OK to put kerosene in my tank? W123 and W126 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 03-23-2011, 03:19 PM

I have about 7 gallons of kerosene I bought this winter for a would be power outage here (to fuel my kerosene heater if needed). I don't want to keep it all summer in the basement, and I'd like to know if I can add it safely to the diesel in my 81 300D. We're selling the house this summer, so anything heavy that I don't have to carry is a plus. I know I've used it to cut WVO in my Suburban, and I don't intend to use it "straight". Yes or no? dilution percentage? Thanks, everybody.

Biodiesel300TD · #2 03-23-2011, 03:21 PM

Yup it will burn fine. I'd wait till your tank is nearly empty, dump in your kerosene and then fill the rest with diesel and motor along.

leathermang · #3 03-23-2011, 03:24 PM

Yes, fine if you dilute it. I would just add a few gallons per fill up.....

showme · #4 03-23-2011, 03:27 PM

Thank you very much! That was quick service!

Skid Row Joe · #5 03-23-2011, 04:34 PM

Your older MB diesel's owners manual may even have instructions for it. My old '83 300SD had explicit instructions for mixing a winter blend concoction. I don't know if my '99 has any such - haven't looked since buying it 12 years ago.

showme · #6 03-23-2011, 06:21 PM

Thanks! I just don't want to waste this stuff, being that gas costs more than a gallon of milk now. Funny, i won't cry over spilt milk, but is I see diesel spilling out of my overflow, I get teary eyed almost.

SirNik84 · #7 03-23-2011, 07:59 PM

I always think its funny when milk that comes from a cows teat and is processed to be safe for a living being with finite life to ingest is cheaper. Cheaper then something that comes from the ground and is processed for my car, an intimate object that cannot die, to ingest.

alamostation · #8 03-23-2011, 08:30 PM

Go for the kerosene. My 1981 Diesel Rabbit owner's manual recommended one gallon per tank (10 gallons) in winter to prevent gelling.

bustedbenz · #9 03-23-2011, 10:23 PM

If your state is one in which kerosene has 'Red dye' (of whatever form it takes) then you are opening yourself up to a steep fine and a tank dip. If your kerosene isn't dyed or if you're feeling lucky, then it won't hurt anything. In NC I've never ever seen a kerosene pump that dispensed clear kerosene; it's all red. I take it back, I've seen *one* solitary clear pump. Your state may vary.

Skid Row Joe · #10 03-23-2011, 10:27 PM

^ I wouldn't worry about an old Mercedes-Benz diesel in normal passenger car use, EVER getting it's fuel checked by authorities anywhere in the United States. That's just paranoia.

Edward Wyatt · #11 03-23-2011, 10:38 PM

Phew, now that's a relief, now that I know it's just paranoia.

I guess my buddy never got the tanks dipped on his personal vehicles back in the mid '80s. He was using farm diesel from his own tanks at the farm, and the VW dealer that changed the fuel filters on his diesel Rabbit turned him in.

It was a very expensive lesson, and that's why I don't do it. Even though I have access to farm diesel.

vstech · #12 03-23-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

^ I wouldn't worry about an old Mercedes-Benz diesel in normal passenger car use, EVER getting it's fuel checked by authorities anywhere in the United States. That's just paranoia.

My SD was pulled from the state highway patrol, strictly for dipping the tank.
it actually did happen to ME! search for the thread I posted on it.

vstech · #13 03-23-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Heh! Well, I told the guy to consult his owners manual - apparently he didn't before posting again above.....

Going strictly from memory - over 12 years ago - a 50%/50% mix of unleaded gasoline and kerosene, makes the winter blend stated in the owners manual of my '83 300SD.

I was interested in seeing if he/she would read their owners manual, and report back on what it stated.

um, that blend would destroy any diesel vehicle...
10% gasoline used to be recommended blended into a diesel tank in extreme cold temps... but not anymore. mixing RUG and KERO would be very very very bad for a diesel car...

Skid Row Joe · #14 03-24-2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

um, that blend would destroy any diesel vehicle...
10% gasoline used to be recommended blended into a diesel tank in extreme cold temps... but not anymore. mixing RUG and KERO would be very very very bad for a diesel car...

It would depend on the amount used, as you just wrote. I wrote advising the OP to read the OM of his/her older MB diesel. I don't have an old one anymore, so I couldn't quote it here.

What does one of your old MB diesel's owners manual state? I already stated that it was a long time ago since I read it. There is a mix, of a winter blend recommended by MB in my SD OM - but it's been a lot of years since I sold the SD. Apparently no one has looked in their old OM to learn anything about MB's stated winter blend?

showme · #15 03-23-2011, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Heh! Well, I told the guy to consult his owners manual - apparently he didn't before posting again above.....

Going strictly from memory - over 12 years ago - a 50%/50% mix of unleaded gasoline and kerosene, makes the winter blend stated in the owners manual of my '83 300SD.

I was interested in seeing if he/she would read their owners manual, and report back on what it stated.

Joe from skid row- "The guy" was asking the all knowing forum. If I wanted to go out and check my manual, I could, but "the guy" wanted to see what other owners personal experiences were. And your mix of 50% unleaded GASOLINE and kerosene isn't the kind of advice I would take anyway. Advice like that could leave some young newbie searching for a new 300 turbo DIESEL. (Apparently, Joe, you didn't read your own thread)

Every body else. Thanks for your kind help and self effacing behavior. No, the kero that I get from the stations around here in Missouri sell only clear. I guess it's good to not be in NC. Thanks friends, my question is answered.