Grade No. 2 oil is the cleanest, purest and generally most expensive type of oil you can use for a circulating pump. Grade No. 2 is commonly used in residential heating units and is more advantageous than Grade No. 1 because of its fuel burning efficiency. The heating value has a range of 137,000 to 141,800 Btu/gal.
Grade No. 4 oil is a relatively even blend of Grade No. 2 and No. 6 oil. Grade No. 4 oil is advantageous because it is usually cheaper than Grade No. 2 but also yields much of the same efficiency. Grade No. 4 is cleaner and purer than Grade No. 6, making it useful for lubricating and fueling industrial burners with circulating pumps. The heating value has a range of 143,100 to 148,100 Btu/gal.
Grade No. 6 oil is sluggish, heavy and dirty. It is approximately 40 percent less expensive than Grade No. 2 and provides more heat per gallon than any other grade. The drawback to the money you save in fuel with Grade No. 6 oil is that it often requires more costly and frequent maintenance. The heating value has a range of 151,300 to 155,900 Btu/gal.
Grade No. 1 oil is a volatile distillate oil intended for vaporizing pot-type burners but can also be used on a circulating pump system. This type of oil is commonly known as stove oil but it often serves as a substitute for Grade No. 2 in residential heating units. The heating value has a range of 132,900 to 137,000 Btu/gal.