# Kerosene and Jet Fuel Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 6, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449 "2003-03-06T07:03:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449/1 "2003-03-06T07:03:20Z")
Okay, I know that they’re almost the same thing, but I was reading a newspaper article tonight and it said that the current price of jet fuel was $1.40/gal. So why the heck did I pay $1.79 for kerosene the last time I bought some for my heater? And what would happen if I put jet fuel in my kerosene heater? (Not that I have any intention of doing this, I’m just curious.) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449/2 "2003-03-06T07:13:12Z")
The most common jet fuel is type Jet-A which is mostly purified, filtered kerosene with a few additives to enhance combustion. From the [Chevron Jet-A MSDS](http://library.cbest.chevron.com/lubes/chevmsdsv9.nsf/db12c751d5603b418825681e007cddb3/0af8b9b4d5605ecf8825652c005f0c6f?OpenDocument): > [@](#): > > WARNING! Do not use as portable heater or appliance fuel. Toxic fumes may accumulate and cause death. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449/3 "2003-03-06T07:48:29Z")
Because jet fuel is sold to airports & airlines the same way gasoline is, by the thousands of gallons. Its a commodity. Kerosene sold by stores (or gas stations) for space heaters is just a little side business so the markup is higher. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449/4 "2003-03-06T10:26:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Okay, I know that they’re almost the same thing, but I was reading a newspaper article tonight and it said that the current price of jet fuel was $1.40/gal. So why the heck did I pay $1.79 for kerosene the last time I bought some for my heater? And what would happen if I put jet fuel in my kerosene heater? (Not that I have any intention of doing this, I’m just curious.) \*\* I work at a gerneral aviation facility and we run Jet A in the running tanks of our fuel trucks, some of which are over 30 years old and running strong. By the way, we charge in the nieghborhood of $3.60 for a gallon of Jet A (dispenced into an aircraft, of course) As far as I can tell, Jet A can be used anywhere diesel/kero is used. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-jet-fuel-questions/159449/5 "2003-03-06T11:07:25Z")
Except there ARE additives in Jet A that are toxic to humans. Not such an issue in a fuel truck, which, like the jets, are run outside and are thus “well ventilated”. Running it in something like a space heater could be a problem.