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Fuel Variations
It is unlikely that the fuel you are using is the same viscosity as the fuel used to calibrate
the oil-metering valve. Diesel is one of the few fuels you can reliably get all around the
world but the quality and viscosity of that fuel is variable. Fuel differs on a routine basis
even though you buy the same oil from the same supplier. Factors influencing oil
viscosity include: the temperature; the age and quality of the fuel; the regional differences
due to local refineries; and the particular mix of certain brands of fuel. The oil metering
valve is calibrated for #2 diesel (unless requested otherwise). Burning diesel #1 (stove
oil) will allow 25% more fuel and burning kerosene will allow 50% more fuel to flow
through the oil-metering valve. Because of this, it is important to burn the fuel for which
the heater has been calibrated. Metering valves are available for diesel (D stamp on
valve), kerosene (K stamp) or stove oil, (SO). By Studying the burning characteristics it
can be determined whether the fire is too high or too low.
