I was wondering in a worst case scenario if the SHTF could you run #2 home heating oil in a CTD? Not forever of course, but in the event of an extended power outage from severe storms or something worse. Of course I know the #2 HHO is dyed red but in this type of scenario, I don't believe checking fuel color is gonna be a priority for "Da Man". Would any Kerosene or winter additives cause a problem?

 

long as its filtered, and it depends on the year of cummins...3rd gen and later cummins engines are not going to tolerate it as much as the older mechanical injection and mechanical/electronic injection engines (VP44).

you can run highly filtered waste vegetable oil through these things and they will run on it...there is a catch though...

you need to run dual tanks and dual fuel lines when running oil as a fuel.

1 fuel tank with clean #2 diesel, and 1 with the oil...start the engine and let it warm up on #2 diesel..soon as its warmed up switch it to the oil tank and it will continue to run on it. before you shut it off switch back to diesel and let diesel get to the engine before shut down. this will allow you to restart the engine when its cold.

cold engines will not start on oil without an exotic fuel or heavy additives. might start with propane injection, but either way once engine is warmed up, it will run on oil alone.

you could also just get a home biodiesel refinery and substitute veggy oil for home heating oil and make actual diesel fuel. or you can just stockpile some winter blend diesel...

 

Yes the CTD in question is a stock 1999 with the VP44. In asking around I was told the same thing, once you start it don't shut it off, now I see why. Now I have another question, what is the difference between summer & winter Diesel and what is the "shelf life" for stored Diesel? I know the gas nowadays sucks so bad you have to be real careful about using stored gasoline. I guessing some Diesel Power additive would be in helpful for storage.

 

winter blend diesel just has more alcohol in it to help prevent it from gelling up in cold temperatures. downside to the extra alcohol is less energy from the fuel, or less fuel economy...

as for storing diesel, its more friendly to storing than gasoline since diesel does not evaporate like gasoline does.

diesel fuel is basically just refined oil and methanol with some dye. there's other additives in it to, but those are the main two you need.

 

You will have no problems with #2hho, it is essentially dyed #2 diessel. We have multiple 100kw vp44 cummins generators that are fed from 2000gal #2hho tank for our old boilers. Dyed heating oil is the only thing they have ever run. #1 fuel is refined a little bit more and has a higher cetane rating, means there is less energy in the fuel but it is rated for much lower temperatures. If it below freezing and you "had" to run #2hho, i would still add an antigel.