Biodiesel In Kerosene Heater

A friend that works at the local fuel co op told me that diesel may reduce the life of the wick but so far i can t tell any difference.

Biodiesel in kerosene heater.

The long answer is we weren t sure exactly how to do it successfully but we knew it could be done. Biodiesel does not travel up a wick very well like kerosene or heating oil will so it can t be used for ordinary wick lamps or stoves. The quick answer is yes. I could detect no difference in flame height or heat output and no odors.

Biodiesel should be able to replace kerosene in items like lanterns or kerosene heaters. However tests have found that it will travel about 7cm up a wick but not more than that and the wick should preferably be thick about 1cm and loosely wound tightly woven commercial wicks won t work well. Diesel fuel can also wick but it doesn t evaporate well. It is the fraction of petroleum that vaporizes between 150 c and 275 c.

Arrange all of the items needed to produce biodiesel outside in a place that has access to electricity. A kerosene heater draws off or wicks up the kerosene. You ll probably get some smoke and odor when you first start the heater and you ll probably get some smoke and fumes when you turn it off. Just make sure that you have the right amount of air going to the heater.

This makes it evaporate and burn. This is one reason why there are no carburetors that use diesel fuel. Pour 48 ounces of cooking oil into the flask and turn the electric heating element to a low setting. Biodiesel has carbon chains that are about 12 to 18 carbons long.

Over the years we ve been asked several times if biodiesel can burn in an air fired kerosene heater. Pretty similar to a kerosene heater. Diesel burns surprisingly well in my 23 000 btu kerosun brand kerosene heater. Burning diesel in a kerosene heater is about the same as burning kerosene in the same heater.

Here are some of the dangers you should know if you use diesel fuel in your kerosene heater. Yes you can burn diesel in a kerosene heater.