Selecting a heat transfer oil

[Max Action]

We've got a small appliance with an electric heating element submerged in an oil bath acting as a heat transfer fluid. We've been using vegetable oil due to it being food-grade, but we've been having trouble with some smoking when we run it at 170 degrees C. Looking at other alternatives, and curious about food-grade mineral oil or glycerine. Both of which I can get in gallon quantities at a reasonable price, and both seem to have higher flash points than cooking oil. Any opinions of these, or any suggestions for other alternatives?

[John McKee]

http://www.paratherm.com/heat-transfer-fluids/high-temperature-heat-transfer-fluids/paratherm-nf/

I used to buy this stuff by the truckload. Great product. You buy enough once and you'll never need to buy more.

Cheers,

McKee

[Max Action]

Thanks for the tip, that does look interesting. It says it's a highly refined mineral oil, but I wonder how the performance of it performs compared to regular USP grade mineral oil.

[Artisan Still Design]

biodiesel works good and lasts a long time. while not technically food grade it is at least non toxic, as long as you dont have any petroleum blended back.

[Dehner Distillery]

I use Mobil Therm 43. It is made to be heat transfer oil. it is the best of the best, duh it MOBIL!

Be careful buying this other crap that just gets you by. Look up the saying "To much or To little"

Dehner -out