Oil for fuel

[ElkHunter61523]

I have 7 - 55 gallon drums of Calvus oil 68 given to me. It is Refrigerator(mileral) oil. It has a strong odor of ammonia.
Doing some research on the Shell web page, it has the same auto ignition as diesel fuel. I can not find any information about the ammonia in it. According to the Shell site, it isn't corrosive to refrigeration pumps.
If it won't work as fuel I will use it in the Babbington burner in our shop for heat. I couldn't pass up the oil for either purpose.
Anyone have any thoughts on if it is useable in the multi fuel engines?

 

[stumps]

Ammonia gas is not the same thing as the ammonia that you buy at the grocery store. The ammonia gas used in refrigeration systems has no water in it. It is called anhydrous ammonia. It is the water that makes it corrosive. All it takes is a little while in the open air, and it will pick up plenty of water.

You can easily remove all of the ammonia gas, ammonia, and water by heating up the oil to above the boiling point of water, and letting it stew.

Be warned, heating oil is not to be done over a fire!

You can buy band heaters that are designed to strap around barrels for heating thick liquids. Also, don't forget to open the barrel, you want the water and ammonia to leave, so you have to give it someplace to go.

-Chuck

 

[rideni]

I would not use that a fuel

 

[TexAndy]

I thought they stopped using ammonia as refrigerant years and years ago...

 

[stumps]

No, it is still used in big refrigerant plants. Ice skating rinks, meat packing plants, ... It is also used in propane powered refrigerators.

-Chuck

 

[doghead]

Ammonia gas will kill you fast, be careful what you do until you understand what you have and what to do with it.

Believe it or not, a simple bottle of Clorox, will kill you in the right situation(not drinking it either)

 

[wreckerman893]

Anhydrous ammonia is corrosive as ****......metal exposed to it will corrode quick.
I would pass on using it as fuel for the deuce.....heat the shop with it.

 

[ElkHunter61523]

Thanks for the info....shop fuel it is!

 

[papabear]

Anhydrous ammonia is corrosive as ****......metal exposed to it will corrode quick.

I would pass on using it as fuel for the deuce.....heat the shop with it.[/quote]

I would suspect it would have about the same effect as cheap paint thinner on a diesel engine.
Of course Wreckerman is the subject matter expert in that area!!!
.

 

[m16ty]

If it won't work as fuel I will use it in the Babbington burner in our shop for heat.

On a side note, this quote sparked my interest because I didn't know what a "Babington burner" was. I googled it and it looks interesting. I may have to fab me one up when winter rolls back around.

Does yours work pretty well?

Right now I've all I've got is an oil line running into the top of my wood stove. It puts out plenty of heat but doesn't burn very clean.