Well chaps, after the trouble with my Tilley lamps, I decided to drain all my lamps and stoves of kerosene. The stuff that came out of some was pretty bad looking, the colour ranged from clear through to mud brown, and some had like a slime come out, it was like something from Ghostbusters! The clearer stuff I've filtered (with the help of my lad) and will use again, the dirty stuff I'll keep for garden fires. This week I'll pick up a few litres of new kero. That said, I had lit an RM square base domestic no problem, and that was full of the brown muck
Kerosine is pretty hostile stuff to our insides, but IIRC some bacteria love the stuff! Aviation kerosine has anti-bacterial additives to prevent growths blocking up filters. Jim Ford
Diesel fuel has limited storage life due to algae contamination as well. Perhaps kerosene has little things that enjoy life in it too. I know that if I buy a five gallon can of kero, which typically lasts me about two years the last gallon or so will act "funny." I've taken to buying it in two gallon containers even though it's a tad pricier that way. Nordicthug
Morning, Stove Mates, This is an interesting thread. I knew that some petrols would "kick over" after long storage, but had no idea that kerosene supposedly suffered from the same fate! I still have between 15-20 gallons of kero under the house, stored in original kero, 5-gallon cans, and it seems to be just fine. It's clear as a bell, and smells exactly like it should. Plus, when I pump some up and use it to power stoves, it works perfectly, cleanly, and quickly to do what it is supposed to do. Now, this kerosene is more than 8 years old, too, maybe 10!!!! On the other hand, I had some Hoppe's Blackpowder Solvent, which is mostly kerosene, and it "kicked over', changed color, and got foamy, in just about two years! Go figure! Anyway, I'll keep using the kero that's stored under the house, as it seems to be just fine. Maybe the constant temperature and conditions under the house have had a preservative effect on it. Who knows? But, it's good, and that's all that counts. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
With diesel we do have a storage problem commonly known as "dieseldyr" translated to somthing like "diesel animal" This algae problem seems to depend on temperature and humidity or water in the fuel. at lo temperature this is less proble, so its not a winter problem. I know pople storing diesel for emergency use, and forgot to cirkulate whats used, and stored, and have diesel in good condition for more than 10 yrs. Dag S
Does that mean we have to ask permission from the tower to engage engine then !? Is there a difference bewtwwen just kerosene and the 1-K stuff they sell around North America....dunno, just a thought Cheers,
Hello, I wonder if the brass chemically changes fuel? I had some coleman fuel in a 123 for awhile. Less than a year and it broke down into a goopy, green /blueish gel. Almost like the brass reacted with the petroleum base? I dunno a guess anyway. Chuck
I have had some problems with bad fuel . But this was mostly with lights and not stoves. I have taken the fuel from a light that would not burn properly put it in an empty stove and it burnt reasonable (not at its top burn). The jet in a light has a hole in it a lot smaller than any stove. Plus I think the burner on a stove will get hotter than a light. All this makes a difference.
I'm of the opinion that fuel degrades from exposure to air. My old 123 sat full for ten years then lit up with no problem. A gallon of kero in a five gallon can I've got simply wont' burn. I tried soaking some into a paper napkin and lighting it. No go. The same happened with a Coleman 425 of mine that sat with 1/4 tank of fuel for about three years. The fuel turned to goo. Nordicthug
