Editing Kerosene (section)

==== Engines ====
In the early to mid-20th century, kerosene or [[tractor vaporizing oil]] was used as a cheap fuel for [[tractor]]s and [[hit-and-miss engine]]s. A [[petrol-paraffin engine]] would start on gasoline, then switch over to kerosene once the engine warmed up. On some engines, a heat valve on the manifold would route the exhaust gasses around the intake pipe, heating the kerosene to the point where it was vaporized and could be ignited by an [[electric spark]].

In Europe following the Second World War, automobiles were similarly modified to run on kerosene rather than gasoline, which they would have to import and pay heavy taxes on. Besides additional piping and the switch between fuels, the [[head gasket]] was replaced by a much thicker one to diminish the compression ratio (making the engine less powerful and less efficient, but able to run on kerosene). The necessary equipment was sold under the trademark "Econom".<ref name="Corporation1951">{{cite book|last=Baer|first=Frederick H.|title=Popular Science December 1951|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA2-PA193|chapter=Report from abroad on kerosene-fed cars|date=December 1951|publisher=Bonnier Corporation|page=193}}</ref>

During the [[1973 oil crisis|fuel crisis of the 1970s]], Saab-Valmet developed and series-produced the [[Saab 99]] Petro that ran on kerosene, [[turpentine]] or gasoline. The project, codenamed "Project Lapponia", was headed by Simo Vuorio, and towards the end of the 1970s, a working prototype was produced based on the Saab 99 GL. The car was designed to run on two fuels. Gasoline was used for cold starts and when extra power was needed, but normally it ran on kerosene or turpentine. The idea was that the gasoline could be made from peat using the [[Fischer–Tropsch process]]. Between 1980 and 1984, 3,756 Saab 99 Petros and 2,385 [[Talbot Horizon]]s (a version of the Chrysler Horizon that integrated many Saab components) were made. One reason to manufacture kerosene-fueled cars was that, in Finland, kerosene was less heavily taxed than gasoline.<ref>Bakrutan: "Saab 99 Petro" by Petri Tyrkös, n. 4, 2008 {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}</ref>

Kerosene is used to fuel smaller-horsepower outboard motors built by Yamaha, Suzuki, and Tohatsu. Primarily used on small fishing craft, these are dual-fuel engines that start on gasoline and then transition to kerosene once the engine reaches optimum [[operating temperature]]. Multiple fuel Evinrude and Mercury Racing engines also burn kerosene, as well as jet fuel.<ref>
{{Cite news
| last  = Banse
| first = Timothy
| title = Kerosene Outboards: An Alternative Fuel?
| magazine = Marine Engine Digest
| date  = 7 July 2010
| url   = http://marineenginedigest.com/specialreports/kerosene-outboards.htm}}</ref>

Today, kerosene is mainly used in [[jet fuel|fuel for jet engines]] in several grades. One highly refined form of the fuel is known as [[RP-1]], and is often burned with [[liquid oxygen]] as [[Rocket propellant|rocket fuel]]. These fuel grade kerosenes meet specifications for [[smoke point]]s and [[freeze point]]s. The combustion reaction can be approximated as follows, with the molecular formula C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>26</sub> ([[dodecane]]):

: 2 C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>26</sub>(''l'') + 37 O<sub>2</sub>(''g'')&nbsp;→ 24 CO<sub>2</sub>(''g'')&nbsp;+ 26 H<sub>2</sub>O(''g''); [[Enthalpy|∆''H''˚]]&nbsp;= -7513 [[Joule|kJ]]

In the initial phase of liftoff, the [[Saturn V]] launch vehicle was powered by the reaction of liquid oxygen with RP-1.<ref name="Ebbing" >{{cite book|author=Ebbing, Darrell |title=General Chemistry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VakHAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA251|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-111-80895-2|pages=251–|date=3 December 2007}}</ref> For the five 6.4 meganewton sea-level thrust [[F-1 (rocket engine)|F-1]] rocket engines of the Saturn V, burning together, the reaction generated roughly 1.62&nbsp;×&nbsp;10<sup>11</sup> [[watt]]s (J/s) (162 gigawatt) or 217 million horsepower.<ref name=Ebbing/>

Kerosene is sometimes used as an additive in diesel fuel to prevent gelling or waxing in cold temperatures.<ref>[http://www.epa.gov/diesel/presentations/keroseneblding.pdf Kerosene blending] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527233943/http://www.epa.gov/diesel/presentations/keroseneblding.pdf |date=27 May 2008 }}, (pdf from EPA)</ref>

Ultra-low sulfur kerosene is a custom-blended fuel used by the [[New York City Transit Authority]] to power its bus fleet. The transit agency started using this fuel in 2004, prior to the widespread adoption of [[ultra-low-sulfur diesel]], which has since become the standard. In 2008, the suppliers of the custom fuel failed to tender for a renewal of the transit agency's contract, leading to a negotiated contract at a significantly increased cost.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/nyregion/25fuel.html|title=How a Plan for Bus Fuel Grew Expensive|newspaper=The New York Times|date=25 September 2008|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105215847/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/nyregion/25fuel.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[JP-8]] (for "Jet Propellant 8"), a kerosene-based fuel, is used by the United States military as a replacement in diesel fueled vehicles and for powering aircraft. JP-8 is also used by the U.S. military and its NATO allies as a fuel for heaters, stoves, tanks, and as a replacement for diesel fuel in the engines of nearly all tactical ground vehicles and electrical generators.