Burning Diesel In Torpedo Heater

Here are some of the dangers you should know if you use diesel fuel in your kerosene heater.

Burning diesel in torpedo heater.

The disel sublimates at a slightly higher temperature leading to reduced flow and incomplete combustion and the oilier components of diesel gum up the wick and leave unburnt material on the wick clogging it. I could detect no difference in flame height or heat output and no odors. Much less odor but lets not kid ourselves you will be burning fossil fuel in an enclosed space so you will get some. Yes you can burn diesel in a kerosene heater.

Burning diesel in a kerosene heater is about the same as burning kerosene in the same heater. To make it burn you have to spray it into very small droplets or a fine mist. This is the reason why almost all diesel is fuel injected. In your typical wick based heaters ive not had good results burning straight diesel.

A friend that works at the local fuel co op told me that diesel may reduce the life of the wick but so far i can t tell any difference. You ll probably get some smoke and odor when you first start the heater and you ll probably get some smoke and fumes when you turn it off. We have decided to heat the garage with a torpedo heater the rest of the season. If you pour diesel fuel on the ground and throw a lit match on it the fuel won t ignite.

Diesel burns surprisingly well in my 23 000 btu kerosun brand kerosene heater. Pretty similar to a kerosene heater.