My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

[fishfeatures]

1989 60hp Johnson

I am living in Ireland where we pay approx ?1.49 per litre ($5.63 per gallon US)
kerosene here is 0.87c a litre (3.30 US gallon)

An old timer here told me some time ago that I can run on kerosene just start off on 50:1 regular mix and when up to temp, switch over to Kerosene, and 5 mins before stopping switch back over to the regular two stroke mix.

Some info I've found has said that, by using 2 head gaskets to lower compression plus by changing to a hotter plug, I can start and use Kerosene in a 2 stroke.

Can anybody come back with pros or cons as to why this may or maynot be a good idea?

kersoene over here is readily available and in places I can buy from a regular pump for maybe 10c more p.l.

Obviously I would like to run on it but if it is going to PING my motor or something then i may buy a cheap 4-5hp and use that as a guinea pig for a trial??

 

[kodibass]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I have never heard of this before, but sounds interesting. I would think you could use kerosene as an additive to the lubricant instead of straight 2 cycle oil but the flash point would be to low without gasoline. I also think it would smoke very badly then fowl the plugs gum things up etc. interesting tho'

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I have never heard of this before, but sounds interesting. I would think you could use kerosene as an additive to the lubricant instead of straight 2 cycle oil but the flash point would be to low without gasoline. I also think it would smoke very badly then fowl the plugs gum things up etc. interesting tho'

interesting points Kodibass , how about a half and half mixture ? it would bring the cost to €1.18 p.l. (or 4.46 p.g) which will still save me approx €20 p.d based on how much i currently use it and that saving over the season would be nice in my pocket and not the fuwl companys.

I'll look into the flash point of kerosene and gasoline to compare the difference. As for smoking that'll only bother me at start up as I'm usually out cruising around not trolling or taking slow...

Would there be a drop off in HP too??? just a thought.

 

[F_R]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I don't know the answers to the question either, but I would be very concerned about the low octane causing engne damage. True, they used to run tractors on gasoline then switch to kerosine, but tractors don't run at full throttle either.

Ok, let's assume the kerosine doesn't hurt the emgine. Next question is how many BTUs are in gasoline compared to kerosine? I don't know the answer to that one either, but fewer BTUs mean less energy, which means you don't go as far on a gallon. So if you don't go as far, where are the savings?? We already see that with Ethanol enhanced gasoline. You get significantly fewer MPG with it.

Finally, the carburetors on your motor are calibrated for gasoline. Very probably, they will be way off on the mixture required for kero.

SO........why don't you try it and report back with the results? That would be more valuable information than us dummies sitting here guessing.

 

[hotshot123]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

i wonder why kerosene is so much cheaper there? i live in the southeast u.s. and regular gas is hovering around 3.00 a gallon but kerosene is over 5

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I don't know the answers to the question either, but I would be very concerned about the low octane causing engne damage. True, they used to run tractors on gasoline then switch to kerosine, but tractors don't run at full throttle either.

Ok, let's assume the kerosine doesn't hurt the emgine. Next question is how many BTUs are in gasoline compared to kerosine? I don't know the answer to that one either, but fewer BTUs mean less energy, which means you don't go as far on a gallon. So if you don't go as far, where are the savings?? We already see that with Ethanol enhanced gasoline. You get significantly fewer MPG with it.

Finally, the carburetors on your motor are calibrated for gasoline. Very probably, they will be way off on the mixture required for kero.

SO........why don't you try it and report back with the results? That would be more valuable information than us dummies sitting here guessing.

F-R ..i agree that if I get less miles per gallon then it's not worth the swopping over ,

I found this on a quick search


Kj/Kg BTU/Lb

Gasoline 47,300 20,400
Kerosene 35,000 154,000



I take it this means more BTu's in Kerosene but less energy?


If carbs are calibrated for gasoline, what are the big changes to go to Kerosene??

I think I just may look into the idea of buying a small kicker and running that till it dies or see if it will die on me .....and then report back with test results.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I guess if the Kerosene doesn't work out you can always convert it to run on gas-ahol (i.e. methanol, a.k.a. "wood alcohol"), like the Swedes did to cars back in the war. It's would be the wackiest rig on the water to be sure, but it should work in theory. Keep us posted. I'm curious to see what happens.

 

[MWG2600]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

My push mower has accidentally been run on Kerosene ran fine after it warmed up and quit white smoking... it ran surprisingly well i figured out the problem when i checked the gas and it was red!

Kerosene is so oil like already i don't think a 2-stroke would need any oil in the gas

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Kerosene is so oil like already i don't think a 2-stroke would need any oil in the gas

Correct! from what the old guy was telling me is that no two stroke oil needed. That itself is another saving I didn't think of (but maybe even 300-400/1 wouldn't hurt?)

Only thing on my mind why not to try this out on a peice of crap motor is:

a: enviromentally this seems a lot worse than 2 strokes and should i do this to my river??

B: the smell of the stuff is as strong as diesel and lingers if i get it all over myself or my boat.

If I do decide to go for it maybe inital testing in a big drum of water and then if happy proceed to the river.

To me if it is do-able then it would be great as Kerosene over here is so plentiful , it's what the majority of the country use to heat their homes.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Gasoline has 111,745-114,100 BTU's per U.S. gallon
Kerosene has 127,000-128,100 BTU's per U.S. gallon

Kerosene clearly contains more energy per gallon.... but are you willing to risk the health of your two stroke outboard based on what people usta do during hard times with primitive 4 stroke farm tractors ?

If the farm tractor called it quits, you had to walk back from the field to get the tools, and could probably have it back up and running by changing the plugs or adding strait gasoline. If your outboard calls it quits on the ocean, you ain't doing major repairs on an outboard no matter how many tools you have, and chances are good it probably ran lean and cooked it self.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

i wonder why kerosene is so much cheaper there? i live in the southeast u.s. and regular gas is hovering around 3.00 a gallon but kerosene is over 5

Gasoline is MUCH more heavily taxed in Europe than it is in the U.S.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Gasoline has 111,745-114,100 BTU's per U.S. gallon
Kerosene has 127,000-128,100 BTU's per U.S. gallon

Kerosene clearly contains more energy per gallon.... but are you willing to risk the health of your two stroke outboard based on what people usta do during hard times with primitive 4 stroke farm tractors ?.

That's the reason I plan to buy a piece of crap and drive the $&*? out of it and do rigorous testing before committing my own motor.

I noticed earlier today that it has more energy, does this = more HP????

I gotta test this out as the benefit if successful is huge savings.

 

[kbait]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I've heard the US military made 'em or at least modified 'em to use where no gasoline was available, so it can be done. Search around for that.. Here's one link: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=101192&highlight=kerosene+outboard

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Kj/Kg BTU/Lb

Gasoline 47,300 20,400
Kerosene 35,000 154,000



I take it this means more BTu's in Kerosene but less energy?


.

Better check those numbers, they don't make any sense.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Better check those numbers, they don't make any sense.

Tim Frank I will admit right now that I know nothing of BTU's energy etc.. that info was pulled from a quick search earlier on from here http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fuels-higher-calorific-values-d_169.html

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

I noticed earlier today that it has more energy, does this = more HP????

In the right theater... possibly...
In your engine, probably not. You are doing allot of guess work and back yard engineering to make this work. Keep in mind the closest thing to kerosene is diesel which really needs compression ignition and some form of injection in relatively lean ratios (compared to gasoline) to burn properly. Kerosene in its self is not an aromatic like gasoline, and is not going to vaporize like gasoline, and is not going to burn like gasoline, and may not perform its best being ignited by a spark plug in a relatively low compression environment.

In other words....
Good luck, let us know how you make out.

 

[AlTn]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

google...kerosene outboards....

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Well, I think the best way to cure this gas consumption issue, is just buy a boat with a smaller motor. Your 60hp is a big twin if that year is correct. Even those big twins can drink like a wild man in a pub on a friday night. If you're ocean fishing, then there really isn't anything you can do, but use what you have, but if you're lake fishing, then it's easy to downsize.

 

[the machinist]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

In doing research when writing my "LeeRoy's Ramblings" for OMC 9.9/15hp motors, I came upon a few tidbits of information on running these motors on kerosene.

Nothing I can find directly from OMC however. But mainly from Australia & yes what "fishfeatures" mentions is just what I came up with. One report from a marine mechanic that got one in for repair was that there was a small gasoline tank under the cowling with a shut-off valve to use for starting, then when warm, shut that valve off & the kerosene one on. He also said it had a thicker headgasket, but never removed the head to see if it was a thicker one or 2 regular ones.

I think using a small fuel tank & OMC quick coupler to start the motor with & changing over to a main tank coupler would work great.

In all my parts list examination I have never found a headgasket labled for kerosene.

Now think about the British Sea Gull motors. These ugly motors are used mainly on long range sail boats & are strictly kerosene. The word was kerosene does not deteriorate over time like gasoline & is not as volotile (dangerous in confines when at open sea).

I see no reason for it to not work & also require no fuel/oil mix. May not have the same power as gasoline however but will give a heck of internal lubrication.

As AlTn said google, "kerosene outboards" & come up with this or http://www.marineenginedigest.com/specialreports/kerosene-outboards.htm

Keep us posted if you do this !!!!!!

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: My 60hp Johnson on Kerosene ... is it possible??

Well, I think the best way to cure this gas consumption issue, is just buy a boat with a smaller motor. Your 60hp is a big twin if that year is correct. Even those big twins can drink like a wild man in a pub on a friday night. If you're ocean fishing, then there really isn't anything you can do, but use what you have, but if you're lake fishing, then it's easy to downsize.

Zephyr , I'm a big fan of your work on this site , you give great advice . However I love my 60 (triple), my only issue is irish price of fuel , you wouldn't be happy if you were paying near double what you pay, so you can't blame a man for trying to keep his costs down. Now don't get me wrong I don't mind paying the price as I really enjoy my boating but if I can save hundreds in a year esp with the way this country is right now then it's worth a shot.