Diesel in an oil furnace?

Unknown

no problem.<BR><BR>Dave

movin2gas

Can diesel be used in an oil burning furnace?

Cracked Burnham steam system is being replaced very soon, but the tank is about out of oil. Most oil distributors have minimum deliveries which are too much for me. Can I nurse it along with 5gal/day of diesel fuel from the gas station instead of paying for oil I will never use? Is this safe?

RonWHC

As w/ most things,

it depends. On-road diesel has a max limit of 15 ppm sulphur. #2 heating oil has 500 ppm +++.

Sulphur lubricates pump gears. Many fuel unit failures have been reported when on-road diesel is the exclusive fuel used in the burners.

So, it depends. Are you willing to take the chance?

lee_7

By the name on original questions reads, i would assume long term is not an issue is it appears he will be going to gas.

oil-2-4-6-gas

i had run my Reillo with on-road diesel --maybe 20 gallons --before the fuel pump seized from lack of lubrication ---i would suggest you flag down a heating mechanic or 2 //in my area most carry 10 gallons of #2 in the truck for runouts and see if they can sell you some mix on-road with #2 --better yet the company that is going to install the boiler should be able to get some for you ---

Mainemike

Gas Conversion?

Sounds like the original poster is intending to throw the oil boiler away when it is replaced. I assume going to gas? So as long as longevity is not an issue, go for it.

Unknown

Now we`re

talking about this HUGE difference in fuel oils.
I remember not long ago people posting it was OK to use kerosene or stove oil.
I`ve also seen comments here about excessive sulfur causing pump damage.
The OP asked about short-term use, I see no prob in that.
Lets not get all analytical, I doubt anyone would feed their system extensively from the corner gas bar.

Dave

mtfallsmikey

Well...

Have a farmer friend who has been using off-road diesel for his Weil-McLain boiler for 4 years now, no pump failures.

scrook_2

off road vs road diesel

Off road diesel (red dyed, untaxed) would be okay (as used by farmer friend of prior poster), as it's either high (<5000 ppm) or low (<500 ppm) sulfur NOT ultra low (<15 ppm) sulfur diesel. It's the current ULSD road diesel that's the potential problem.

There may be diesel additives you could buy to add lupricity, or it may be worth paying a premium to have someone drop 50 gal (or whatever), to tide you over to the conversion replacement/tank replacement/etc.