Locating The Correct Fuel

Our engines ran on a variety of fuels in their day. The engine manuals are quite specific on what you should run, some even specify octane ratings and carbon content amongst other things. Truth be known your engine will run on any similar fuel.

Crude Oil

You can still buy crude oil, but you might consider mixing a little diesel with it to thin it down - natural crude is quite thick and will clock pipes.

Kerosene

There were two kinds of kerosene commonly available up until the 1970's, you might even remember the Kerosene pump at the local fuel station? One is still easily available today - lighting kerosene. The other was known as power kerosene (or sometimes PTO fuel). Power kerosene has a higher octane than lighting kerosene making it ignite easier and combust more fully. In Australia you can buy power kerosene from bigger Mobil distributors - I'm told they make it for you by mixing a percentage of Avgas and lighting kerosene but cannot confirm this.

Petrol/Gasoline

Go ahead and use the lowest octane unleaded fuel you can get your hands on. If you are worried about lubrication (I'm not) drop in one of the many lead substitutes on the market.

Diesel

Like petrol, todays diesel should not cause you any problems. In Australia I just use the fuel from the pump, in the US you might try and find someone who will sell you one of the cheaper grades not available for automotive use if you can be bothered.

This article is part of the Stationary Internal Combustion Engine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This series is a combination of my views and knowledge and the views and knowledge of other people - most of them members of the Stationary Engine Mailing List (More info on ATIS). Those articles which were written by others are © Copyright to the author. Those articles written by myself are © Copyright to Paul Pavlinovich.

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Disclaimer:It should be noted that the information given in this document is considered to be good advice by the people who give it, however any legal liability lies strictly with the reader. The contributors are hobbiests not professionals.

Last modified Sunday, 20-Jul-2003 15:28:00 BST

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