Rajan Wilcox
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, the most common being petroleum. Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and biomass materials. Before diesel fuel was standardized, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils, which are still used in watercraft diesel engines today. Diesel fuel shares similarities with No. 2 fuel oil, which is traditionally used for heating buildings, but there are also significant differences between the two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official term | DERV (Diesel-engine road vehicle) |
| Colloquial names | Diesel, distillate, gas oil, solar, bunker C, etc. |
| Origin | Experiments conducted by Rudolf Diesel for his compression-ignition engine in 1892 |
| Composition | Combination of primarily C10 to C19 hydrocarbon molecules |
| (64% aliphatic, 35% aromatics, 2% alkene molecules) | |
| Sources | Crude oil, biomass materials, shale oil, peanut oil, illuminating gas, etc. |
| Sulphur content | Ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) has 15 parts per million or less |
| Use cases | Used in motor vehicles, watercraft, trains, generators, etc. |
| Comparison with No. 2 Fuel Oil | Chemically similar but No. 2 oil is stained red and diesel has road taxes |
| Comparison with Heating Oil | Similar but heating oil has higher sulfur content and is dyed red |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. These are internal combustion engines in which fuel ignition occurs without a spark, as a result of the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel. Diesel fuel is most commonly a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternatives that are not petroleum-based, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are also available.
Diesel fuel is one of the many products derived from crude oil. Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid that can be refined into various fuels and other petroleum-based products. The process of refining crude oil involves heating the viscous liquid to over 400 degrees Celsius, turning it into a vapour. This vapour then enters a fractional distillation tower, where it cools down and the hydrocarbon chains within it return to a liquid state. At various levels of the tower, distillation plates capture the liquids as they emerge. The longest hydrocarbon chains have a boiling point above 400 degrees Celsius, while fuel oil emerges when the vapour cools down below 370 degrees Celsius.
To create diesel fuel, shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates are combined in specific proportions. These hydrocarbons, when combined, create the diesel fuel that is ready to be blended with the required additives before being sold. The refining process can be adjusted to produce more diesel fuel or gasoline, depending on market demands.
In the United States, most diesel fuel is refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. On average, 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel are produced from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. The United States also produces and consumes biomass-based diesel fuels. Before 2006, diesel fuel in the United States contained high quantities of sulfur, which contributed to air pollution and had negative impacts on human health. However, since 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency has implemented requirements to reduce the sulfur content in diesel fuel.
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Diesel engines can also run on non-diesel fuel
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. Diesel engines differ from gasoline engines in that they do not require spark plugs for ignition. Instead, they rely on the compression of inlet air and the subsequent injection of fuel. This design allows diesel engines to utilise a variety of fuel sources, including non-diesel fuel types.
Historically, diesel engines ran on cheap fuel oils, and this practice persists in watercraft diesel engines. Additionally, diesel engines can operate on ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. While ULSD is now the standard for road vehicles in the UK, mainland Europe, and North America, diesel engines can also run on non-diesel fuel types such as gasoline, jet fuel, and vegetable seed oil.
The use of non-diesel fuels in diesel engines has been explored by various sources, including YouTube channel Garage 54, which successfully converted a diesel engine to run on gasoline. While this conversion required significant engineering changes, it demonstrates the adaptability of diesel engines to alternative fuel sources. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, originally intended for his engine to operate on a variety of fuel types and even tested coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, gasoline, and fuel oil.
Furthermore, in certain situations, non-diesel fuel types can be used as a temporary substitute in diesel engines. For instance, if a small amount of petrol is accidentally added to a diesel engine, it may be sufficient to simply top up the tank with diesel fuel, and the engine should run without significant issues. Similarly, No. 2 fuel oil, commonly used for heating buildings, can be used as a temporary substitute for diesel oil in furnaces.
While diesel engines can accommodate a range of fuel types, it is important to note that using the incorrect fuel can cause performance issues or even damage the engine. Mixing gasoline and diesel, for example, can lead to uncontrolled detonation in a diesel engine, while using diesel in a gasoline engine can result in serious engine damage due to the differences in compression ratios and ignition methods. Therefore, while diesel engines can technically run on non-diesel fuel, it is generally recommended to use the appropriate fuel type to ensure optimal performance and avoid potential issues.
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Diesel fuel is also known as distillate
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. It is a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition occurs without a spark due to the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel. Diesel fuel is most commonly derived from petroleum fuel oil, but alternative sources such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more popular.
The use of the term distillate to describe diesel fuel reflects its production process and composition. Distillate fuel oil is a general classification for the petroleum fractions produced through distillation. Diesel fuel falls under this category and is specifically referred to as a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. This means that diesel fuel is a fraction or component of the distilled petroleum product.
The term "distillate" is also used to describe the molecular structure of diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is composed of hydrocarbon molecules, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The specific combination and distribution of these molecules contribute to the unique characteristics of diesel fuel, distinguishing it from other fuel types.
While diesel fuel is commonly associated with distillate, it is important to note that the term distillate can have different connotations based on context and geographical location. In certain regions, such as Australia, distillate is specifically used to refer to diesel fuel. However, in other contexts, distillate may refer to a broader range of fuel oils or even denote a specific type of motor fuel. Therefore, while diesel fuel is indeed known as distillate in certain contexts, the usage of the term distillate varies across different applications and regions.
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Diesel and heating oil are similar
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines. These engines are a type of internal combustion engine where fuel ignition occurs due to inlet air compression and fuel injection, without requiring a spark. Diesel fuel is most commonly a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, although non-petroleum-based alternatives like biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more prevalent.
Diesel and heating oil share many similarities. Heating oil, also known as fuel oil, is a distillate or residue obtained from petroleum distillation. It is the heaviest commercial fuel and is used in furnaces or boilers to generate heat. Diesel fuel and heating oil have similar molecular structures, composed of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon molecules. In fact, No. 2 heating oil is chemically similar to diesel fuel, and in some cases, diesel oil can be used temporarily in furnaces instead of heating oil.
The primary distinction between diesel and heating oil lies in their intended purposes and regulatory requirements. Diesel fuel is designed for use in diesel engines, primarily in motor vehicles, while heating oil is meant for furnaces or boilers. To differentiate diesel fuel for road use, it is often left untinted or marked with a dye, whereas heating oil may be dyed red to indicate its tax status and non-road use.
Despite these differences, there have been instances of individuals using heating oil in their diesel vehicles, particularly in off-road settings, as it is generally cheaper. However, the use of heating oil in on-road vehicles may violate fuel tax regulations. Additionally, the higher sulfur content in heating oil can result in increased emissions, which has led to the development of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) to reduce air pollution.
In summary, while diesel and heating oil have distinct purposes and regulatory considerations, they share significant similarities in terms of chemical composition and, in certain cases, functional overlap.
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Diesel fuel is standardised
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. This is a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition occurs without a spark, as a result of the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel.
In the United States, most diesel fuel is refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the sulphur content of diesel fuel sold in the country. In 2006, the EPA began phasing in more stringent regulations to lower the amount of sulphur in diesel fuel to 15 parts per million. This type of fuel is known as ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD). ULSD is now used in almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and North America.
In addition to the EN 590 standard used in Europe, there are other standards for diesel fuel in different regions. For example, the British Standard (BS) 2869 is the UK's specification for fuel oil and gas oil used in heating applications and agricultural machinery. This specification includes Grade A2 Gas Oil, referring to diesel fuel for off-road engines, and Grade D Gas Oil, which is used for heating applications and older power generators. Grade D Gas Oil is also known as red diesel due to its red dye.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. It is refined from crude oil and biomass materials.
Fuel oil is obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or residue. It refers to the heaviest commercial fuel acquired from refining crude oil. It is also known as heavy oil, marine fuel, or furnace oil.
No, they are not the same, but they are similar. Diesel fuel and fuel oil share a similar molecular structure and are made up of combinations of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon molecules. Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil and can be used in furnaces or boilers for heat generation.
The key differences between diesel and fuel oil are in their intended uses and chemical compositions. Diesel fuel is designed for use in diesel engines, while fuel oil is typically used in furnaces or boilers for heat generation. Fuel oil is also denser and heavier than diesel fuel.
Yes, diesel fuel can be used in place of fuel oil, particularly in furnaces or boilers for heat generation. However, it is important to note that diesel fuel intended for road use may have road taxes included in its price.
