Can Central Heating Oil be used in engines?

[AndrewB]

Several of the more shoestring yachts in my yard are proposing to club together to get a job lot of central heating oil at under half the price of red diesel in the nearby marina.

Wondering whether to join in. Is this really suitable for marine engines?

 

[bigmart]

I have run two boat diesels on Central Heating Oil with absolutely no ill effects. Indeed when the last fuel strikes were happening the Government was making noises about allowing companies to use Heating Oil to power their trucks provided they paid the extra Road Fuel Tax.

Martin

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[Paulka]

Technically, no problem at all.

But it's illegal (for tax reasons!) in most countries.



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[bigmart]

Its not illegal for use on boats in the UK as it is rated the same as Red Diesel. ie. The diesel that boats run on anyway.

Martin

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[Paulka]

Lucky you!

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[bigmart]

What do you mean lucky me. I have to put up with the English weather thats alway bad at the weekend, when I'm off & good in the week, when I have to work.

I don't know. You sit back there in the Mediteranean Sun & whinge about our diesel. You don't know your born. Moan Moan Moan.

You don't need diesel anyway. What have you got sails for?

Can you see. I'm only a bit green with envy.

Martin

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[colvic]

Has central heating oil the same level of taxation as red diesel and does it now cost 30p a litre. Glad I'm now on gas.


Phil

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[bigmart]

I am sorry to say that the answer to your question is YES!

Martin

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[lyc]

Took delivery yesterday of Kero at 16.80p plus 5% VAT.


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[jleaworthy]

Most domestic central heating systems run on 28 sec oil (kerosene). This is NOT suitable for diesel engines and, if used, you will quickly run into trouble with your injection pump. Diesels will run fine on 34 sec oil but recent legislation means that from 1 April you have to sign a declaration to Customs and Excise on what exactly you used the oil for.

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[Paulka]

Man!

You should know there is no wind in the Med!
So what can I do with my sails?
Just some shade, while runing on bl**dy expensive diesel!

And Rioja is even more expensive than diesel.

;-)



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[DMGibson]

So why don't they just get together and buy a job lot of Red Diesel from the fuel supplier? That way, they will have some comeback if the sulphur content is too high. The fuel supplier may well draw it from the same tank at the storage depot, but if they are used to supplying farmers, construction sites (and marinas) they won't have a problem supplying what you need.

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[Oldhand]

I'm surprised the cost of fuel is significant to you Andrew, surely your voyages are undertaken under sail and the donk is just for getting in and out of ports?

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[AndrewB]

The cost of power.

Its true I do probably do use the engine less than most other people I've cruised with. Even so, I've calculated that on average surprisingly as much as 1 mile in 4 is done under power. In a typical season of local cruising (maybe 2,000 nm) that's around 250 litres of fuel. I fill tanks once a season. A saving of 18p per litre = £45. OK so that's only about 1% of the annual running cost of the yacht, but for nil effort it seems worth it.

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