Does adding oil on wood increase its calorific value?

[ashishvinayak]

In normal conditions, it takes a long time for wood to burn. But if you add some oil (or something similar like butter) it tends to burn faster. So, does adding such additives increase the calorific value? What makes the wood burn faster? Is the "faster" burning of wood and calorific value related in any way?

 

[Averagesupernova]

It won't add any more energy than what is in the oil. If it burns faster it is because there is extra energy from the oil that forces the gases out of the wood more quickly than without the oil.

 

[ashishvinayak]

how does oil force out gases?

 

[Brian_C]

how does oil force out gases?

He's saying that the heat from the burning oil will force gases out.