I have just recently moved to WV and was driving in Virginia the other day and stopped at a gas station to tank up the newly acquired 98 E300D. I saw that they had a pump labled Kerosene and price was $3.99gal. I asked the clerk if that was correct and she said yes. Back in CO kerosene was going for over $5gal. and that was when diesel was $3.35gal.

What are anybody's thoughts on burning kerosene. How's the cetane vs. #2 diesel. There was no road tax on the kerosene as I guess they primarily sell it for heating purposes, but diesel in this area is now around $4 - $4.25 gal.

I know my 98 was sold before the new low sulpher diesel became mandatory and I doubt that the kerosene has any special lubrication or emission additives. My EGR is bypassed thanks to the great post by KarTek and others. Should I consider easing into it as long as the price is lower than #2 diesel?

Well if it is not taxed don't get caught using it. Then it is very expensive. Can you tell us how the car performs on it, how it sounds, smells, runs and is the power about the same. It is my opinion that it should perform pretty much like diesel.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I haven't tried it yet, mainly for the reasons you just mentioned. I know its refined at a higher cracking level than #2. At the few cents difference i'm hesitant to jump in. But if this petroleum thing keeps going in this direction I would be willing to ease into it. I know my 606 will run on WVO according to this forum, so it would seem that Kero would work too.

I believe the Kerosene will not lubricate your Fuel Injection System as well as Diesel Does and you will get less miles pre-gallon.

A mix of Diesel Fuel and Kaerosene used to be what people used as Winter Fuel so it would not jell.

If you use it I would mix it with Diesel Fuel.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I think I remember the same info regarding the wintertime jelling issue. Does MB recommend any additives to the W210 series diesels because of the low sulphur fuel?

This.

I operated a diesel power plant in Antarctica and we used kerosene based JP-8 aviation fuel for the generators.

They ran. However, those Cats were dropping valves prematurely due to JP-8's lower lubricity. I'm sure there were other problems as well, but those parts would have been replaced/rebuilt at the recommended intervals and never manifested themselves.

That being said, we're talking thousands of hours of operation here. Head rebuilds were due every 10,000 hours with block teardown/sleeve replacement at 20,000. The engines were dropping valves at 9000-9500 hours. Still, a Cat tech said that with normal diesel we wouldn't have experienced those sorts of failures even well beyond the 10/20 mark.

But my experience is with JP fuel and not kerosene. According to wiki, JP-8 was developed to be a close approximation of diesel for military vehicles, if needed. So full blown kerosene would probably be a bit worse.

So, it can be run. But it will also shorten the life of engine/IP. By how long? Who knows? Maybe instead of getting 400k per rebuild you're down to 300k.

Anyway, I suspect that you'll probably have other engine issues to address before this one rears its head.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

One time, several years back, I saw diesel and kerosene selling at the same location, and there was this big sign warning about using kerosene in road vehicles, despite the fact that diesel was about 70 cents CHEAPER there.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

There has been little real evidence to show that lubricity adds are needed due to ULSD.

Still, it is smart to add some, a bit of biodiesel or 2-stroke oil are the best!

As for the OP, if kerosine has the aromatics removed, it can effect seal swell, causing leaks. Best to keep it a blend.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

If one doesn't mind taking the legal risk to save five bucks or so on a tank full once or twice, then what significant harm could it possibly do in the long run? I don't see how anyone expects that fuel prices will be stable for any length of time, so there isn't much point in thinking that this is a long-term economic solution worth considering. Burn it while it's cheap. It probably won't be next month.

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'79 240D

When I worked at the Naval Ship Yard the Emergency Generators on some of the Ships used one of the JP Fuels. This was on Ships that had a bunch of Helicopters on them.

So I am guessing the same on other Ships that have Aircraft on them.

However, I have no idea if it had any effect on longevity of the Fuel Injection System or the Engine.

I have a Beater so if I had access to cheap Kerosene I might be willing go blend it with Diesel Fuel. But, I would also keep in mind there is a slight risk to it.
If using Kerosene did anything to the Rubber or Seals I would just have to replace it.

But, I certainly would not run it on straight Kerosene.

In the LA and Orange County CA area I doubt if there is anyone going to check to see what is in your Fuel Tank.
That might happen further away in the Farming Areas; but, I have never read of that happening.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

just keep in mind, that My 82 SD was pulled to have the tank dipped on the highway... I was just outside charlotte, NC... about 1 mile from the outer belt.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I have run it as a measure to get to the next station selling diesel. It felt really smooth.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

JP-5 and F-76 are different than our mobility fuels.

One needs to look at the energy content of #2 diesel vs K1 Kero.

One also needs to look at aromatic content.

Lower energy and effecting rubber parts swell could easily turn into penny wise, pound foolish.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

yeah but not much kerosene. diesel is an oil while kerosene is more of a solvent.

Whip

I would be concerned with seals and lubricity. The hassle of hauling jugs of kero and filling at home would be enough for me not to bother.