Plain Truth wrote:

---

If I can't get Winter diesel for the caravan heater I add 10% Kero to stop it waxing up.

---

 Ditto, but kero costs lots more than diesel, so no point adding more.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Probably not a good idea. The reason I say that is when servicing diesel injectors the mechanics only use kero because it does not vapourise into a highly inflammable mist. If it is not as inflammable it won't produce the heat. 

I wouldn't use kero anyhow.

Neil

Sorry Woolman - I cannot resist.

The word 'inflammable' hasn't been used for many years because it actually means it doesn't burn.

The word is 'flammable' which you see everywhere there is something that could catch fire.

Check out the back of a tanker next time you see one on the road.

Murray

Hi 

While I am no expert on this subject that will not stop me from expressing an opinion. 

Diesel and kero are very close to the same basic specs. However it does depend on the original crude oil they were distilled from. Crudes are not all the same or even similar. 

Kero is distilled as a simple fuel with no additives needed to burn it, while diesel is distilled with specific burning characteristics for engines and has additives also to help things. Jet engines run on basically very clean kero. A bit of kero added in small quantities would be OK IMHO. Never had to use winter diesel.  

Jaahn

Hi Plain Truth 

That was interesting thanks. I googled a bit on that info and here is a reference to the complete BP statement for those more interested in the subject !

The Australian standard has Australia divided into 6 zones for the supply of suitable blended diesel for the temperature expected there at various times of the year. So there is more than just "winter fuel"  

 https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-country/en_au/media/fuel-news/winter-diesel-problems.pdf

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 25th of April 2018 07:02:23 PM

dogbox wrote:

---

is heating oil a mix of kero an diesel

---

 Hi 

No it is just cheap less refined diesel distilled for,....... you guessed it ....... heating 

The term "inflammable" has nothing to do with burning. It comes from the word inflame. Inflammable liquids, or situations should never be considered safe. And I'm sure you'll agree that if you spill your "flammable " petrol around, you'll have a very "Inflammable" situation.

vanman wrote:

---

A fellow traveller told me that a diesel heater can be run on kerosene.

I have never heard of this but has anyone any knowledge about this?

Chris 

---

 A diesel heater cannot run on kerosene, because if it could, it would be called a kerosene heater, just as one that runs on petrol is called a petrol heater!, is there one that runs on petrol, according to Webasto there is, they have one listed. 

The only difference would be jet settings and safety design. Gas turbine engines all run on kerosene, and some run on oil, or what ever is handy, be it called avtur or what ever, the main difference is how the fan is driven, the caravan heater has its fan driven by an electric motor, the gas turbine is driven by the exhaust of the engine, except at start up when the fan is driven by electricity, hence at that stage it is exactly the same.

So fundamently the answer to your question is yes, with adjustments, but don't try it!, it'll void your warranty and you may get burn't.

 

I wouldn't say that, the heater that I looked at on the net (Webasto) is the same design, I would guess the jets would be different between fuels, but the design is still the same. 10% kero mix sounds OK, but I would contact the suppliers before using straight kero or petrol.
My guess would be different jets, and a different safety system for petrol, i.e. different computer program and safety switches.
Remember that these heaters would have been designed to go in machinery for example front-end loaders, trucks and the rest in cold climate countries, well before they thought of putting them in RV's. Probably designed during WW2.