-glo but with adding acetone at a ratio of 4 cups klean-strip acetone to 5 gallons ULSD. I'm getting about 24-30 hours run-time off each tank. The clogging does get worse with each tank though. Saw another comment where everytime it got clogged up the guy washed his wick with Dawn dish soap and rinsed and dried it and it burned like new again. I'll be ordering an all cotton wick to see how much better it works. I've seen quite a few petroleum engineers who claim acetone is the best thing to add as it burns much hotter and cleaner. I hardly ever smell anything compared to K1.
@@JC-ic8uh I'm sure you are venting, but are the fumes from Acetone more harmful?
I have an Dyna-Glo heater and it is putting out black smoke and soot. It is putting out very little heat and flame.I;m using # 2 diesel. I did every thing you did in this video.
+John Richard Bereswill Try finding a #1 diesel which is sold as kerosene but a cheaper grade than the stuff k-1.
Wick could need replacing
John Richard Bereswill it sounds to me like you need to run a cleaner through it. The wick could need replacing however it sounds to me like you just have a dirty unit. There is some cleaner you can get from home depot that will clean it and should make it better unless it's really caked on soot. You will then need to manually clean it. You can mix 1/2 a gallon to a gallon of gasoline with the other 4 gallons of diesel to clean it. I always run at least 1 to 2 gallons of kerosene or the clean version of kerosene (kerokleen) I believe it's called or something like that. After that you can also use about half a bottle of 90% rubbing alcohol in the 5 gallon tank and there will be no smell and it will stay cleaner way longer!
I have a double burner kesense heater and I thinking to try this as fuel is not only expensive but getting harder to source here in Ireland, my only question would be air quality and fumes .
Thanks for the tip,I'm thinking we will have a very cold winter here this year
Wonder if it would work in a zippo lighter as well adding the additive, if not it clogs up the wick, old ww2 stuff i read where people tried - glad to hear i can use diesel in a kerosene heater tho
I know that this video is quite old, but nowadays. K-1 kerosene is almost nonexistent. Especially the clear kind, which can no longer be purchased at the pump at filling stations in my area of Pennsylvania, anywhere. If you want the clear K-1, about the only places I know it to be available are Walmart, and Tractor Supply, but they charge astronomically high prices for it, at about $12-$15 for a two gallon can. And Kerosene with red dye in it is getting more rare, and very hard to find. If you are lucky enough to find it in a filling station, it costs around $2.69 or more per gallon. But very few places even sell it anymore. At the same time, diesel fuel has gotten ridiculously expensive in recent years, due to the road taxes. Currently, here in PA, diesel fuel is well over $3 per gallon. It's also my understanding that #2 diesel produces more BTUs than #1 kerosene, but they are both still pretty expensive.
What I do, and many people I know do, is either order bulk delivery of #2 home heating oil, which is essentially the same as diesel, but with red dye added, or go to filling stations that sell what is typically called either, "Off Road Diesel," or, "Farm Diesel." These are basically both the same as #2 home heating oil, which is essentially #2 ULSD diesel, like what trucks or diesel vehicles use, with a tax exempt red dye added to it. They are both in the range of about $1.50 - $1.69 per gallon. About half the price of ULSD or kerosene. I have not tried adding isopropyl alcohol to it, which might help it burn cleaner, but I'm quite sure would reduce the BTUs substantially. I have had no problem using either home heating oil, or off-road diesel. I experience a little black smoke on startup, but it goes away after a few minutes, with virtually no smoke, after the heater warms up. I never felt I'll, or teary eyed in my garage using this, or any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning whatsoever. If you are going to use this indoors, in your home, I would highly recommend you light it outside, which can be difficult on a windy day. Then bring it in after it warms up, which only takes a couple of minutes. I use a fuel soaked piece of paper to light my Ker-O-Sun heater that the igniter stopped working on decades ago.
I hope this information helps anyone looking to keep their old, "outdated," kerosene heaters, and get useful heat, without breaking the bank. I also hope it helps dispel any myths about using alternative, cheaper fuels besides kerosene. Don't be afraid to use #2 home heating oil, and/or Off-Road and Farm diesel in your old school kerosene heater. It's much cheaper, and #2 oil burns hotter than kerosene. About 220,000 BTUs to about 190,000 BTUs, from recollection, last I checked. Have Fun! 😀
If you're still not keen on using straight Diesel, you can simply blend 1:1 Diesel and Kero...it works pretty good and you can cut your Kero Costs in half. Truth be known...these heaters with proper additives in diesel will run just fine, but the Refiners try to discourage everyday folks from using anything but Kero because they rather you buy straight Kero at a much higher price! I still use Regular Unleaded Gasoline in my Coleman Stoves and Lanterns instead of Naptha...I just have to clean off the Worm Screws and Carberators more frequently. Other than that...it works just fine! (Cheaper too) Gallon of Naptha here in Canada is running about $20+ Dollars. So I don't mind seasonally cleaning a Carb or Worm Screw and emptying the tanks at seasons end, then I just run a small amount of Naptha through it.
I alternate, 2 tanks diesel to 1 tank kerosene. Don’t use any additives. Never a problem.
Really so you think it is ok to use plan diesel
Thanks for the great video! I have been using kerosene heaters every winter for the last 5 years, never knew I could also use diesel and am so glad I discovered this!
What works REALLY well in a kero heater is Jet Fuel. Yep Jet A1 is basically a more highly refined type of Kerosene and burns very cleanly in a kero heater.
Most likely you're a hundred percent right but let's all go to the airport and fills up LOL just saying this because I don't see where I can get jet fuel.
Team Spirit '88... the Chaplain's assistant distinguished himself as the first person to roll over a CUCV. To top this, he wrongly installed the diesel Yukon stove and burned down a GP Medium! I got sick in a tent, strep throat, laryngitis, AND pneumonia: the frickin medic gave me 24 hrs quarters in an unheated tent. Oh, but a kind tent-mate lit the tiny heater, walked away, and it wasn't trimmed so put out nothing but black soot. By the time I made it thru the field hospital to the 121st Evac in Seoul, I was completely black.
Thanks for the video and I would like to know what's the name of the heater you used I tried to find out but I can't?
You need a old style heater that has a 100% cotton wick.
I listen to this other guy that did a check on the specs between kerosene and diesel and the found out that the new ultra low sulfur diesel is actually cleaner than kerosene. He runs it straight in his heater without any additives with no problem and no odor.
The new ultra low sulfur diesel in cleaner than kerosene and also has MORE BTU's per gallon, but is could clog the wick after a while if it is just run straight. The wick on my heater is the original wick from 1987, so if it works on mine it should be fine. I'm using the isopropyl alcohol and injector cleaner to be on the safe side.
You can also use acetone. 1 oz/ gal.
i been doing good, just about the end of heating season, burned a hole drum full of HOME HEATING OIL, and no problem thank you ENERGY7. On the other videos you have, one said you been pouring it straight into the tank.. I been doing that, but having one problem, With the carbon buildup, i have a hell time getting it to light, but once its lit, it goes the hole night without issue.
TRY TELLING YOUR DIESEL JOKE TO OTHER PEOPLE ON TH-cam, they will not get the joke. MAY THE KEROSENE GO STALe. HOME HEATING OIL I am running RED DYE DIESEL FUEL and the dye no issues for the perfection to burn. its just in ther because no road tax has been paid.
How has the diesel deal in your heater been doing? Just curious, as this is wicked cool! Need to burn up the fuel I have before trying the diesel!
I keep reading other's comments about the diesel burning a lot hotter than kerosene, but I'm curious about just how much hotter. Modern heaters are made of thinner metal so I wonder if it is as safe and can accommodate the higher burn temperature.
Well, in the 1913 Perfection heater, It will easily last 13 hours on a medium setting and it put out very good heat. That's with diesel fuel.
I clogged a newer wick using diesel and a little alcohol a few times. Never tried the injector cleaner with it though. Never could get the wick to burn anything fuel right afterwards, even after burning it dry and cleaning it. MIght try this mixture with a new wick. Beats paying $10.00 a gallon for kerosene!
I'm using BP diesel. Don't know if that makes a difference, but I have zero problem. It's the original wick from 1987 too. .
G ad I have a old heater that uses 100% cotton. But it looks like you are doing better than some others already.
Consider carbon felt as a wick. It is likely to last a great deal longer.
Hey, thanks for the tip. Just added 16oz 99% ISO to 4.5 gal diesel.
No smell, runs great!
Running an old Reddy Heater 55 [55,000btu]
Home Depot & Lowes both want $10 per gallon for kerosene. Not gonna happen!
If you're gettin a headache from the fumes then you're also getting low level CO poisoning.
I had one 30 years ago and it heated the whole house, back when kerosene which is less refined than gasoline and a lot cheaper.
Somehow kerosene got up to $10/gallon from the government taxing it to prevent truck divers from escaping taxes .
Yes, I remember a long time ago kerosene was super cheap. Less than gasoline. It's ridiculous how they screwed up the price today.
+breckandy yeah now kero ius so fknn expensive...
@@garymiller7880 happened under obama watch
Kerosene won't work in a modern diesel truck, you'll blast injectors and pumps. Reason they taxed it a lot is to reduce civilian consumption of it for aviation
@@phantomsoldier497 Appreciate the input. I don't know how many civilians that have jet aircraft.
In an effort to make certain that information I was told is in fact 100% accurate, I have ordered a quality Made in the USA CO meter that will detect any amount of CO present. A properly running heater will show zero CO with either kerosene or the diesel fuel with the isopropyl alcohol additive. But you still need to crack ope a window. I am going to make certain by testing this with a quality Made in the USA CO meter. Btw, ordinary candles will also emit CO gas.
Good video. I was in Korea for team spirit in 1987 as well. 11h from fort Lewis
Syyenergy 7- Thank you so much for the amazing video and great information! I tested this and it works!! One question though! The Isopropyl alcohol bottle that you show in the video, is it a pint or a quarter? I saw in the comments that someone has used 3 oz per gallon, which will make it up to about a pint in 5 gallons.
pint
An 'update' says that there was another video to see first. A lot of folks will NOT do that. K-1 kerosene (purified and clear) is the best choice, but it is not available at all towns...
USLD has a much lower sulfer content spec than standard K-1. 15ppm vs 440ppm. I think that explains the lack of odor.
as usual, you have the answers I need to my
problems. I finally got a old kerosene heater going outside. the other one is frozen, who knows what's in the gas tanks. filled it with desil and used blow torch and it is going out there. a small flicker of warm in -5 or more degrees.
Had to replace busted sheer pin in snow blower augers. but augers won't turn anymore. any advice?
This friggin weather has me pounded.
Versus using expensive PB Blaster to un-stick the rusted snow-blower augers, I'd just use plain automatic transmission fluid mixed with kerosene in a spray bottle and spray all the parts down. It could work to free everything up. Any kind of cleaner-solvent like WD40 might free up a stuck wick on a kerosene heater if you let it soak a while. At least you are doing more than 50 MILLENNIALS. Gawd those people are the 'pitts'. :) lol
Friend of mine swears by a Jet Fuel, which
I believe is close to Kerosine. He's not too far from a general aviation, small plane airport that has it. Look up Fixed Base Operators at your local Field, they usually sell fuel out of Pumps.
good evening to you and all the comments... 7 years later how has the diesel mix been working for you and all the people that has commented.. I use K1 and the price just went up to $6.89 a dollar more than it was last month. The diesel is $4.69/gal and that additive is $4.25. I'm sure the K1 at the pump will run out or stop soon and would like to try this.. I want to know if anyone stopped and went back to K1, did wicks clogged, who start feeling ill and who may have stopped using kerosene all together... thanks in advance of comments
Have you tried using petrol as your additive?
I've been using Jet-A which is easier to get than Kerosene, but harder to get than diesel. Also, the prices vary widely from $2.33 to $7.85 depending on the airport. My wick is fiberglass so I'm leery of using diesel.
does jet a work well? I'm thinking about buying one since I have an excess of jet fuel
Yes, Jet-A works very well. The only thing is that it is not low sulfur. I've never had a problem with any odors greater than that of pure K-1.
Thanks for the response. What are the sulfer issues to worry about?
I don't know. I've never had a problem. But I think it could possibly cause breathing problems in extreme concentrations.
I have a kerosun 105f with the original glass/cotton wick.. to run diesel, all I did was move the wick up 1/4" and run straight #1 with no soot or odor at all... when I run kero, i just turn the wick down after it is completely lit...
Omin 105 heater dosen't smell with diesel once it worms up but the only thing I realized is it a little less heat and I might be wrong because I'm not sure it lasts longer.
Just got a heater and good to know
I just did this with a Sengoku 23,000 BTU. FIberglass wick I believe.Heater started to get low flame in 1/2 tank. It completely clogged after two tanks. Very black soot everywhere.Maybe it works for pue coton wicks, but not fiberglass on my heater.
I have an inverter paraffin heater and i run it on diesel, it works well.
What about carbon monoxide concerns?
well i been heating my house for several years with diesel,without any additives ....no smell at all ....not sure what wick is in my old heater but no problems so far
You probably have a chimney to heat your house because if you're using one of these heaters God bless you you're still alive
Great video..yeah K1 is pricey.. Whats the additive ratio.. I read on a bottle at autozone.. 32 ounces to 100 gallons
I do that plus the isopropyl alcohol.
syyenergy7
So let's say I only had 5 gallons..I would just use 1/20 of that amount of 32 ounce autozone additive...in the container. I dont have a big drum or something, and of course I dont want to add so much it ruins the fuel :)
radstorm Yep plus the plus the isopropyl alcohol.
+syyenergy7 Another update.. I found a place online named milesstair.com The guy there said he can make custom 100% cotton wicks for around $20 plus shipping, so maybe that's good news for the more modern heaters :) He is located in Oregon
I.m getting one tommorow..Thanks alot..I.m in Georgia...North Flordia..
I'm in north-central Florida. I was using it since last night. Still working good today with a refill. Old school stuff works.
Just ordered a kerosene heater today. Gotta keep working on the bldg during winter and the propane bullet heater goes thru gas too damn fast. What kind of diesel injector cleaner are you running and where do you get 90% isopropyl alcohol? How's the wick acting now that you're racking up the hours?
It's by Slick diesel. 90% isopropyl alcohol you can get anywhere (Walmart). It seems good. No problems.
Wow...neat low sulfur diesel and alcohol...probably shifts the #2 diesel oil to much like #1 kerosene oil...I can see that.
Yep, it makes it just a little lighter. It's not my idea. I heard t from a country boy and he said it works.
Well my heater won't work now. Used it for a week with Diesel and the additive and it started out great but now it's a no joy. Should I just use the 90% alcohol with Diesel and ditch the additive?.
How much of the 90% isopropyl alcohol and how much of the diesel fuel additive do you recommend for 5 gallon of diesel fuel
i read 12 oz is this true since this post a yr ago and figured it out? How did it work for you, any problems?
@@beatleme2 yeah I finally figured it out put 16 oz of 91% Isopropyl alcohol 1.5 oz of diesel fuel additive to 5 gallon of gas
@@llengford Thanks :)
Are the exhaust fumes safe to breathe? Is this procedure safe for indoor use?
This is all I heat with.
just wondering,, what would happen by mixing k1 with diesel half and half. By the way how did your winter back then work out in the end? :)
I had no problem mixing kerosene with diesel. This heater was going strong all winter. It did a fine job.
You would ruin your good K1 !
You will be fine! Try it once with a 1/8 full tank if you are skeptical.
What type of stuff do you add and how much please???
Right now I just make sure that the wick is 100% Pure COTTON. That's really all that is required .
how do you clean the wick use a wire brush ? i put a new wick in ran it till it ran out of diesel fuel and i guess it clogged up goes out when i light it and smokes have never used a kerosine heater before
Synergy7! Quick question.
I am about to try this in my shed for preheating the hard-to-start ATVs here in Canada. Kerosene 20$ a gallon here, or 5$ for diesel. Can I get the precise mixture you are using? You mention BP diesel...
But what is the mixture? 1 quart of 90% rubbing alcohol, to 5 gallons of diesel? And how much diesel fuel injector cleaner?
I would like to mix a 5 gallon ideally. Or a 2 gallon would suffice I would think.
I've been using BP diesel. Initially I started using a about 5 ounces
90% alcohol in the diesel. Now I usually just use the diesel. The wick
has to 100% COTTON. Each fill-up I scrape the top of the wick off to
ensure clean burning. I use the Perfection 1550 Kerosene/Oil heater
most of the time. This old Korean heater works because the wick is 100%
COTTON. A few people got the cotton/fiberglass wicks to work (very
few). If the wick has fiberglass, it will clog.
So, 5 ounces of alcohol to how much BP Diesel?
2 gallon? 5 Gallon? Or whatever your heater tank is sized?
I have two models, one that heats 360 degrees, and one that I can put against a wall. The one against the wall is less BTUs, but takes a lot less room/ And I got it for 40$ so I don't mind risking the wick.
How do I tell if the wick is 100% cotton is it is already installed?
I am wondering if diesel fuel injector cleaner might help with the other wicks...
I will gladly sacrifice mine for the experiment
I put 5 ounces alcohol in 5 gallon can of diesel. Likely it's not a 100% cotton wick unless it's ancient. There is injector clean in my diesel as a preservative, so maybe that helps too. Either way you are going to find that you will be able to at least use some diesel mixed in the kerosene even if you don't have a 100% cotton wick.
i have an alladin the square one i put diesel with 91percent alc. mix it works but does not burn as hot
goliathsphinx Mine burns great and lights easy. I have a Korean heater I bought in Korea , so maybe something is
different about it. It's the Original wick from 1987 too. I used the
hell out of it too.
A few more uses and your heater will be ruined !
Thank you for the update
What happens if I just use straight out of pump diesel alone?
Is the kerosene heater working yet on diesel and additives?
is all diesel sold at gas stations nationwide "low sulphur"? I wanna buy a kerosene heater but not if it stinks up the joint.
cityguyable yes
I heard you say you store diesel in aluminum fuel tanks for boats but I can't find any larger than 20-30 gallons. What're you thoughts on converting semi truck aluminum drum tanks? I can't find any info on it
I have a 60 gallon aluminum boat tank. Maybe I was lucky when I found that. Not sure about truck tanks, but that sounds like a good idea.
syyenergy7 how do you guys get these big tanks filled?
delivery or what?
Lord Toranaga
Lots of 5 gallon containers. I have 4 five gallon contains. I get 20 gallons in one trip.
When you say BP diesel do you mean the BP gas station? Or can I get the low sulfur diesel from any gas station and add the alcohol and injector cleaner to run through my kerosene heater? Thanks
BP gas station diesel.
Do you think it doesn't smell much because it burns it more completely than a diesel motor?
This old heater was designed to use both heating oil and kerosene.
Diesel in Kerosene Heater, Testing Carbon Monoxide (CO)
th-cam.com/video/j6L0l7BMlM8/w-d-xo.html
I tested the Carbon Monoxide (CO) output on the kerosene heater when running diesel fuel with some 90% isopropyl alchohol and the meter reads zero (0) Carbon Monoxide.
so I tried the diesel with isopropyl. TOTAL FAIL. stinks smokes and clogged the wick
if you clog the wick by not using the additive will adding the additive clear the wick up?
If you are using a 100% cotton wick the wick doesn't clog, although I
scrap the very top of the wick off each fill-up. A lot of times I don't
even bother with the alcohol additive and I'm having no issues. I've been
running it this way for 2 years now.
Steve Elliot -- do you know how to "dry burn" your wicks? If not look that up, you need to do that every so often no matter what fuel you use. Also it is worthwhile to buy really good quality wicks (can find online).
Tried this in my heater and it's not going well. Flame is too yellow and at the highest setting I'm still not getting enough flame.....wondering if it's a winter blend or summer blend thing....is the diesel your using clear or neon green?
bugman5923 I an using BP diesel BP and Shell have twice as much biodiesel in them than most other brands. I use 3 ounces 90% isopropyl alcohol per gallon. see this videoth-cam.com/video/jfvsw39Q5bIa/w-d-xo.htmlt the 10 min 10 sec mark.
@@syyenergy7 I remember now you said where to buy diesel, do you think the biodiesel works better?
@@jerryrday1837 In certain heaters it does. In the Perfection 1550 heater I like using diesel as it seems to burn cleaner and last longer.
Just curious how your wick held up now that it's been a couple of years. Any problems?
No problems with the 100% Cotton wick clogging. Eventually the wick wears out.
Thanx for the info,,
I am trying this, but mine is letting off a TON of black soot from the heater. I am adding the alcohol and the additive. Anyone getting a bunch of black soot? Any help would be appreciated.
Do you use off road diesel? I think I am using the wrong diesel?
Emily Ball It's the same fuel, off-road is just dyed red for tax purposes, proves no road tax was paid.
Run Seafoam in your diesel and you'll be happy!
Although this video is 4 years old, i am commenting, i just pour just straight diesel fuel into my FANCO, but to do always the "DRY BURN" and it does just fine, my sears kerosene heater doesn't like it too well, i do agree, I CAN'T STAND KEROSENE (JET FUEL) (WHO WOULD WANT TO BUY THE WORTHLESS OVERPRICED KEROSENE SHIT ANYWAY) AT $4.00 A GALLON... RUBY DIESEL IS about $2.69 A GALLON....its forever giving me a damn headache, and since using RUBY DIESEL for the past 3 years, i am able to sleep alot better and keep warm... i don't buy the onroad diesel fuel, its way overpriced, i use HOME HEATING OIL (#2 diesel fuel same as onroad but has red dye added to it) anD NO THE RED DYE HAS NOTHING TO DO HOW IT BURNS, AGAIN THE RED DYE HAS NOTHING TO DO HOW THE DIESEL BURNS, RED DYE IS FOR OFFROAD USE and cheaper to buy then onroad diesel.......
Got my KeroHeat 2300btu heater today. Got my diesel additive with slick, a few pints of 90% isopropyl, and a plastic yellow 5 gal fuel can. So here goes nothing.
I am in same situation, except with metal safety can. I am saturating the wick now and will light the burner soon.
I haven't had a chance to light mine yet. Lemme know how yours goes.
Fired mine up today. 5 gallons of diesels mixed with 90% isopropyl. Filled up the kero heater. The first start smoked cuz it was brand new. Brought it inside and there was no smell. But when I turned it off I should've taken it outside cuz it smoked & smelled when I cut it off. I didn't throw the slick additive in it only the isopropyl. So far I'm super impressed. Let's see how it performs thru-out the winter. Just remember to light it & turn it off outside.
cityguyable
Mine seems to work fine. This has the same wick from 1987 !! So if this thing works without clogging , anything should.
I have been through about two gallons of diesel in the last two days. I am not using Isopropyl, just the injector cleaner.
The heater seems to work fine, but I never used kerosene, so I have nothing to relate to.
The diesel is only $2.50 and the kerosene cost $7.50
all good over her so far.
I plan on using isopropyl with my next five gallon can of diesel
Yeah my whole house smells totally of unburnt diesel, the only reason I couldn't smell it at first is because it's not the same pungence as kerosene but now it's already the next day and boy does it stink in here! Come to think of it all my clothes smell, too, I'll probably have to call that company "like it never even happened," what's their name, Servpro, yeah that's it, maybe they can clean this smell out lol hopefully it will be gone by summer (nyah I know it won't take that long but it really is pretty bad).
Pascal Junger Run an Ozone generator Machine (in unoccupied rooms only) to neutralize odors. Cost 1-200 or Rent.
Where do you buy the diesel additive? I know I can buy the alcohol at Walmart.
I don't use the additive anymore. I found that as long as the wick is 100% COTTON, diesel will run fine.
Thanks, good info!
Adding industrial acetone is FAR better that isopropyl alcohol.
Benito Abreu. At what ratio?
At what ratio do you add acetone?
No smell is my main concern
You need to use a 100% COTTON wick
Do you guys have furnances in Florida?
***** Heat pump usually.
syyenergy7 Do you use off road diesel? I think I am using the wrong diesel?
Emily Ball
No. it's BP diesel at the pump. Remember I have 2 additives in it. Some alcohol and also injector cleaner, otherwise the diesel will clog the wick after a while.
I used off-road biodiesel with isopropyl alcohol (1 quart per 5 gallons) so far it s fine. But the price of off-road and ULSD are about the same in our area.
I am having a problem finding a 100% cotton wick. Do you know a source?
firefox4all Maybe e bay
syyenergy7 Everyone I found is fiberglass/cotton. Will try adding alcohol and a new wick anyway, maybe that will work. I was burning some home heating oil I got free with no real problems, maybe it didn't have biofuel added. Started it today with k1 thinking maybe to break the wick in first also.
This is where I found my wicks: www.milesstair.com/Diesel_cotton_wicks.html
would it be ok to put mine in my basement with the door closed we have an old Victorian house with an unfinished basement please this is urgent
No, all open flame in a home needs ventilation. Without a source of fresh air, O2 will be used up and CO2 production will turn to CO (carbon monoxide) production. Each year, more than a few people die because they don't know or ignore these basic facts. I have nonvented natural gas heaters in my home. In addition to having a CO detector in every room I make sure there is always a source of fresh air.
I tried all that and only comes on few min and then flutters smokes turns off
That mean you need to change the wick for a new one 😁
november 2023 in richmond va. this does not work
I have a dyna glo kerosene heater that uses a 3C wick. I cannot find a 100% cotton wick anywhere. Only a fiberglass/cotton wick. Does anyone know where I can find one?
I don't know, but here is a place to look if you haven't: www.milesstair.com/
ebay
Lowes and Home Depot
Don't do this. I ruined two new wicks. Diesel #1 and kerosene are different. Diesel will clog up your wick, even if you add alcohol. I know, I tried it both with #2 and then a new wick and #1. Kerosene is different from diesel #1. Don't ruin perfectly good wicks like I did.
You sir are absolutly correct never burn diesel in these heaters !
I heard that Diesel fuel can cause "Benzine" poisoning when used in a Kerosene heater. Any thoughts?
Could be, but that also occurs when get in a hot car that sat in the sun with the windows closed. Benzene comes from the vinyl in the car. There are many sources. I now have a CO meter and will be testing the heater for CO.
fkn awesome!
+Gary Miller It works great on this heater because the wick is 100% cotton. No fiberglass.
idk what da wick is man... it seems to work... instructions says i gotta clean it with a toothbrush... huh?
wtf?
The the second ultimate after Star Trek technology heating would be a clean burning wood stove because wood Is everywhere I bought a portable rocket stove last year and have Not used It because I was having a tough time finding lighter fluid to start It but finally I bought some diesel and gasoline and mixed 25% gasoline and 75% diesel the gasoline% mix still needs to be a little lower. I thought about buying a kerosene heater after I found out that diesel could be used In them but then seen Its a lot of maintain the wick. so Instead of focusing on heating the whole house I Am more focus on warm clothes and putting a Ice Shelter In the house and using Electric heater with a thermostat and hope to get where can use solar and wind for heating and when Its cloudy and the wind Is Not blowing use Propane which can now be purchased at many gas station and as unbelievable as It may seem even the nearest gas station to Me sells Propane but at $52.00 for a 20 pound tank with 15 pounds of Propane Its expensive so I mostly use Infrared radiant Electric heaters and heating pads.
walmart charges 15.85 for a tank if you have your old tank
Man found died next to heater..
A laugh but do the same in workshop.It works but feel my brain cells popping
I live In a Clam thermal Ice shelter Instead of My house there are No dead Animals under It It or In the attic or walls and pest have No place to hide, and the dinosaur room uses 6 Electric heaters and always having to replace the burnt out wiring from using so much Electricity and the Ice shelter take 2 Electric heaters but the dinosaur computer Is still In My house because I did Not want It stealing My space. I was using a Infrared Propane heater with the Electric heaters to heat the dinosaur room but using that much Propane seems like a waste so I bought some warmer clothing but My finger would still get frost bite from typing and I wanted a back up heat source If the Electricity went out even though I do have a Generator and a Rocket stove but the Rocket stove requires constant feeding It wood and It too smoky can Not be used Indoors without a exhaust, so I thought about a Kerosene heater, I was thinking what If I mixed Diesel and gasoline to make kerosene I thought of this a few months ago and stated saving up to buy a kerosene heater but then seen that the wicks are a pain to replace and decided Not to buy a kerosene heater but then I seen Yours and Others videos about burning Diesel In a kerosene heaters and how long the wick last and gave It another thought and ordered a 23000 BTU kerosene heater from Lowes January 14 which I wish I had done sooner, last night I finally got to the local gas station and bought 5 gallons of Diesel and this kerosene heater works with Diesels by Itself but the flame flickers and does have a smell but this Diesel has a smell without burning It and there was No smoke at all, and I believe You are right about adding rubbing Alcohol to It rubbing Alcohol Is what used to use to clean records and tape recorder heads, as long as this kerosene heater keeps working good then I Am happy with It. Do Not add gasoline with the Diesel because It will work with Diesel alone.
bout the only thing in use in my kerosene heaters, but i do a dry burn each time, smells everytime when doing a dry burn, but no smell while the heater is running.... I DON'T USE no additives of anything... just straight diesel in tank... Burning alot of home heating oil in the kerosene heaters at $2.54 a gullin 1/2 the damn cost of the WORTHLESS OVERPRICED SHIT KEROSENE AT $4.39 A gullin never have never will use that WORTHLESS OVERPRICED SHIT... no thank you...
I hope your not breathing that stuff into your lungs. During the last energy crisis of the late 70's, many folks were using those kerosene model Heaters that you have, they say the fumes (low odor or not) can cause lung cancer and Brain cancer. Be careful and make sure you have plenty of air circulation.
I had a window open and the place got to 83 degrees even with this thing on low. I'm aware of the potential problems. I'm just experimenting with it to make sure what I was told is 100% true.
Syy, Merry Christmas
I ordered an accurate Made in the USA CO tester than measures any trace CO. We'll see soon enough what this heater is doing. I have a Korean heater I bought in Korea , so maybe something is different about it. It;s the Original wick from 1987 too. I used the hell out of it too.
Yes and by the time I open a window I might as well be throwing my money out the window with it, I'd be kidding myself thinking I am somehow saving money just because the house is warm but hey, the earth is flat.