Can Heating Oil be used as Marine Diesel?

dickh

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Is it legal to use heating fuel as marine diesel? My latest delivery states "MUST NOT BE USED AS ROAD FUEL". I have paid 5% duty on this, which I believe is the same as marine diesel, so is it legal to use in my boat? If not will anyone ever know?
 

DepSol

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There are many types of heating fuel so best to check the type you are using and compare it to the spec you acquire from the refuelling pontoon.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 

kingfisher

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It should be the same. In Belgium this is called 'household fuel' or mazout.

Mind you: Belgium and the UK (Ireland?) are the only countries where you're still allowed to stock up with red diesel. So if you plan any trips to Holland or France, make sure you have the receipt of the last UK fueling session !!! They might say that you fueled illegaly in Holland.

Obi-Wan
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david_bagshaw

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Yes

It has a slightly higher sulphur content, not so good for the enviornment but excellent for the fuel pump, as reduces wear!

Have run our boats on it for years, , about 13 thousand hours with twin installations = 26000 plus genny hours,, & no probs from the fuel.

Farmers use it for tractors & civil engineers, & barges, so dont worry about the quality difference.

Watch out you have the red heating fuel not the heating kero which is nearly clear & will wreck the pump in short time.


Have fun& enjoy the cheaper fuel while we can!!!!

Best regards


David
www.euroboating.net

Ps

I believe |Red fuel is still legal in Finland as well.

Also if traveling to theNetherlands , & tanking in Belgium with red the dutch Authorities can & do some times ask to see the fuel recipt.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by david_bagshaw on Thu Jun 13 15:14:43 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>
 

Bejasus

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The heating oil you refer to is otherwise known as Gasoil. It is merely a slightly less refined version of diesel without the special additives required of today's road fuels and generally without the purifying and antifreeze agents required of today's cars & trucks. The red is purely a dye added for customs/inland revenue people to recognise it for the amount of tax paid. It should present you with no problems apart from the international regulations as stated by the others.

"I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."..........I think????
 

Twister_Ken

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Recall this question being asked a while back - maybe a year or so. One of the replies was from a fuel chemist (I think).

It might have been this thread:
http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/new/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=182663&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words="heating oil"&Match=Or&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=182663
 

dickh

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thanks Twister_Ken, just read the thread and it appears that it will probably be OK but better not to chance it. I'll just have to keep on chatting up my local farmer for his red diesel! Incidently is farmer red diesel taxed at all? Presumably it's the same as marine red diesel.
I think our heating oil must be kerosene, we bought the nice "perfumed" stuff from S**** - as there were complaints of it smelling!
 

terence

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well dick in one word yes you can check that it is 38 second burning oil and it is red in colour and smells of diesel and it is not white 28 second and smells of kerosene
from terence ex head of oil terminal south england
 
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