[TempestFugit]

I have a few questions about this (new to me) shop heater. It works like a charm, but the tank is getting low / time to fill it up. (Pictures follow)

Anybody know what kind of fuel options I have with this?

There is a 55 gallon tank in the shop (looks like a semi side tank).

What is the correct fuel? What is the cheapest fuel?

Will this thing burn on road #2 diesel? off road diesel/fuel oil?

Where can I get small quantities (50 gal ~ 5 gal) of the cheapest correct fuel?

Will home heating delivery trucks deliver such small quantities?

Can I mix in waste motor oil (filtered first?) with the heater fuel. Or Kerosene?

[Deadhead]

If it is straight #2, be sure to compare off road price to the home heating oil price. Many times the heating oil companies gouge, and I know people here will fill up tanks with off-road or on-road diesel as it is cheaper than heating oil company prices. Hard to figure, but so it goes

[TempestFugit]

Really!? That's the kind of info I'm looking for...Thanks for that.

Please excuse my ignorance on the subject, but I am clueless about this stuff.

Originally Posted by Deadhead

If it is straight #2, ...off-road or on-road diesel... heating oil ...

How many different categories are there?

"Straight #2" - vs what? different types of #2? mixed with what?

what other types of diesel are there? (#1?)

What fuels can I burn in that heater?

Can I get rid of some waste oil by mixing it ?

Any information or opinions are welcome. This is not for my home, just hobby/shop stuff at a remote location and I am looking to economize wherever I can.

[mechanickeith]

Check the data tags/stickers. It should state what types of fuel its calibrated for. Usually just about any that uses kerosene will also burn diesel. Only difference in #2 white diesel & red farm use is the color. The color is put in to denote tax free off highway use. Its usually 1/3 the cost of regular diesel.

[4dblnkldude]

#1 heating oil is kerosene. #2 fuel oil is diesel which is dyed red for home heating purposes. #3 heating oil is used in commercial boilers and thicker than #2. Oil companies will deliver 50 gallons but it may be a bit more than buying 250 gallons to fill a standard 275 home heating oil tank. You can put a couple gallons or so used motor oil in it, it will burn it. It also may clog up your filter faster as well. The filters are a couple bucks at your local heating supply house.

[TempestFugit]

Great! thanks all for the info.

[GaryK]

There is a Shell station by me that sells off road diesel for about 20 cents less than highway use diesel. I have used this in both our house and shop and there is no difference. When buying 20 gallons at a time it makes a difference.

I have a friend who has a used oil furnace in his shop and its not the same as a furnace that burns diesel. I save all my used oil for him.

[Stuckinda60s]

Take a few minutes and call around for home heating oil. Around our area it's worth it to negotiate. Prices currently run from $2.23 to 2.55, over $1.00 better than off-road diesel. Tell them exactly what your needs are and tell them that you're willing to wait until they have a delivery in your area.

It might be worth your while to buy a 275-gallon tank to tank advantage of low prices and also to get lower delivery prices. If you negotiate a good price, you can't count on getting that much of a break the next time you call and will have to do it all over again.

I've gotten consistent low prices from a dealer and had them bought out by another company which raised the price. I could still get a break, but could get better prices, elsewhere. Then the company I was buying from got bought out by another company. I called and negotiated for a better price and ordered 500-gallons. I got thinking about it and called the company, Santerelli in Peckville, who had bought out the first company I dealt with and raised their price. Lo and behold, they gave me a better price without knowing the price I'd gotten quoted from the company I ordered from.

I ordered from them and called back and called back and cancelled the first order. When they asked me why, I told them I got a much better price from a company that was about 10-miles further away. They offered to lower the price and I told them, "No, I'm not going to do that, they were willing to give me the price without any hassle"

Did Keith tell you about the '62 ragtop for sale out here?

[SRR]

Originally Posted by Stuckinda60s

Take a few minutes and call around for home heating oil. Around our area it's worth it to negotiate. Prices currently run from $2.23 to 2.55, over $1.00 better than off-road diesel. Tell them exactly what your needs are and tell them that you're willing to wait until they have a delivery in your area.

It might be worth your while to buy a 275-gallon tank to tank advantage of low prices and also to get lower delivery prices. If you negotiate a good price, you can't count on getting that much of a break the next time you call and will have to do it all over again.

I've gotten consistent low prices from a dealer and had them bought out by another company which raised the price. I could still get a break, but could get better prices, elsewhere. Then the company I was buying from got bought out by another company. I called and negotiated for a better price and ordered 500-gallons. I got thinking about it and called the company, Santerelli in Peckville, who had bought out the first company I dealt with and raised their price. Lo and behold, they gave me a better price without knowing the price I'd gotten quoted from the company I ordered from.

I ordered from them and called back and called back and cancelled the first order. When they asked me why, I told them I got a much better price from a company that was about 10-miles further away. They offered to lower the price and I told them, "No, I'm not going to do that, they were willing to give me the price without any hassle"

Did Keith tell you about the '62 ragtop for sale out here?

Plus the larger tank will probably last you all winter.

[TempestFugit]

I'm starting to lean towards that bigger tank idea. I hate to give up the shop-real-estate, but the timing seems right to make that move.


(Rich - Yes if you mean the one in Waymart!)

[Stuckinda60s]

Originally Posted by TempestFugit

I'm starting to lean towards that bigger tank idea. I hate to give up the shop-real-estate, but the timing seems right to make that move.


(Rich - Yes if you mean the one in Waymart!)

Put it outside, on cinder blocks.

Yep, the one in Waymart. Nice car and quite straight. There was something in the quarters, but it wasn't anything major. The trunk and floors were great. If it hadn't been a ragtop, I would have been all over it.

[4dblnkldude]

Cinder blocks eeewww. Fill the blocks with concrete or get 4x8x24 lentils.

[SRR]

Originally Posted by TempestFugit

I'm starting to lean towards that bigger tank idea. I hate to give up the shop-real-estate, but the timing seems right to make that move.


(Rich - Yes if you mean the one in Waymart!)

You won't give up as much as you think since the tank sits vertical and has pipe legs, small stuff will fit under it. Just look at an 80 gallon compressor, it sits up right, it's huge but has a small foot print on the shop floor.