Unless you are in the industry or have had both of these different types of heating systems, chances are that you do not know the difference between heating oil and fuel oil. This article aims to clear up any confusion that you may have on the subject.

The difference between fuel oil and heating oil is minimal. Heating oil typically produces a little more heat that fuel oil. The main difference between the two from a customer standpoint is that heating oil is more suited to be stored in an indoor tank whereas fuel oil should be stored in an outdoor tank.

Heating oil is heavier than fuel oil. It contains 139,000 BTUs whereas fuel oil contains 135,000 BTUs. Note: BTU is an acronym. It stands for British Thermal Unit. It’s a form of measurement that measures energy.

When a distillery processes a barrel of oil, it ends up being used for a myriad of fueling and lubricating means. It ends up as everything from jet fuel to petroleum jelly. As far as fuel is concerned, it is broken up into six categories that you can find below:

Name	Alias	Alias	Type	Chain length
Fuel Oil No. 1	Distillate No. 1	Diesel Fuel No.1	Distillate	9-16
Fuel Oil No. 2	Distillate No. 2	Diesel Fuel No. 2	Distillate	10-20
Fuel Oil No. 3	Distillate No. 3	Diesel Fuel No. 3	Distillate
Fuel Oil No. 4	Distillate No. 4	Diesel Fuel No. 4	Distillate/Residual	12-70
Fuel Oil No. 5	Residual Fuel Oil No. 5	Heavy fuel oil	Residual	12-70
Fuel Oil No. 6	Residual Fuel Oil No. 1	Heavy fuel oil	Residual	12-70

table source crownoil.co.uk

Fuel Oil No. 1 – This is usually referred to as coal oil, stove oil and range oil.

Fuel Oil No. 2 – This is referred to as heating oil or bunker A.

Fuel Oil No. 3 – This fuel is for low-viscosity burning, but it is less frequently used since the mid-20th century.

Fuel Oil No. 4 – This is a commercial heating oil used for boilers/burners where pre-heaters are not installed.

Fuel Oil No. 5 – This is an industrial heating oil which needs preheating to 77-104°C. This fuel is referred to as bunker B.

Fuel Oil No. 6 – This is a residual oil which also needs preheating, however to 104-127 °C. This fuel is known as bunker C.

As you can see there are many levels to fuel oil. Your heating oil supplier can tell you exactly what you need. If you live in the Lynchburg, Madison Heights, or Appomattox area of Central Virginia, we can deliver your fuel oil. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 434-845-0971