Diesel engines

[xud]

Someone told me that you can run a diesel engine on kerosene/paraffin. Is this true? If so, what, if any modifications are required?

[Agent_Smith]

technicly you can,but they have less oil and additives in them than pump diesel! you need oil in diesel to keep your pump lubed!!!

in the olden days before diesel had an anti freeze additive they use to add parofin to the diesel to stop it freezing overnight!

[Catso]

If you mean a modern, high-performance diesel, you're asking for trouble doing that. Expensive trouble.

As well as the detergent & lubricant qualities A_S refers to, paraffin is far more volatile than diesel (IE bigger, faster 'bang') and it will damage your engine.

If you mean an old fashioned, low-tech engine, then by all means try it. The original diesel was designed to run on almost anything with a volatile content. I think it was intended to run on oil from nuts? And provide cheap power for underdeveloped countries?

[xud]

Thanks for advice. My car is a 1995 Primera. It's not one of the new fancy diesels with direct injection.
I think best thing to do is gradually add the kerosene and see what difference (if any) it makes, apart from running costs.