Why is kerosene so gosh darn expensive?

[Jerry Forrester]

Why is kerosene so gosh darn expensive?
Here in Douglasville it's $5.50 per gal.
Gasoline is almost down to $2.00 gal.
And there's only a few stations that carry the K1.
My torpedo heater, that I sometimes use to heat my shop, uses K1. It finally got cold enough earlier this week to warrant it's use.
Can I mix gasoline and diesel fuel (maybe 4 parts diesel and 1 part gasolene) and burn it in my heater?
I'm a firm believer in fair trade and free market, but where does supply and demand play into this? I'll be 72 next month and don't care anything about opening my own convenience store and starting another business to get in on the robbery.
Of course I wouldn't be robbing people. I'd sell it at a fair price.

[63 R2 Hawk]

Petro products like kerosene and avgas are usually bought by retailers who fill large tanks at the going rate. It may take them a long time to go through a large tank, by which time the price may drop but they still have to sell it based upon the price they paid at the time. Gasoline is consumed quickly so the turnover allows them to sell at a cost that more closely reflects currrent price. Of course, if they bought K1 or avgas at a low price and the price goes up, they will be glad to ratchet the price up, it only works in one direction.

[rowan]

My torpedo heater burns #1 fuel oil just fine.

[sweetolbob]

Why is kerosene so gosh darn expensive?
Here in Douglasville it's $5.50 per gal.
Gasoline is almost down to $2.00 gal.
And there's only a few stations that carry the K1.
My torpedo heater, that I sometimes use to heat my shop, uses K1. It finally got cold enough earlier this week to warrant it's use.
Can I mix gasoline and diesel fuel (maybe 4 parts diesel and 1 part gasolene) and burn it in my heater?
I'm a firm believer in fair trade and free market, but where does supply and demand play into this? I'll be 72 next month and don't care anything about opening my own convenience store and starting another business to get in on the robbery.
Of course I wouldn't be robbing people. I'd sell it at a fair price.

Just bite the bullet and buy a propane heater, much cheaper fuel and less fumes to make one goofy, unless one wants to be made goofy. I bought a propane heater a couple of years ago and found other ways to get goofy. Currently propane here is about $3.50 in 20# tanks (under $2 in larger fills) and my dealer will give you a 20#er free after you have purchased 4.

[Studedude]

<Snip>Can I mix gasoline and diesel fuel (maybe 4 parts diesel and 1 part gasolene) and burn it in my heater? <Snip>

Not if you want to see 72.

[Jerry Forrester]

Not if you want to see 72.

<G> I do want to see 72, and a few more.

[Bob Andrews]

Jerry- why are you assuming the store is ripping people off? Is it possible their price reflects their actual cost plus a very small profit?

[Jerry Forrester]

Jerry- why are you assuming the store is ripping people off? Is it possible their price reflects their actual cost plus a very small profit?

I am satisfied with 63 R2 Hawk's reasoning in post #2.
So I guess they're not ripping people off.
We'll see if the price drops by half by mid summer. Of course I wont be needing any K1 then.
If the price does drop this summer and since K1 stores so well, I may stock up on it before next winter.

[wittsend]

After years of buying "parts cleaner" for close to $3 a 16 oz. can I finally got wise and started using Paint Thinner/Mineral Spirits in a squirt bottle. Less that 8 years ago I got a gallon (128 oz.) for $2.19. Now a gallon is about $16. I'd like to know the justification for that? Thankfully my city has a hazardous waste drop-off program that recycles the products turned in. I have about 12 gallons of Paint Thinner/Mineral Spirits that cost me nothing.

Jerry I'm not sure of the extent of your heat needs but even here in sunny So. Cal. I exclusively heat my home with a wood burning stove for 23 years. I haven't even ever had my heater pilot light on. Keeping my trees trimmed and neighborhood cast off wood has kept me from ever having to pay for wood. So, there is an option. I'll grant it is a bit of work, but I guess that if the "price" off free. Here's to an early spring for you.

[48skyliner]

Kerosene fuels are all very similar - Diesel, jet fuel and home heating oil. The jet fuel has special components that prevent freezing at lower temperatures and an anti-microbial to prevent corrosive little bugs from growing in the fuel tank of your 747, Diesel has some special components to provide lubricity and possibly to reduce the pour point, but your Diesel will run on any of them, your Lear jet will fly with any of them, and your furnace will work with any of them. The Kerosene lamp or torpedo heater may smoke a bit more with one than the other, but not much. My local supplier came and filled my barrels with "off road Diesel", but he told me if I ordered "home heating oil" I would get the same product. I use the Diesel in my tractor, my torpedo heater and for starting the fires in my wood stove.

Guys up in Alaska have been known to mix a small amount of gasoline in the diesel for starting in extreme cold weather.

When starting my torpedo heater, I always point the exhaust out the door of my shop and let it warm up for about one minute before bringing it inside. This eliminates most of the smoke and unpleasant odor.

[brokencookie]

Kerosene fuels are all very similar - Diesel, jet fuel and home heating oil. "off road Diesel", but he told me if I ordered "home heating oil" I would get the same product. I use the Diesel in my tractor, my torpedo heater and for starting the fires in my .

I work in the laboratory of one of the 5 refineries in Washington. Just a quick correction. Diesel and Jet fuel are very different. Jet A ( the most common grade of jet fuel) flashes @ 38 C. Diesel flashes @ 65 C. They are very different fuels.
Jet fuel has a number of grades that have overlapping specifications. At my refinery we sell home heating oil, kerosine, Jet A and JAA all from the same tank. While there is overlapping specifications the products may not conform to all of them. I have certified jet fuel for specific locations or custom blends that do not meet all of the 7 products with the overlap. Some of the different names has to do with the type of additives delivered at the rack. Anti-icing, corrosion, conductivity improver etc.
"Off Road Diesel" is merely diesel that you do not pay a road tax on. It is dyed red to prevent people from cheating. As far as using diesel in a kerosine application it depends upon how fussy your equipment is . Heaters are low grade technology and will burn just about anything. I even have an antique gasoline powered iron to press your clothes. The more advanced your technology the greater the need to adhere to a narrowly defined product.

[Flashback]

We can write big long explanations all we want, Someone along the line is gittin' unfair fat pockets. We are being ripped. You was right to begin with Jerry.

[rockinhawk]

!967/68 I drove a tanker hauling mostly kerosene and #2 Diesel.Most of it was for home heating,but I also fueled Tractors and heavy Equipment in the field. I have been known to fuel up a Semi once in awhile.
Price of kerosene delivered to you was 20.5 Cent per gallon. Diesel was 18.5 cent.
Minimum delivery was 30 Gal. K1, and 100 gal #2. If you caught me stopped,I would fill your 5 gal can for $1.00