Types of Car Fuels: Differences between Gasoline, Petrol, Diesel and Gasoil


 

 
Did you know that Gasoline is a synonym for Petrol .   In the United States and Canada, Petrol is called Gasoline while in Britain it is petrol. Fuel is Food for Cars. There exist several types of fuels used to power cars. However, most people who are owners or non-owners of cars do not know the different types of fuels and the differences that exist between the various types of fuels.

 Frankly for more than 20 years now, I did not know the explicit differences between Gasoline and Petrol. If you are blank when it comes to car fuels or you are sometimes confused, then this article will bring an end to that. By the end of this article, you will know the types of car fuels and their differences.

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Most liquid fuels used currently are produced from petroleum. The most notable of these is gasoline.     Scientists generally accept that petroleum formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust.
 
The main Car Fuels  available today include:
 

Gasoline

Gasoline is the most widely used liquid fuel.
Only 19 gallons out of every 42-gallon barrel of crude oil is converted as gasoline. After being extracted from the ground, crude is transported to an oil refinery, where it is heated to temperatures above 350°C in a pressurized chamber and distilled into gasoline. However, before it can be sold, this unfinished gasoline needs to be blended with additives to boost its low octane rating in order to achieve greater efficiency and avoid harming engines with pre-ignition and/or knocking — problems.


Diesel

 Diesel fuel must also undergo a refining process before it’s ready for use, with approximately 12 gallons of diesel being produced from every 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. At the refinery, crude is heated to temperatures between 200°C and 350°C and then distilled into diesel fuel. While diesel is generally acknowledged as being more efficient than gasoline and emits fewer greenhouse gases, diesel engines have trouble starting in cold weather and produce more NOx, one of the main components in smog.


Natural gas

Methane (CH4) is the principal component of natural gas, and it’s often found in the same wells that bring up oil. Methane is a simple molecule that burns cleanly. Methane in its gas form must be compressed (CNG) in order to be used in vehicles.


Hydrogen

Hydrogen(H2) is the most common element on Earth and it is used as a transportation fuel when it’s contained inside electrochemical cells. There are several types of “fuel cell” vehicles on the market today, including the Mercedes F-Cell and Toyota’s new Mirai. Hydrogen is pumped into the fuel cell as a gas, and when it ignites, it combines with oxygen to produce only water and heat, with zero toxic emissions. These vehicles are also much more expensive than vehicles that run on gasoline or alcohols. Hence hydrogen is a clean energy source.


Ethanol

Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, this flammable, colorless liquid is made by the fermentation of sugars in certain plants. Most of the gasoline we purchase every day already contains ethanol – up to 10 percent. Adding ethanol to gasoline increases octane, which boosts engine power and performance.


Methanol

Methanol is also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, this flammable, colorless liquid is the simplest alcohol. Therefore, the process for converting raw materials to methanol is simpler than with ethanol, making the potential cost savings to the consumer very appealing. 

 

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has had a glycerol removed, a process that involves adding methanol and lye. This makes the mixture less viscous and gives it additional energy density. This makes the fuel easier to use in vehicles year-round, even in winter. Most diesel-fueled vehicles  are heavy-duty and commercial trucks.