Submitted by Nice_Opportunity_405 t3_10ohn26 in vermont
OK. I do this every goddamn time!
It’s Sunday afternoon, I am broke until Tuesday morning and I just ran out of heating oil.
I have $40 so is there somewhere I can get 5 gallons or something to tide me over until I can get my tank filled up on Tuesday? I remember hearing that that kerosene or something can be used as an emergency fuel. Or is it diesel fuel?
Jesus. At 58 you’d think I had this adulting thing down.
This, if you can find off road diesel you will save ~0.10s/gal or so. It’s the same as on-road diesel, the on road is just sold with a tax on to maintain the roads.
The only differences are that offroad diesel is dyed red and there's no road tax.
10 sents
You can use diesel. You’ll have to bleed the fuel line before your furnace will work since you ran it empty and there is now air in it. If you have an adjustable wrench and a tin can it’s fairly easy to do. Just look it up on YouTube.
Diesel if the tank is indoors and heated, kerosene if it’s outdoors, the kerosene resists gelling better
Thanks! Will do.
Off road diesel
Yes diesel is the solution. Off highway diesel is cheaper. It's literally the same stuff as #2 fuel oil. Only bleed the lines if your ran completely empty. Crack the bleeder next to the hose at the furnace blower and turn it on a few times. Most likely it'll time out and go into safety mode. Read your ignitor manual to see how to reset. Then do it again till fuel comes out of the bleeder. Put some tubing onto the bleeder so it comes out into a cup or something instead of spraying on your floor. In a pinch, ive called a friend or a friend of a friend who was in excavation or landscaping. Anyone of the guys you see around town who have what looks like a toolbox in the bed of their truck, but theres a fuel pump handle hanging on the side. This is how they go to job sites to fill their excavators, bobcats etc. I think most people are generally kind. I bet $40 would go a long way with one them helping you out with a few gallons.
Side note. This is also why I will never own a house without a second source of heat. Woodstove is best. Pellet stove with a battery backup is second. Fireplace last. Woodstock insert in a fireplace is pretty darn good too.
You can use regular diesel. My neighbor does what you stated all winter. He doesn't have the money to convert his fuel tank to the bigger pipe so no oil company will supply him.
I’ve used diesel before for my basement oil tank. No issues.
Thanks everyone! Appreciate you!
Call BROC tomorrow morning, they have emergency money for fuel. The income cap is way higher than for fuel assistance.
Thanks! I’m on fuel assistance already and I don’t think I’d feel right about taking any more funds from BROC but they are AMAZING PEOPLE and I am so very appreciative of the help they’ve given me.
Did you get it sorted?
offroad diesel like others suggested will hold you over!
I've had to do it too dude.
When I was a kid, I thought filling it 5 gallons at a time on my dad's payday was the way all people did it.
We heated mostly with wood, so 5-10 gallons got us through the week (usually) in the winter.
Does your supplier have any that you could come and pail? I work for my family heating oil business and we have tanks with a small amount of #2 heating oil and kerosene. We frequently have people that come to pump out a small amount, like 5-15 gallons or so to tide them over before they get their full delivery.
I don’t know! When I call tomorrow I’ll ask! Thanks for the tip 😀
Where's your shop located? I've had a hard time finding anywhere that sells #2 oil by the gallon.
Right over the border on the NY side of Bennington County.
Just for emphasis - get the off road diesel. I've used it in a pinch.
The kerosene gets added as an antifreeze I believe.
Celestial_bestival t1_j6eshsd wrote
Also, if you’re tight on cash, go to a gas station that has “off road” diesel. You don’t need to pay the tax if you’re using it for heat. I’m in NH but I imagine it’s the same in VT.