What Oil Is Best For Oil Burner?

Choosing the right type of heating oil for your oil burner is an important decision that can impact performance, efficiency, and maintenance costs. With several options on the market, it’s crucial to understand the key differences between types of heating oil in order to select the best one for your specific needs.

The oil you use in your burner provides the fuel that is ignited to produce heat and warmth in your home. The quality and properties of the oil directly affect the combustion process. Using the wrong oil can lead to incomplete fuel burning, clogging and fouling issues in the burner or furnace, smoke, soot buildup, and other problems. This wastes fuel, reduces system efficiency, increases emissions and pollution, and requires more frequent maintenance.

Consequently, taking the time to educate yourself on the various grades and formulations of heating oil, weighing the pros and cons of each, and choosing the optimal product for your oil burner system can save you money in the long run while maximizing performance.

Viscosity

Viscosity refers to a liquid’s resistance to flow. When it comes to heating oil, viscosity is an important factor to consider. Thicker oils have higher viscosity numbers, indicating that they are more resistant to flow, especially in cold temperatures. By contrast, thinner oils have lower viscosity numbers and can flow more easily.

As the Beckett Corporation explains, viscosity increases as temperature decreases. This means that cold winter weather can cause heating oil to become quite viscous. Highly viscous oil does not flow well through pipes, nozzles, and other components of a heating system. This can lead to poor atomization of the oil when it is burned, incomplete combustion, and a reduction in heating efficiency.

Understanding the viscosity of heating oil and how it changes with temperature is key to selecting the right oil for your burner. Oils with too high or too low viscosity can cause performance issues. Later sections will explore the different viscosity grades of heating oil in more detail.

Types of Heating Oil

There are several types of heating oil used for oil burners:

• Kerosene – Also known as No. 1 fuel oil, kerosene is a light distillate that flows easily. It is commonly used in portable space heaters. Kerosene has a lower viscosity and sulfur content than other heating oils, making it cleaner burning. However, it is more expensive than other fuel oils. (Tevis Energy, Sperr’s)
• No. 2 Heating Oil – Also known as No. 2 fuel oil, this is the most common heating oil for residential use. It is a heavier distillate that requires preheating in cold temperatures to allow for proper atomization. No. 2 heating oil has higher energy content than kerosene. (Tevis Energy, Sperr’s)
• Diesel Fuel – Diesel fuel can also be used as heating oil. It is similar to No. 2 fuel oil but has lower viscosity and volatility. Diesel must meet more stringent requirements than heating oil. Using diesel fuel requires more frequent service and maintenance. (Sperr’s)

#2 Heating Oil

#2 heating oil, also known as home heating oil, is the most common type of heating oil used in residential and commercial buildings across the United States. It has a relatively high viscosity and is cheaper than other heating oil options. #2 heating oil tends to be the best option for oil burners in most climates.

#2 heating oil is a petroleum distillate that is left over after crude oil is refined to produce gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products. It is composed of longer hydrocarbon chains with between 10 and 20 carbon atoms per molecule.

The #2 refers to its viscosity and ability to flow at room temperature. #2 heating oil flows more freely than #6 heating oil, which has an even higher viscosity, but not as freely as #1 heating oil or kerosene.

#2 heating oil has several advantages that make it well-suited for home heating:

• It has relatively high energy density, meaning more BTUs can be provided per gallon compared to lighter oils.
• It remains fluid down to -4°F, allowing it to flow through pipes and into burners in cold weather.
• It produces very little smoke and soot when burned in high-efficiency equipment.
• It has a relatively low cost per BTU compared to propane or natural gas.

The main downside is that #2 heating oil has higher sulfur content than other fuel options. Using low-sulfur #2 heating oil and upgrading to high-efficiency burner systems can help reduce sulfur emissions and improve air quality.

Overall, #2 heating oil offers an efficient, reliable and cost-effective option for heating homes and buildings with oil burners across much of the United States. Its unique properties make it the go-to choice for most oil heating needs.

#1 Heating Oil

#1 heating oil is a lighter type of fuel oil that is low in viscosity compared to #2 heating oil. It flows more easily, has a lower pour point, and produces less soot when burned. The lighter molecular structure of #1 oil allows it to be vaporized and atomized more readily for combustion.

The downside is that #1 heating oil is more expensive than #2 oil. The lighter composition contains fewer BTUs per gallon, so more fuel is required to produce the same amount of heat. The price difference can be 20 cents or more per gallon between #1 and #2 oils.

#1 heating oil is optimal for use in certain applications, like boilers requiring a very fine spray pattern. But for most homeowners, #2 oil offers a better value for typical oil-fired furnaces and boilers.

Kerosene

Kerosene is a very low viscosity oil that flows easily in cold temperatures. It has a lower viscosity rating than both No. 1 and No. 2 heating oils, meaning it is thinner and flows more freely (Biltmore Oil). The low viscosity of kerosene allows it to atomize well for combustion, producing a clean burn. This makes kerosene a good option for wick-fed heaters where low viscosity is essential for the fuel to travel up the wick. However, kerosene’s low viscosity can cause problems in some oil burner systems designed for thicker heating oil. It may not provide enough lubrication for the pump and there is an increased risk of leakage from seals and gaskets (Coalpail Forum). Overall, kerosene is not recommended as a direct substitute for heating oil in burner systems unless approved by the manufacturer.

Biofuels

Biofuels are made from renewable, organic materials and offer a cleaner-burning alternative to traditional heating oils. Bioheating oil is a blend of ultra low sulfur heating oil and biofuel, typically soybean oil or other plant oils.Bioheating oil 101 | Benefits of biofuel solutions in your … It contains little to no fossil fuels, reducing net carbon emissions. Many homeowners are switching to bioheating oil to lower their carbon footprint. Biofuels can be blended with regular heating oil at any ratio, with blends up to 20% biofuel able to be used in existing heating systems without modifications.Using Biodiesel for Home Heating and Transportation Bioheating oil burns cleaner as well, producing less soot and sludge than conventional heating oil.

Additives

Oil additives are chemical compounds that can be added to engine oils to improve certain properties. Some common additives for heating oil include:

Detergents – These help clean away deposits, prevent buildup, and keep engines running smoothly. Detergents disperse oil sludge and other contaminants so they can be filtered out (High-Performance Oil Additives).

Dispersants – These maintain particles in suspension so they don’t form larger deposits. By preventing agglomeration, dispersants stop particles from coming together and settling out of the oil (ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES – Lucas Oil Products, Inc.).

Antioxidants – These counteract the oxidation that breaks down oil over time. They help extend the useful life of heating oil (High-Performance Oil Additives).

Anti-wear additives – These create a protective film on metal surfaces to prevent friction, scuffing, and wear. Anti-wear additives are especially important for high pressure applications (ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES – Lucas Oil Products, Inc.).

Using high quality additives can clean and rejuvenate old heating oil, enhancing performance and equipment life. Follow manufacturer recommendations for optimal benefits.

Recommendations

Based on the benefits and differences between the various types of oils, the #2 heating oil is often the best overall choice for most situations and oil burner systems. #2 heating oil has the right viscosity to flow properly through pipes and nozzles without clogging. It also provides sufficient energy output for heating homes efficiently. While #1 oil and kerosene may be optimal in certain colder climates, #2 heating oil offers a good balance of viscosity, burn quality, cost-effectiveness, and availability for the majority of users.

Conclusion

When deciding which oil is best for your oil burner, the main factors to consider are viscosity, fuel type, and additives:

• Viscosity – Heating oils need to be fluid enough to flow through piping and atomize properly for combustion. However, lower viscosity oils like kerosene may leak or create excessive soot.
• Fuel Type – Most residential heaters use #2 heating oil. #1 oil and kerosene work but may cost more or increase emissions. Biofuels are cleaner but may require equipment adjustments.
• Additives – Additives like anti-gelling agents help the oil flow in cold weather. Use them sparingly and focus on getting high quality base fuel.

For most oil burners, opt for #2 heating oil with viscosity and pour point suitable for your climate. Add sufficient anti-gel additive for winter. Only use #1 or kerosene if your system requires it. Carefully consider biofuel blends based on availability and equipment compatibility in your area.