Hi, a short while after lighting i get a blue flame, like a shroud, burning outside the mantle. I also notice a slight paraffin smell. Is this normal? The heater stil throws off enough heat. Thanks Dave
It could be that your pressure pip is sticking a bit and you are over pressurising it. Try counting the pumps instead of relying on that... If it's only a tiny amount of flame and still blue you could just put up with it as long as the mantle is glowing well. If it's burning cleanly you normally only smell paraffin after you turn them off though.
Thanks for the help. I´ve just put a new mantle on a guardsman also notice a yellow flame outside at the top of the mantle where its tied. Is that also over pressurising? Dave
Yellow flame usually indicates a problem, although you can get a little bit if you apply pressure too soon when first lighting. Once it has warmed up the only flame you see should be blue. You can also get fooled at times if the lighting torch is still burning off the last remnants of alcohol...
Hello Dave, Welcome to cpl, A blue flame is perfect combustion. Anything yellow is too much fuel. This means change the vaporiser as the jet dia has become enlarged over time. More rarely the radial holes on the burner become enlarged which causes too much air to the combustion. Holes in the mantle also cause yellow flames to show also. So aim for blue ! There certainly should be no fuel smells. I use normal central heating kerosene and is o/k with me. I use R1's on a regular basis for years. The copper reflectors give of the best radiant heat. Maurice.
Thanks Maurice I finden it difficult to find Suitable fuel here in Germany. I Use this stuff. I get it from stuga Cabana. Dave
Hello Dave, It looks like you are using the best top grade fuel. Over in Ireland & U/K top grade fuels in large quantities is no longer available. This was from "Aladdin Plnk Paraffin" and "Esso Blue Paraffin" These have disappeared since the 1970's. If my memory served me right it used to be grade C1. Now we have to use grade C3. C1 is required for wick lamps. This can still be got in small expensive amounts (which is probably what you are using). C3, not so refined is what we now have to use (central heating fuel). It is o/k as pressure lamps run at a much higher temperature. Most impurities are burnt off. You need to ask other collectors in Germany what they use. It looks that at the moment you are going down an expensive route. I hope this helps. Yours, Maurice.
Hi Maurice yes it costs 3 Euros/Liter. But its really good stuff and i have no other alternative at the moment, other than not lighting my tilleys. Which is a definite NO GO. Since starting with Tilleys we have had some wonderful evenings outside. I`ll have to intensify my search for Paraffin here in Germany Thanks for your help Dave
Due to new EU regulations (REACH „Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals“). Pure highly refined clear paraffin oil may only be sold in black, one litre bottles. The German authourities are obviously very strict on this matter. That´s my main problem when trying to find larger quantities of reasonably priced fuel. Dave
Hello Dave, perhaps there are places which sell central heating oil and as Maurice has mentioned it's okay in pressure lamps, Jeff.
Hi Jeff Im not quite sure that central heating oil in England is exactly the same as over here. There are differences in paraffin and petroleum products. How can i be sure that central heating oil is the same as German "Heizöl" Thanks Dave
Hi Dave, since you live in Germany there are not many ways to get cheap _and_ suitable fuel for pressure lanterns. In Holland there are some gas stations which sell a sort of "Petroleum" which is yellowish (and smells a bit like German "Heizöl") but can be used well in pressure lanterns. In France you'll get the same stuff for heaters at a good price. I use liquid "Grillanzünder" (barbecue lighter) with good success in all of my kerosene pressure lanterns, and it's still a bit cheaper than "geruchloses Lampenöl" (odorless paraffin). Don't use Diesel fuel or "Heizöl", and never use Bio-Diesel (Rapeseed methyl ester), as it will clog the generator with carbon residues quickly. After all one can say that at the moment 2EUR/l is a common price for barbecue lighter, and >3EUR/l is the price for odorless paraffin. You can PM me if you need some sources of lamp fuel over here. Regards, Martin
Hi Martin, Ok. Thanks for the info. i think ill just stick to my AIDA paraffinöl for 3 Euros/Liter. its good stuff and i havent had any problems whatsoever. being a newbie and sitting outside every evening with two heaters and a guardsman on the go is costing me all my pocket money never mind its worth every penny. thanks again Dave,
Hello Dave, that's sound advice from Martin and one very experienced wick lamp collector whom I know, waits until the large stores are selling off their barbecue fluid cheaply and then he buys it up and he said that it is very pure paraffin/kerosene and that his wick lamps run well on it, Jeff.
Just a final word here. I live in a remote area which will never be connected to a natural gas line. So heating fuels have to be brought in. Ither coal, peat, or fuel oil in the form of kerosene. I suggest to you you go to a similar remote village in Germany and find out what they do. Yours, Maurice.
