Fuel for space heaters

olthumpa · Feb 27, 2015

Have you tried burning diesel, straight or mixed with kerosene, in a torpedo style kerosene heater? (one not made to burn diesel)
If so, how did it work for you?
What brand/model of heater do you use?

HighSierra79 · Feb 27, 2015

I run straight diesel in an old, very old torpedo heater. Smells a little fumey, but heats alright, little to no smoke. Its rusty red/white, model no. GA-100 or something. I'd say 70's vintage. Way cheaper than kerosene.

I open a roof vent when using just to help vent the shop when burning the diesel. Shop is 80x40x12.

olthumpa · Feb 27, 2015

I use 4 parts diesel to 1 part kerosene. At least in my Dayton heater, it burns better, smells less and puts out more heat. Had to turn the air pump up a little.

And YES! $$$$ cheaper.

North Idaho Wolfman · Feb 27, 2015

I burn strait off road diesel in my Reddy torpedo heater.

Done it for years never an issue.

D2Cat · Feb 27, 2015

I had a little 55,000 BTU Reddy Heater that has been under the bench wrapped in a trash bag for at least 20 years. Couldn't get to my wood stove so with this cold weather I drug it out and used off road diesel added to what ever was in there for all those years! Didn't even dump out the old.

It works fine after replacing the filters and photo cell.

Daren Todd · Feb 27, 2015

Like the rest have stated. Diesel works great. That's all we've ever run in them for the shop.

HighSierra79 · Feb 28, 2015

For the heck of it.

Googled my heater. It's a vintage Amoco Sta-Warm, model AM-100s. Supposedly from the 60's. Runs like a champ on diesel. Found a parts diagram for it too.

Ben S · Mar 1, 2015

i use a 10 Kw electrical heater, no fumes, no fuel to get and very clean.

skeets · Mar 1, 2015

I tried diesel in one of the KeroSun heaters in the garage,, worked ok smelled, and the wick got a really nasty crust on top

olthumpa · Mar 1, 2015

skeets said:
I tried diesel in one of the KeroSun heaters in the garage,, worked ok smelled, and the wick got a really nasty crust on top

I have 2 of the wick versions, (22,000 but each), and if I use diesel in them the wick does get a nasty crust on the top. If you do not let it build up, you can clean it off with a tooth brush then burn it off.

coachgeo · Mar 2, 2015

skeets said:
I tried diesel in one of the KeroSun heaters in the garage,, worked ok smelled, and the wick got a really nasty crust on top

What I found when searching this topic not long ago was if using diesel; if you turn off the fuel and let the diesel burn out instead of shutting down by starving it of air; which is the normal procedure,..... this crusty issue wont happen

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Fuel for space heaters

olthumpa

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olthumpa

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North Idaho Wolfman

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D2Cat

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Daren Todd

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skeets

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