Could whale oil fuel Götheborg's diesel engine in the past?

Could Götheborg's diesel engine run on refined whale oil if the replica travelled back to the original ship's era?

The panel doubts it with the refining technology then available, while noting that suitability depends on the engine and the fuel's refinement.

The follow-up asks whether refined whale oil could sustain the replica's diesel engine in the original ship's era. Suitability is described as depending on the engine and the degree of refinement. The panel doubts that contemporary technology could supply an acceptable fuel and also raises energy density as a problem. A passing suggestion of naturally available petroleum does not establish a workable fuel supply for the ship.