I think of kerosene as an old-timey lamp fuel. What modern uses does it have, sufficient for a gas station to have a dedicated pump for it?
Is it a regional thing? Never once saw this in 30-odd years in Texas.
Now I’m in Michigan, and noticed this for the first time today, at a pump near the separate diesel pump.
Googling just produced info about where you could buy it … but not why you’d buy it.
WAG: In Michigan, a lot of people have kerosene heaters?
For portable kerosene heaters, would be my bet. Michiganders might use those at cabins, in garages, in ice-fishing shacks, or just as space heaters in their homes.
Isn’t diesel fuel kerosene?
Dont some dragsters or race cars run on kerosene or off road vehicles?
But yes, heaters. My detached garage is heated by a kerosene furnace (previous owner used it as a shop) I use off road diesel (similar and available at a pump). Not something I use often.
Brian
No. They’re close but not the same. Kerosene has slightly less BTU’s than diesel. It also burns cleaner. Might not make a difference in a furnace but in an open-burning heater it’s going to be sootier.
Jets run on kerosene.
One of Crazy Vaclav’s automobiles can go 300 hectares on a tank.
I believe those use ethanol.
Jets burn refined kerosene
Yeah, I don’t think people are re-fueling their jets at a corner gas station in the middle of a small town.
Can you fuel a jet with one of those red gas cans? 
Yes. During an extended power outage, a kerosene heater will keep you warm. It also adds supplemental heat if it gets very cold (below zero). Also good for starting fires for piles of brush—waaaay safer than gasoline and you don’t have to build it. Just spread kerosene on it and light it.
Sure, but what exactly do we use kerosene for here? I mean, I think my mom may have some for this ancient kerosene lamp she’s had forever, and I bought a quart for use in a homebrew gun cleaning solvent once, but those are the only reasons I can think of for anyone to buy it. Nobody uses kerosene heaters, nobody uses kerosene lanterns, etc…
Michigan allows self-service at gas stations, don’t they? Anyone who wants to can re-fuel their jet there.
(Okay, I admit – I found this pic on-line, by the simple artifice of googling for something like this. I’m not at all sure this is happening specifically in Michigan. The caption on the picture suggests this is in Denmark (note the flag on the tail of the jet), and he’s actually filling with diesel.)
ETA: Here’s a brief (7-second) video of a jet actually pulling into a corner gas station:
I’ve known people with jet-powered RC airplanes - but they usually went to an airport with a 5 or 10 gallon gas can and filled it up there.
There was also at least one guy with a jet-powered ultralight who used the same method.
In a pinch I suppose they could use the corner gas station - I’ve gone to a gas station to fill up a gas can or three for an ultralight (you don’t take the actual aircraft there - as a general rule there’s not clearance at the pump for the wingspan).
Yeah. But aside from the two above examples it would take a LOT of gas cans… Just not a practical solution.
I grew up with kerosene heaters as a primary home heating source in Maryland. Then we got a wood stove. I was happy to be rid of both and never look back.
Are there Amish in your part of Michigan?
The Amish, who generally abstain from the use of electricity, rely on kerosene for lighting at night.
For the wider public, mostly for workshop/job site/barn heating. Maybe sideline heaters at sporting events.
Only after you put it in “H”.
I own two rental mobile homes with kerosene furnaces. Both were built around 1970 so maybe it’s an age thing; I know one of the them was replaced a couple years ago with a new kerosene furnace designed specifically for mobile homes.
When I was a kid, my folks had an addition built on the house. I was completely captivated by the kerosene heaters the contracters used. It looked like a jet engine with afterburner.
Top Fuel dragsters (the fastest ones) use nitromethane with some methanol mixed in.