transformer mineral oil

[Brownwise]

Hey peoples,

I really don't like the prices of diesel lately so I've been thinking of using PCB free mineral oil from new transformers. Does anybody have any experience with using this type of oil mixed with diesel to power a l400.

The brand of mineral oil is Nytro Lynx mineral oil and here's some info I've found on the substance.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=w ... Pqp3Yvy3uw

[BCDelica]

Are you running this through a converted vehicle with some kind of pre heating system?

Physical properties, flashpoint etc, are listed but can you ensure this oil won't damage your injectors and injection pump?

There isn't much savings if you wreck an IP is a year. For a newer electronically injected engine I'd stay away, the great change in cetane number running a heavy naphtha (based on properties listed and production industry standards) fuel could cause issues. Older mechanically injected engine I would be tempted to experiment with a small temp tank under the hood with a mix to determine running and cold start ability. Lubricity is a huge concern also of a naphtha based fuel; that and the cetane number would keep me from trying this!

At least the additive is fine, my company adds similar phenol's to industry and aviation fuels.

[Brownwise]

Thanks for the insight,

I do not have any type of conversion kit, I only ran into an opportunity to take as much of this oil as possible. My intension so far is only research.
So as an additive what would you think about 10% mixture in summer weather without a heater. Do you think there will be mixing issues if it gets cold or just viscosity problems?

Q

[BCDelica]

With a viscosity of 7.5 cst, that's well below veggie oils (lets say 20-40 cst), and only a little thicker than pump diesel. Bet the fingers couldn't tell the difference. Freezing point of -63 c means winter and summer use will be no different - betting your engine would start in the middle of winter with a 50/50 mix normally.

Myself, with too many unknowns, I wouldn't think of adding it to an electronically controled diesel engine. If I could run it through a gas chromatograph, as naphtha could be many different mixes of petroleum compounds and not being catalytically changed, I'd have to assume it's performance would be less than diesel not knowing it's composition. There's a reason that distillates are further refined for engines. This same refining creates more complex molecules, then the first pass distillates, that veggie oils compare very well to with regards to vehicle operation. And that at all the refineries and plants I visit never will you find anyone even considering tapping into the distillate storage tanks to top up there diesel vehicle.

A violent engine knock is my concern as a petroleum chemist, but I'm curious what an experienced diesel mechanic would say?

K