Experiences with Dyed Kerosene?

NIdaho · Dec 16, 2011

I hadn't bought any Kerosene for the Space heater that I use in the garage for several years. When I went to get some, I was told that all bulk Kerosene now has dye in it and the only way to get clear K-1 was to buy it in 1, 2 or 5 gal containers. I had always used clear K-1 Kerosene in my convection space heater in the past and am a little bit leery of burning the fuel with dye in it.

What kind of experiences have others had with it?

Car Doc · Dec 16, 2011

Should be ok (haven't heard that story before now though) I use red #2 or #1 and 2 mix ULSD what ever I have on hand in my space heaters with no problems Kero is Kero the dye is probably just a tax issue jmo?

George2615 · Dec 16, 2011

At this time we can get clear K-1 here. Only problem is station that sells it get $1 more per gallon ($4.89) than the dyed K-1 at $3.89 down the street. I think its just the station because their gas prices are 20 cents more per gallon than the one down the street also. Needless to say I'm using the station down the road to buy my gas and dyed K-1 and have been using it in my space heater and garage furnace (80,000 BTU) without any problem yet.

Pete Judd · Dec 16, 2011

I can recall when the local gas stations, had 55 gallon drums behind the station, that had white gas, kero, and lube oil as well. They would fill a Corlox bottle for 15 cents with white gas. Times have changed around here, Hard to even find off road diesel anymore. Hard to find anyone using white kero except boaters around here, and I used to have a kero stove on the last boat. Kero, brings almost the most BTU's per pound of any fuel. But I don't think I want it to become any one of our heating options But I don't think that you will smell the dye.

Willl · Dec 16, 2011

NIdaho said:
and am a little bit leery of burning the fuel with dye in it.

Curious as to why you would feel this way ?

LBrown59 · Dec 17, 2011

Pete Judd said:
I can recall when the local gas stations, had 55 gallon drums behind the station, that had white gas, kero, and lube oil as well. They would fill a Corlox bottle for 15 cents with white gas. Times have changed around here, Hard to even find off road diesel anymore. Hard to find anyone using white kero except boaters around here, and I used to have a kero stove on the last boat. Kero, brings almost the most BTU's per pound of any fuel. But I don't think I want it to become any one of our heating options But I don't think that you will smell the dye.

My cousin and i used to use white gas in the go cart we built back in the fifties.
It was also called drip gass.
It wasn't kerosene .

moored4 · Dec 17, 2011

What color was it! I'v only seen the clear!

NIdaho · Dec 20, 2011

The Kerosene is dyed red just like Off-Road Diesel.

I was wondering if others had had problems caused by burning the fuel with dye in it -- deposit build-up, odors, a difference in burning performance, ....

Sounds like kerosene is definitely cheaper in the East as the dyed stuff is $5.28 per gallon here.

Tractor Seabee · Dec 21, 2011

I am sure it is all about fuel road taxes. Kero will burn fine in a diesel engine, especially the old ones, just have to add little motor oil, maybe. We had multi-fuel diesels in Vietnam that we burned all kinds of stuff in including jet fuel and gasoline laced with motor oil. Check the difference in price of off road and road diesel and difference is the tax burden. Any good diesel mech should be able to tell you wherter yours will burn kero straight. I but road diesel at the service station and apply for the off-road tax rebate. Do the same for gasoline I use off road.

Ron