How2Day: Heaters That Use Used Motor Oil

Saving money and saving the environment are important. Used motor oil will harm the environment if not disposed of properly. Used motor oil as a fuel source for heater is now available for the public from several venues. Heaters that use motor oil reduce pollution in landfills and lower the cost of heating dramatically.

In 1970, Ben Smoker reacted to the oil crisis by inventing prototype motor oil heaters. Steel drums and old fuel oil heaters were used as the first prototypes for heaters that burn motor oil. These heaters were originally intended for auto shops and garages that had a large supply of motor oil. These first attempts proved to the inventors that these primitive heaters could be improved on by adding more technology. In 1979, Clean Burn industries created an efficient and affordable system that would be self-contained and available for public use. A new industry had been born out of necessity. Motor oil that would have been disposed of in expensive land fill operations can now be burned to save both money and the environment.

If you have the skills, you can build your own heater that burns motor oil. Most home build motor oil heaters start with an old hot water heater tank. The tank should be thick walled and have a non-galvanized finish. The hot water heater should be electric and not powered by natural gas or other gas fuels. Within the hot water tank a cast-iron pan should be put on a rack for a burning surface. Copper tubing should be installed to be gravity fed into the burning surface at a rate where the oil does not over fill the pan. A overflow area should be constructed with metal or brick to contain over flow flame. Make that you check your state and local laws to make sure your heater is within code.

Heaters that burn motor oil are illegal in many states. For example in California they are illegal to use or manufacture. This falls under the clause of the burning or dumping of oil. Before building or purchasing a heater that burns motor oil, check with your local court house. You can also ask a mechanic in your local garage. They will probably be knowledgeable about the laws that govern this type of heater in your state. If your state does allow these types of heaters, they may have restrictions that limit the amount of smoke that comes out of the vent. Many states have carbon-dioxide emission standards where the exhaust of the heater might violate. Through research needs to be done to make sure that both the heater and exhaust fall under the legal requirements of your town, county and state.

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