Greetings, Undoubtedly the question opens a proverbial can of worms, but just curious if anyone regularly uses one of the various "kerosene additives" in a pressure stove? The stuff seems to be on all the feed store shelves during winter in the US. Appears to be more aimed at implied use in wick heaters. I have on rare occasions added a very small amount of naphtha/white gas to kero, and at times an equally very small amount of "seafoam" cleaner, but that's it. Usually burn Jet-A (without prist) since as an aviator it's accessible to me and regardless of source has always worked well. A friend gave me this bottle of additive ...it does mention being a "powerful tar and carbon inhibitor," for what that's worth. The only ingredient specifically mentioned on the warning label of the pictured product is methanol. Suggested rate of 1/2 to 2 ounces per 5 gallons of kero. In the middle of rehabbing my shipmate gimbal stove, so it will be in good shape. While I likely won't use this stuff, I'm more than willing to change my old way of doing things if it means happier burners.
Yup...figured that, ha ha. I searched through things a bit and while I found various happy commentaries focused on the things I already occasionally do, didn't notice much in the way of comments regarding "pre-canned," kero-specific additives like this (likely) snake-oil. It's use is probably blasphemous at best.
The only additive I use is in wick lamps and that is a small amount of citronella oil to 'deodorise' the fuel. Parasene used to sell it for such purpose.
Miles Stairs (sp?) used to suggest adding alcohol to kero in Perfection type heaters, so I do. Also any of my Kero stuff that sits too long, I will often add a bit.
I've tried mixing methanol/ethanol with kero, big problem is the water in the alcohol raises hell with getting the two of them to mix together. I'll add a bit of VM&P naptha to the kero, but that's it. Murph
