Got a question to ask the good people of ott. Anyone ever come across home #2 heating oil that's very dark purple to black? I just had to re-bleed my furnace line after a freeze up and took note of the color. I know they dye it red for ID purposes, but have never seen it like this. No grit, no sludge, just dark like used motor oil.
Black heating oil???
- Thread starter dieseldude
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You would be surprised at what kind of stuff passes for #2 at the terminals where petro products are loaded onto tankers. As you know, oil and water don't mix. It could be that some kero or other dye got mixed in.
Not a lot suprises me anymore when it comes to lack of quality. Now that you mentioned kero, the smell was a little off. Maybe they used a kero/#2 blend. who knows.
Does kero use a diffent color dye? Last I knew it was only off road diesel and #2 heating that were dyed.
Does kero use a diffent color dye? Last I knew it was only off road diesel and #2 heating that were dyed.
You are correct about tax or dye... that said I buy 5 gal of kero at a time for my oil burner in my wood shop. The kero is blue and the pump is blocked. It is not uncommon to have similar fuels mixed at the terminal and then loaded in a tanknwagon. When your HO was delivered the guy may have off-loaded some mix... maybe you got a deal.
Lil Foot
Well-known member
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
If it's clear it means that liquid fuels taxes have (or will) be paid. But, you shouldn't be a drinkin' that stuff, lol.
Lil Foot
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
I'm looking at renting an small 930sqft house and after learning that heating oil in my area is around 4 bucks a gallon I wont be buying fuel. Been raking my brain trying to find an affordable heating.
The landlord might have a cow if I put in a wood stove and run pipping out the winder.
The landlord might have a cow if I put in a wood stove and run pipping out the winder.
Dan_R_42
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B7100-D, w/ Sims Cab, B219 FEL, ARPS 70 Backhoe, Oversized R4 Tires, LX2610 Cab
From what I recall from the past, home heating oil vendors around me used to sell a #2 fuel oil mixed with kerosene (as an option in the winter) for those with oil tanks that were outside, exposed to the elements.
Several over 50+ mobile home parks in my area used the mix to keep the oil flowing in the coldest winter months.
Several over 50+ mobile home parks in my area used the mix to keep the oil flowing in the coldest winter months.
I wish the Unites States would get their heads out their asses and push harder to drill for oil here state side and cut our dependency and lower the cost of a whole lot of things in this country.
Maybe we can get back to an affordable way of life and boost the economy.
Maybe we can get back to an affordable way of life and boost the economy.
Sorry, but our fate has been sealed. It has been slowly creeping up, but the final piece of the puzzle was put in place in Nov of '08. The cold war is over, and the commies won. Using the environmental argument to control our energy is just one of the many hundreds of ways the America we grew up in is being destroyed. Ammo up.
back when I worked for a living the gas turbine site had two 1 million gallon storage tanks. One was for kerosene and the other for #2 home heating oil. And only one fill line going to those tanks. Had to climb up both tanks to make sure the proper valve was opened depending on the type of oil being off loaded.
So regardless of what fuel was being off loaded you could get a mix of kerosene and #2 home heating oil in each tank. Didn't see any problems when they lit off those gas turbines due to the mixing of fuel oils. Kerosene was water clear and home heating oil was dyed red. That was in NYC. Here in Louisiana diesel is sort of a light brown color and off road diesel is dyed red. Regular gas station diesel is an extremely light brown in color. On large tankers and barges that carry fuel oils it is not uncommon for them to carry mixed fuel oils. But when they pump them off they may be pumping diesel at one port and #6 fuel oil. #6 is an extremely black heavy oil used by generating plants. But since they only use one hose to off load their cargoes its possible for some mixing to be done. But I have never seen dark brown or blackish home heating oil. So its possible you may have a mix of #6 fuel oil and home heating oil. #6 is just about the bottom of the barrel that is left after all the other higher distillate fuels have been extracted from crude oil. Frank
So regardless of what fuel was being off loaded you could get a mix of kerosene and #2 home heating oil in each tank. Didn't see any problems when they lit off those gas turbines due to the mixing of fuel oils. Kerosene was water clear and home heating oil was dyed red. That was in NYC. Here in Louisiana diesel is sort of a light brown color and off road diesel is dyed red. Regular gas station diesel is an extremely light brown in color. On large tankers and barges that carry fuel oils it is not uncommon for them to carry mixed fuel oils. But when they pump them off they may be pumping diesel at one port and #6 fuel oil. #6 is an extremely black heavy oil used by generating plants. But since they only use one hose to off load their cargoes its possible for some mixing to be done. But I have never seen dark brown or blackish home heating oil. So its possible you may have a mix of #6 fuel oil and home heating oil. #6 is just about the bottom of the barrel that is left after all the other higher distillate fuels have been extracted from crude oil. Frank
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Just though I'd update everyone on what happened. I found the cause of the black oil. after the furnace wouldn't fire and would go to lockout, I called in a HVAC friend, said it needed a new nozzle. I let him change it and told him to do the fuel filter also since I missed a year. When he pulled the filter apart, there was no filter left except for the center screen, see a picture of a "general 1A-30" if interested. The felt filtering material looked like some kind of sludge. Neither myself or my tech have ever seen a filter deteriorate in just 2 years. Anyway after a new filter, new nozzle, and fire eye, the system is back running.
now to restock the woodpile.
now to restock the woodpile.