HELP FOR Science Fair....Lamp oil?

Question

My 9 year old son is in the science fair. He wants to find out if 'antique' lamp oil burns different than 'new' brands. I have a bottle of OLDE VILLAGE SENTED/COLORED LAMP OIL MADE BY KAADAN. It is so old that the back lable reads:
Lamp oil...caution combustible mixture
N.Y.F.D. C. of A. No. 4521
Contr. Appvd. B.S.A.
Cal. #864-79-A

If anyone can help....please hurry, I have 2 days before this project is due. Thanks. by the way, the oil is green bayberry.

Answer 1

I don't think your bottle of old oil is actually that old for several reasons:
1. If you search KAADAN oil on Ebay, the "vintage" lamps are only from 1980.
2. Truly antique oil is very unlikely to be scented.
3. The numbers on the back of the bottle refer to manufacturerer numbers and safety numbers - not a large concern 150 years ago.

BUT...
Perhaps your son can research the difference in how new vs. old lamps burn the same oil (rate of use, cleanliness)

And as a science teacher myself, I am concerned that you say that YOU have two days to do the project....your SON should be doing this. It is ALWAYS obvious when parents do their children's work. Let him do this and figure it out....the teacher is likely trying to get the kids think scientifically - you are not helping your son by doing the project for him!

Best of luck to him at the science fair.

Answer 2

Why not try different kinds of oil? Like, say, olive oil (you can watch olive oil burning in The English Patient), "lamp oil" which is often liquid paraffin, coconut oil (solid at room temperature), ghee (clarified butter), maybe even motor oil.

Check for smell, smoke, heat a few inches from the flame, and how long the oil lasts.

But antique lamp oil--I think it would have been burned up already.

Answer 3

A better project would be : does old lamp oil degrade over time. Of course you can not verify how old the lamp oil is to start so you are already at a disadvantage.