{"id":99725,"date":"2019-05-17T11:18:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T10:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crownoil.co.uk\/?page_id=99725"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:07:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:07:43","slug":"kerosene-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.crownoil.co.uk\/guides\/kerosene-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Kerosene"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Kerosene Fuel Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Crown Oil, we have a long association with kerosene, from our humble beginnings when our founder started the business selling lamp oil door to door in 1928<\/a>. During this time, we\u2019ve built up vast knowledge about kerosene and we owe a lot to the invention for where we are today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When our customers come to us with questions regarding kerosene, we\u2019re fully equipped to answer any queries. To help you better understand kerosene, we\u2019ve put together a detailed insight without blowing your mind with too much gobbledygook on its usage, purpose and legality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions about kerosene and would like to discuss your requirements, call our kerosene experts today on 0330 123 1444<\/a> to see how we can help you. We can also provide you with a quote based on the latest kerosene price and you can also make a purchase by calling the same number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. What is kerosene?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A short history of kerosene<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. How is kerosene produced?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Are kerosene fumes harmful?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Is kerosene safe to use indoors?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. What are the advantages of using kerosene?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. What is kerosene used for?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Kerosene types by application<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Why use kerosene for heating purposes?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Does kerosene go bad?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Alternatives to kerosene<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Why choose Crown Oil for kerosene?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \"kerosene\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    What is kerosene?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Kerosene is a combustible oil with low viscosity used by businesses and homes as fuel to generate heat, light and power. Kerosene has many names, although these all refer to the same fuel; these names include kerosine, paraffin<\/a>, heating oil, 28 second oil, kero, lamp oil, burning oil and boiler fuel. Kerosene is a hydrocarbon fuel and is obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The term \u201828 second oil\u2019 is used as a term to distinguish kerosene\u2019s viscosity, through a specific test of how long it takes 50ml of the oil to drip into a beaker. This also explains how red diesel<\/a> gets its \u201835-second\u2019 name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    A brief history of kerosene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    While oil has been extracted from crude oil for centuries – earliest records of distillation are from the 9th<\/sup> century – the term \u2018kerosene\u2019 has been in use since the mid-19th century, when it was registered as a trademark in the US by Canadian geologist Abraham Pineo Gesner in 1854 as a lamp oil that was extracted from coal. However, Abraham Gesner claims the production of kerosene actually began a little earlier in 1846,\u00a0 when he claims to have given a public demonstration in\u00a0Charlottetown,\u00a0Prince Edward Island,\u00a0of a new process he had discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In 1851, American inventor Samuel Martin Kier developed the process of distilling crude oil and sold the resulting distillate as \u2018carbon oil\u2019. As a result of discovering how to distil crude oil, Kier is known as the grandfather of the American oil industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Historically, kerosene was extracted from fossil fuels like coal, oil shale and wood. Kerosene has managed to keep up with the times, facilitated by those who have discovered improved methods of distillation, which have helped shape kerosene into the robust and reliable fuel it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before the invention of electricity, kerosene was our primary way to heat and light up the world. But times quickly changed which led to the use of oil lamps declining in more developed areas, and more commonly being associated with rural heating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Its name came from \u03ba\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2\u00a0(keros),\u00a0which means wax in Greek – a waxy substance was initially produced from the distillation process. In 1854, its name was registered as a trademark by Gesner before it progressed into a genericised trademark name. The first company to distribute kerosene to businesses and homes was the Kerosene Gas Light Company in 1854 after Gesner moved from Canada to Newtown Creek,\u00a0Long Island,\u00a0New York in order to set up his new company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Kerosene sales in Greater Manchester, UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Some years later in 1928, Harry Greensmith started the family-run and owned business, which later became Crown Oil by selling kerosene door to door to residents in Heywood in Greater Manchester (where our headquarters still reside to this day), soon gaining the nickname \u2018Harry Lamp Oil\u2019 by the local community. So we have kerosene and Harry to thank for our huge success today! Read more about Crown Oil\u2019s history<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Today, Crown Oil supplies many more fuels, oils and lubricants across the UK, but kerosene<\/a> still remains one of our most popular fuels thanks to its versatility and combustive properties. Let’s take an in-depth look at the fuel and all the reasons why it’s relied on by businesses and homes across the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    How is kerosene produced?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Kerosene\u2019s colour tends to be light, clear and free from solid matter. It\u2019s typically pale, yellow or colourless but often has a dye added to distinguish it from other fuels such as red diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kero has a thin viscosity and a density between 0.78-0.81 g\/cm\u00b3 (gram per cubic centimetre). Its actual density is 0.82 g\/cm\u00b3, however as paraffin\u2019s is 0.8g\/cm\u00b3 and the two oils are virtually the same, a happy medium is found at 0.81g\/cm\u00b3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chemically, kerosene is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbons, called alkanes<\/a>. Its composition varies depending on its source but typically contains around 10 different hydrocarbons, each containing 10-16 carbon atoms per molecule<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Its main constituents are saturated straight-chain, branched-chain paraffins, and ring-shaped cycloparaffins (napthenes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kerosene is extracted from petroleum, a natural oil found beneath the earth\u2019s surface. Using high temperatures between 150 and 275\u00b0C, petroleum is drilled out of the ground and broken down into a number of fuels through a process called fractional distillation<\/a>, including petrol, fuel oil, butane, propane, lubricating oil and kerosene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The combustible hydrocarbon liquid, kerosene, is then extracted, leaving a clear and thin oil which is then sold to distributors like Crown Oil.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"fractionating<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Are kerosene fumes harmful?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Kerosene burns relatively cleanly and has a low carbon monoxide risk \u2013 and due to its lack of fuel vapour, it cannot explode or cause a fire. However, the oil gives off fumes and inhaling a subsequent amount of kerosene fumes can cause dizziness – and long-term could cause neurological or kidney damage. So, while kerosene is safe to touch, it is toxic to inhale or ingest and can be fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to Public Health England, fuel oil may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways, so seek medical treatment if this happens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Is kerosene safe to use indoors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Put simply, yes! Kerosene is a non-corrosive, less volatile fuel, compared to other fuels such as red diesel and gasoline. It has a flash point of 38\u00b0C compared to gasoline, which is -40\u00b0C, making it considerably safe to store and handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s more, heating oil systems will not output any dirt, soot or odours indoors if installed and stored correctly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    What are the advantages of using kerosene?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n