Oil & Fuel Home heating fuel in a tractor??

Junkman · Dec 16, 2003

( If I ever tapped the heating tank just to save a few cents and our heat went off because we ran out of fuel because the auto-delivery based on degrees days couldn't factor in tractor useage...well, I guess my wife might not take to kindly to that.

Besides, the gas station is kind of close to the 'Bota dealer and I don't mind stopping in to browse around while getting fuel. )

Considering that your tractors (BX-2200) fuel tank only holds 5.5 gallons and I doubt that you would be filling it every week, I don't think that you would be using enough to make the difference in fuel delivery based on degree days. Degree days don't take into account temperature changes made by the home owner inside of the home and that is why people run out of fuel..... they jack up the inside temperature higher than average for a couple of days and that throws the entire system out of kilter. My tank is large enough that I don't worry about running out... Just have the heating oil dealer fill a couple of 5 gallon cans for you when he delivers to the house....

5030 · Dec 20, 2003

It didn't fail because of the fuel, It failed because you have the wrong brand !!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

RalphVa · Dec 21, 2003

I was a chemical engineer and worked in the lubricating oil process area; so, I'm not a real expert in heating oil vs. diesel but had access to specs for both.

As I recall, the main difference in the 2 was the pour point spec. Think it was lower for diesel. Still, Vermonters generally put 1/3 to 1/2 kerosene (#1 diesel) in their tanks in the winter.

I once started my old 1973 220D in -20 weather at our Vermont house. It started instantly (with one of those add-on heaters) after glowing for a minute but stalled a couple miles down the road. Knew what it was: wax buildup in the fuel filter. I waited 2 or 3 minutes, as the filter on a Benz is where it ought to be, attached to the engine. It started right up but stalled 2 or 3 more miles down the road. Same wait, same result, but it kept going then. The fuel filter was warm enough to keep the wax dissolved.

In 2004, I hear that diesel is supposed to be low sulfur, very low: enough so they can put cat converters on the cars. Not sure what will happen to home heating oil or off-road diesel. Think off-road will be the same, just no tax and maybe that dye in it.

Oh, and you folks putting ATF in your diesel are doing a No No. ATF is just 10 weight oil without additives. It's highly refined oil, but still oil, just heavier than diesel.

The only thing I've put in my Benzes has been Chevron Red Line when the engine pings. Only been twice in 180,000 miles now on the 240D. I'm waiting for Benz to sell another stick shift diesel to replace it. Otherwise, it's like new (almost), like my 5665 Gravely.

Ralph

5030 · Dec 21, 2003

Ralph:

Catalytic converters already exist on pickup trucks (diesel) and now all class 8 road tractors have converters in their exhaust systems. Donaldson makes them and incorporates them into the muffler assembly.

tc35dforme · Dec 21, 2003

Wrong brand of relay ???? You know I never thought of that !!

And I always thought Bosch made a decent product /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Dec 21, 2003

(
...................Oh, and you folks putting ATF in your diesel are doing a No No. ATF is just 10 weight oil without additives. It's highly refined oil, but still oil, just heavier than diesel.

The only thing I've put in my Benzes has been Chevron Red Line when the engine pings. Only been twice in 180,000 miles now on the 240D. I'm waiting for Benz to sell another stick shift diesel to replace it. Otherwise, it's like new (almost), like my 5665 Gravely.

Ralph )

I have owned Benz diesels since 1967 and for as many years as I can remember Benz had recommended using a qt of Dextron ATF in the fuel to keep the injectors clean. I had used it in all of them until I got the 350 SDL in 1987 when they advised against the ATF because of the particle trap that they were using to lower emissions. That design was the worse thing that Benz did for their diesels. Every 75 K the trap would come apart and take out the turbo with it. The only reason I didn't mind was it had a lifetime warranty on the trap and any damage that was done. Then Benz "redesigned" the trap and was replacing the old design with the new and canceled the "lifetime" warranty. When they did that to my car, I decided that it was time to give up on Benz diesels and they had also stopped importing them. I had heard that the "lifetime" warranty was forced on them by the EPA, but never got the details.
I am also old enough to remember when Caterpillar advised owners to use only home heating oil and not #1 diesel.....

5030 · Dec 22, 2003

Junkman:

That's because the old aftercooled caterpillars had quite a bit of initial compression.

My all time favorite Caterpillar is the 1693TA. Bosch injected, aftercooled inline 6. They came anywhere from 310 hp to anything you wanted to twist the pump to. Cat quit selling them for on road trucks about 20 years ago because the drivelines couldn't take the torque rise.

Cummins (drat) also builds a really powerful inline 6. The KTA motor can be set in the excess of 600 horse and over 1900 pounds feet of torque. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Both the KTA and the 1693 saw a lot of use in off highway equipment like pans and loaders.

Both engines prefer No.2 or heating oil. No. 1 is too hot.

5030 · Dec 22, 2003

tc35Dforme:

Bosch make lousy windshield wipers too. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

ejb · Dec 22, 2003

>>If I ever tapped the heating tank just to save a few cents and our heat went off because we ran out of fuel because the auto-delivery based on degrees days couldn't factor in tractor useage...well, I guess my wife might not take to kindly to that.

On the otherhand, it would be might nice to have a 250 gallon diesel tank out in the shop...maybe you could convince your wife that having it would allow you to have more fuel on hand in case the furnace ever runs low /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. On more than one occaisson I have drawn from my 250 disel tank to re-fill the house before the oil guy could come...

Lem · Dec 8, 2019

Only the Dye is the difference. Run it in my Bolens. It is a light diesel and the man that delivers it said it would even work in a Monitor Heater.
Get caught with it in a road truck or something the Feds will stick it to you because you paid no Fed. Taxes on it.