On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 16:50:11 -0800, JR North
wrote:

Filled up my 5 gal jug for my kerosene heater at a Texaco
station. Texaco is now Shell, as you know, so the remaining
Texacos are buying whatever slop fuel they want. The heater
BTU output was way reduced with this fuel, and the
combustion chamber was just a dull red, instead of the
normal cherry red. I ran that tank out, and got some diesel
from 76. The heater returned to it's former toasty self. I
never tanked up my '79 diesel Rabbit there, so I don't know
how it would have performed with that fuel(probably ****ty).

Yes - diesel can vary according to geographic location. For instance,
in colder climates, kerosene can be used to cut the diesel for betting
starting and anti-gelling abilities. There are also two types of
kerosene - one for buildings (non-taxed which will be red in color and
a different grade) and one for space heaters which is white and of a
purer quality, without anti-gelling/lubrication additives.

Ask me how I know this? Because I used the building type in a new
space heater that replaced the old worn out one in my wood shop and it
smoked like a SOB.

And I have a diesel pickup and have experienced any number of gelling
problems this winter even using additives.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

"I thought I'd just go fishin', but the fish
were not amused. And I caught myself just
wishin' that I was in the fishes shoes. Just
swimmin' in some deep blue water not a care
in my head, watchin' some fool with a line
and a pole hidin' by the riverbed."

Joe Ely, "Back To My Old Molehill" - "Flatlanders,
Wheels of Fortune - 2004"