# Why would a gas station sell kerosene at a pump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408 "2021-09-27T00:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/1 "2021-09-27T00:28:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/2 "2021-09-27T00:34:05Z")
WAG: In Michigan, a lot of people have kerosene heaters? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/3 "2021-09-27T00:34:08Z")
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. > **[Best Kerosene Heater: Energy Efficient Heaters for Any Space](https://www.fieldandstream.com/outdoor-gear/best-kerosene-heater/)** > > Get the best kerosene heater to keep warm this winter. Check out what these energy-efficient heaters can offer indoors or out! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/4 "2021-09-27T00:50:21Z")
Isn’t diesel fuel kerosene? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/5 "2021-09-27T00:54:36Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/6 "2021-09-27T00:58:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Isn’t diesel fuel kerosene? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/7 "2021-09-27T00:58:56Z")
Jets run on kerosene. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uAUPag2BW-4/maxresdefault.jpg "OCTOPUSSY | Acrostar Jet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAUPag2BW-4) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/8 "2021-09-27T01:01:57Z")
One of Crazy Vaclav’s automobiles can go 300 hectares on a tank. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/07vdtBMG4Kg/hqdefault.jpg "Put it in H - Homer and Crazy Vaclav") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vdtBMG4Kg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/9 "2021-09-27T01:07:02Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Dont some dragsters or race cars run on kerosene…? I believe those use ethanol. ---
**Author:** ![Blendonw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Blendonw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blendonw)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/10 "2021-09-27T02:46:46Z")
Jets burn refined kerosene ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/11 "2021-09-27T02:48:30Z")
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? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/12 "2021-09-27T03:02:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/13 "2021-09-27T03:36:34Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Is it a regional thing? Never once saw this in 30-odd years in Texas. 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… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/14 "2021-09-27T05:57:03Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Yeah, I don’t think people are re-fueling their jets at a corner gas station in the middle of a small town. Michigan allows self-service at gas stations, don’t they? Anyone who wants to can re-fuel their jet there. [![](https://external-preview.redd.it/GubJStTo8hjOr7zYVEqCeJR91cAHjMuCbvlf4omBU-k.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=9403a6107eda27ecbf43684495fa7ecc79f2c2f3) ](https://external-preview.redd.it/GubJStTo8hjOr7zYVEqCeJR91cAHjMuCbvlf4omBU-k.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=9403a6107eda27ecbf43684495fa7ecc79f2c2f3) (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](https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/20uead/in_denmark_we_fill_our_fighter_jets_at_the_local/) (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: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8lcn9rO1kfg/maxresdefault.jpg "Fighter Jet emergency crash landing near a gas station (SFX)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lcn9rO1kfg) ---
**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:** [September 27, 2021, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/15 "2021-09-27T08:25:23Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Yeah, I don’t think people are re-fueling their jets at a corner gas station in the middle of a small town. 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). > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Can you fuel a jet with one of those red gas cans? Yeah. But aside from the two above examples it would take a LOT of gas cans… Just not a practical solution. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/16 "2021-09-27T10:49:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/17 "2021-09-27T12:29:45Z")
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. > **[Forced Air Kerosene Construction Heater (185,000 BTU/HR)](https://www.dewalt.com/product/dxh185kt/forced-air-kerosene-construction-heater-185000-btuhr)** > > The DXH185KT thermostatically controlled forced air kerosene heater burns at 185,000 BTU/HR and can be used with kerosene diesel, fuel oil or JP-8 fuels. With a included wheel kit and an 13.8 gallon tank you will get a full 10 hours of run time and... ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/18 "2021-09-27T13:05:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > One of Crazy Vaclav’s automobiles can go 300 hectares on a tank. Only after you put it in “H”. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/19 "2021-09-27T13:41:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408/20 "2021-09-27T14:25:11Z")
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. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I believe those use ethanol. Top Fuel dragsters (the fastest ones) use nitromethane with some methanol mixed in. > **[Top Fuel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Fuel)** > > Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 338 miles per hour (544.0 km/h) and finishing the 1,000 foot (304.8 m) runs in 3.62 seconds. > A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 mph (160.9 km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds (less than one third the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph (96.6 km/h)... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-gas-station-sell-kerosene-at-a-pump/951408.md?page=2)