Oil Price in Nassau County – Call 516-986-2293
Oil Price in Suffolk County – Call 631-714-2999
There has been some major confusion over the years as to whether or not there is a significant difference between home heating oil on Long Island and diesel fuel. The confusion comes from the fact that you can substitute diesel for home heating oil and seemingly suffer no problems. There are some issues with doing so however which we will get to momentarily. For now, let’s talk about the differences between the two.
Understanding the Difference Between Home Heating Oil Long Island and Diesel
Diesel Fuel – Diesel is heavier than standard gasoline and takes on the appearance of oil. One of the properties that people find most memorable is that it is not quick to evaporate, nor it is it as volatile as gasoline. In addition to that it is less expensive than gasoline and therefore commonly used to power:
- Boats
- Trucks
- Trains
- Buses
- Boats
- And more
There are several variants of diesel, one of which is used for off-road vehicles in the US.
Heating Oil – Home heating oil is just an umbrella term for fuels mixed with heavier oil and ultimately produces more heat while burning. Due to their chemical composition that burns hot but burns less, making them far more efficient than their diesel counterpart.
Practical Differences Between Heating Oil and Diesel
Even if you’re trying to skirt around fuel oil prices in NY, diesel probably isn’t the way to go about it. Home heating oil is slightly higher in BTU content than diesel meaning you’ll have to burn far more diesel fuel in your system to achieve the same amount of heat. In other words, while it might work in a punch, you certainly won’t want it for your long-term solution. As far as the inverse goes, home heating oil does not have the same lubricating properties as diesel which means it cannot be used for automobiles or large moving equipment. When you’re in the process of choosing home heating oil in Suffolk County NY, make sure that you’re getting the best – there is no substitute.
What Is Cetane?
The last point that we are going to mention is the cetane factor which is similar to octane in gasoline. In any diesel engine, there is a minimum cetane value that must be maintained if the engine is to work properly and it is usually settled on that a 40 cetane ceiling is acceptable, though there are some that require a 45. Understand that the additives used to make diesel engines work properly are NOT good for your furnace. It might work in a pinch, so to speak, but as time goes by you are going to discover that the furnace becomes sluggish, making it even more important to work with today’s oil price and ultimately get the solution you need to keep your house warm.
