Fuel Change

[leontripp]

Will my 1930 Tudor's engine run on diesel fuel or, "kerosene"?

[Tom Wesenberg]

I don't think so, and it would cost more anyway. Our John Deere H had two tanks, so you could get the engine warmed up on gas, then switch over to kerosene.

[leontripp]

Thanks for the reply, Tom. An old-timer told me they used to be able to run A's on kero and since I have a lot left over I thought I would give it a shot.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I should have also mentioned that you need to switch back to gas for a few minutes before stopping the engine, so the carb will be full of gas for the next COLD start.

I like to use diesel or kerosene as a cleaning solvent. Once the parts are cleaned I use a syphon sprayer and gas to spray off the oily residue from the diesel.

[marc hildebrant]

As I remember, Diesel is the same (except for some additives) as Number 2 fuel oil, and Kerosene is the same as jet fuel. I would think that using Kerosene would work but diesel would be real hard.

Marc

[700rpm]

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My dad claimed he ran his A on diesel and kerosene in the depression, after starting it with gasoline. I can't guarantee or verify that information, though. He's been gone for 30 years.

[Bruce Adams]

The MOST interesting fuel for the Model A might be CHARCOAL COMBUSTION PRODUCT, where, during WW 2, certain Europeans who could not get gas would start a charcoal fire in a burner, say behind the car, routing the fumes to a special carburator for running the car on these fumes after starting it on gasoline.

[eagle]

It will run, but will smoke something fierce and foul plugs.

[ed thibodeau]

I ran my 31 murrey on heating oil and gas with 2 tanks in 1958 while going to college in weather as low as -30* after warming up it ran fine but did smoke a lot and I cleaned the plugs every couple of days.

[columbiA]

When I had my 1st A back in 53,I would sometimes add a couple gallons of stove oil from Dads fuel tank when I couldnt afford the 25 cents a gallon for fuel.It smoked a lot,but got me by until I could afford to fill up.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

My dad claimed he ran his A on diesel and kerosene in the depression, after starting it with gasoline. I can't guarantee or verify that information, though. He's been gone for 30 years.

There were two tanks the main tank had the kero and a smaller tank had the gasolene. The A would be started on the gas to bring up to temp and then switched to kerosene.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Don't try straight diesel!! I witnessed this in 1949: Chief & I ran out of gas in a Model A, he siphoned diesel out of a nearby Caterpillar, KERBLOCK, KERRATTLE, KERFIZ, and noises I never heard before, BLACK SMOKE, stink, but we made it 2 miles home for supper. It was a bitch to get it drained & cleaned out to get it runnin' agin.' The exhaust stunk for 3 days! Bill W.

[Dave in Boise]

I have heard that you could pour a qt or so of diesel in a tank of regular fuel in your an and the added oil content would work as an upper cylinder lube.. Also seemed to be mentioned around here as a way to keep the vaporlock gremlins away (?)

I have run on the e-85 (85%) ethanol fuel for a tank or so to see if it would run, but have not tried the more oliy fuels.. Would think that you would need a lot higher compression to get straight diesel ( after heating up appropriately on regular gasoline) to do more than act like a bug bomb. The smoke would have to be really something to behold

[juke joint johnny]

OK !! Idiot Confession time;
A few months ago I left my wife at the supermarket and drove around the corner to get some gas in the A pickup I drove up to the pump and a friend turns up that I hadn't seen for while and at the same time 2 Frenchmen are taking pictures and asking Questions , and with 2 different languages being directed to me I go and pump 2 gallons of DIESEL in the A!!!!!
OMG so now what do I do ??? I know the wife will be ready soon and that Model A's will sort of run on kerosene so I filled it to the brim with gas !!!!
It ran OK on the mixture had to adjust the GaV and it smoked like it had 200,000 mile on it , It was a bit difficult to start, took 5or 6 try's each time to start when normally it goes first time.
I was preety nervous running this mixture but it didn't seem to do any lasting damage
not something I would recomend though. I was glad when that tankful was gone.

I do know someone who puts one gallon of kerosene per tank of gas in his Model A
He says it runs cooler like that and has been doing it for more than 20 years .

John Cochran

[ken ct]

Originally Posted by leontripp

Will my 1930 Tudor's engine run on diesel fuel or, "kerosene"?

Leon,i wish i had your extra kero as i heat my shop with an old 2 burner vented kero heater. Kero is selling here in Ct @ the local Hess station for $5.50 a gal. I use around 100 per winter heating the shop. One oil dealer in my area will del for me once a yr as i have 2 55 gal drums of it.Hes a little cheaper than station but not by much.These old burners through some heat when they get going. ken ct. Formally of Fall River,Ma. lol.

[marc hildebrant]

Kerosene and Diesel are not the same fuel.

Marc