Kerosene Question
 

OK, here's the deal: There is a propane place about a mile from from my house. They also sell kero by the gallon (red dye, underground tanks), is there an easy way to tell the quality and/or contamination level? Iknow to basically stay away from underground stored kero unless high volume - if Igot some in a clear jar is therea way to visually determine go or no go?

Thanks in advance.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

why would you stay away from underground stored kero ? a tank is a tank wheather it is above or below ground use a fine filter and any water will settle out if left alone but if it is red it might be diesel not kero

RE: Kerosene Question
 

I have been buying red dye kero at a truck stop for 3yrs with no issues.
V..

RE: Kerosene Question
 

dunno about the underground thing, ppl just always shook their heads and said "you don't want that, underground = moisture = algae"

the only reason I'm asking is because during the summer Iburn enough that the 5 gallon cans at home depot are breaking me at $50 each - the closest FBO pump is 30 miles and Ihave this propane place right here.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

if your worried about algae. get some bio-bor and put it in your tank when you fill up.. Otherwise, proper filtering will avoid all the algae issues

RE: Kerosene Question
 

roger that, on the way to fill up

RE: Kerosene Question
 

scooby, They die the Kero in the States red so the truckers cannot use it. It is taxed differently than Diesel (it is cheaper) so they don't want truckers burning it.

If they get caught it's big fines!

Smitty,

Go to www.mrfunnel.com and buy one of their funnels. It separates water from the Kero. My buddy Brian tales hi with him to the Gas station when he buys Kero and pumps it into his jugs through the funnel. Works great. Whatever is left in the funnel will have the contaminants in it, just dump it out.

Bob

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Here in Ireland most of us use red die kero with no problems I have put 55galons through my Wren 54SS in the last 12 months:D
and as for mister funnel that was one of my best spend money it realy does a great job :D

happy flying:D:D

ASH26

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Bro where is that place? How much is the price for kero?

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Propane Bottle Service Co.
5216 Jacksboro Hwy
76114

$22.50 to fill up the jersey, cheaper at Grand Prairie Arpt. ($3/g) but 30 miles away.......

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Some of us here in the Pacific NW wait till late spring to buy from Home Depot. They reduce the price (we have paid as low as $24/5gal) so they don't have to carry over the heating oil inventory through the summer. You just have to plan where to store it while you use it during the flying season. I have stored as many as twelve 5 gal cans in an out building.

Roy

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Can you filter kero after it has been mixed with turbine oil. Does the filter pass the oil along with the fuel?

RE: Kerosene Question
 

YES no problem !

regards

ASH26

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Nice find on the Mr Funnel BTW! http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Hey, I've been running agriculture use only kersosene (red dyed) from the local gas station for a years now, only problem I've experienced is Ron Ballard and Eric Clapp, they kid the **** out of me for the red dye. Me I like the fact it is easy to see the tank level in composite tanks, no algae issues. This went away for me when I switched from Jet-A, and yes, I even had a gallon of hardware store bought kerosene grow algae when stored over the winter and brought out for use in the spring. Red Dye kerosene rules!!!

Jim

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Thanks Jim, I'm drinking the red juice now! Iwouldn't take anything off Eric, at least you're burning it and not in the motorhome SLEEPING! Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

RE: Kerosene Question
 

not here, it is never on sale.

Jimmy, I think Boreland field off 377 will sell you Jet A as well.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

yeah, they have a pump, same thing tho, decent drive down there. I've even gotten it at texas jet before, once they didn't even charge me because they had 5 gallons just in the truck hose, but it would get to be a bother for them. The toy jet story is only cool the first time http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif
I'll stick with this place down the road and let you know how it goes - the 5 gallons Ijust got is in que to get burned tomorrow and sat http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif

RE: Kerosene Question
 

the red dye is in there to indicate that no federal or state hi-way taxes have been payed.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

There is no visual inspection for kerosene other than to determine if it is clear and bright. Colour is of little importance since it can vary depending on whether the kerosene was made via Kero or Diesel hydrotreating stream or via Merox treatment.

A test you can do at home is the smoke point test which basically involves burning some kerosene in a lamp with a wick of predeteremined dimentios and material and measuring the height of the flame before smoke starts to form. the higher the flame before smoke, the better the quality of the kerosene.

What would be best is to obtain a certificate of conformance from the seller and then call up you local oil company and request a copy of the specifications for kerosene in your area (it varies from State to state due to ambient temperature differences and market requirements). Then you will have an idea of what smoke point to expect for the kero sold at your local dealer.

There are other factors that willl determine quality as well.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

I don't know, seems to me that some of us are brain-copulating this to death.

Just buy whatever kero you can find that is cheap, filter the bejesus out of it and go fly, fly, fly! It'll be OK.....

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Underground tanks have been required to be double walled for years now.  Most of them are fiberglass to boot.  So there is no greater chance of moisture in an underground tank than in an above ground tank.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Interstital condensation will form wheather a tank is above or below ground if the temprature differential is correct.

Mike

RE: Kerosene Question
 

I would expect there to be less of a chance for moisture in the below-ground tank since the temperature swings should be a lot less.

RE: Kerosene Question
 

Anyone know where we can get the red kero in Houston?