Katerina Swanson
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline and provides more power and mileage per gallon. It is produced from various sources, including petroleum, biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, and coal liquefaction. Diesel engines are known for their fuel efficiency, reliability, and power. They are commonly found in freight trucks, trains, buses, boats, and some cars.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Diesel fuel, diesel oil |
| Alternative Names | Heavy oil, white diesel, DERV, distillate, gas oil, petrodiesel |
| Type of Fuel | Liquid fuel |
| Engine Type | Diesel engine, a type of internal combustion engine |
| Fuel Ignition | No spark, compression of inlet air and injection of fuel |
| Common Type | Fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil |
| Alternative Types | Biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL), gas to liquid (GTL) diesel |
| Fuel Sources | Petroleum, biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, coal liquefaction |
| Comparison with Gasoline Engines | Thicker, more reliable, more power and mileage per gallon |
| Emission Comparison with Gasoline Engines | Higher nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx), higher particulate matter (PM) emissions |
| Composition | Paraffins, aromatics, naphthenes, hydrocarbons with 12-20 carbon atoms |
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What You'll Learn
- Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, clogging fuel injectors in gas cars
- Diesel engines are more reliable and last longer than gasoline engines
- Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and biomass materials
- Diesel fuel is also known as distillate, gas oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel
- Diesel engines have higher fuel efficiency than spark-ignition engines
Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, clogging fuel injectors in gas cars
Diesel fuel is not the same as gasoline. Gasoline is used in gas-powered vehicles, not diesel. Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, and as such, provides more power and mileage per gallon. Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and from biomass materials. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed and adopted.
Due to its viscosity, diesel may not flow easily into a vehicle. Even a small amount of diesel in a gas car can clog a car's engine fuel injectors, filters, and lines, potentially making the car inoperable. Therefore, if diesel is mistakenly put into a gas car, it is advised not to start the vehicle, and to get the car towed to a mechanic to fix the issue.
Diesel fuel is also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel. It is a liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine, a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition takes place without a spark as a result of compression of the inlet air and then injection of fuel. Diesel engines are built to withstand higher compression, making them more reliable and long-lasting than gasoline engines.
Diesel fuel originated from experiments conducted by German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel for his compression-ignition engine, which he invented and patented around 1892. Most freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, and farm, construction, and military vehicles have diesel engines. Diesel fuel is also used in diesel-engine generators to generate electricity, in remote villages, for example.
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Diesel engines are more reliable and last longer than gasoline engines
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine, also known as the compression-ignition engine, in the 1890s. Diesel engines do not use spark plugs like gasoline engines; instead, they use extreme compression to generate heat for spontaneous ignition.
Diesel engines are more durable and tend to last longer than gasoline engines. They offer improved efficiency, reliable operation, and minimal maintenance. Diesel engines have fewer components, reducing the number of potential malfunctions. They are also built to withstand higher compression, making them more reliable.
Diesel engines have nearly half the market share in Europe, while gasoline engines are more popular in the United States. However, advancements in technology have made diesel a clean and efficient option for drivers seeking high-powered engines. Diesel engines are now quieter and produce less dark smoke, addressing previous concerns about noise and air pollution.
Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, providing more power and mileage per gallon. This makes diesel a good choice for vehicles requiring high power and torque, such as trucks or boats. However, gasoline engines are lighter and deliver higher performance, making them suitable for sports cars. Gasoline engines are also more common and generally less expensive to repair.
While diesel engines have higher routine maintenance costs and require specialized parts, they can be a safer choice in certain situations, such as for off-road fire trucks that may need refueling at fire scenes. Overall, diesel engines offer improved durability, reliability, and longevity compared to gasoline engines.
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Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and biomass materials
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a type of liquid fuel designed for diesel engines. Diesel engines are a form 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. Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, and as such, it provides more power and mileage per gallon.
The United States, for instance, produces an average of 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. Before 2006, diesel fuel in the US contained high quantities of sulfur, which contributes to air pollution and is harmful to human health. Since then, the US Environmental Protection Agency has issued requirements to reduce the sulfur content of diesel fuel.
In addition to crude oil, diesel fuel can also be derived from biomass materials. Biodiesel, for example, is obtained from vegetable oil or animal fats (biolipids) and is mainly composed of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). It can be produced from various types of oils, such as rapeseed oil (common in Europe) and soybean oil (common in the US). Renewable diesel, previously known as green diesel, is another type of diesel fuel made from fats and oils, such as soybean oil or canola oil. It is processed to be chemically identical to petroleum diesel and can be used as a replacement fuel or blended with petroleum diesel.
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Diesel fuel is also known as distillate, gas oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is also known as distillate, gas oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel.
The term distillate refers specifically to diesel fuel in Australia. In the UK, diesel fuel for road use is commonly called diesel or sometimes white diesel, to differentiate it from reduced-tax agricultural diesel, which is dyed red and known as red diesel. In Indonesia, Israel, and most of the Middle East, diesel fuel is known as Solar, a trademarked name from the country's national petroleum company, Pertamina.
The name gas oil is sometimes used to refer to diesel fuel, especially in French (gazole). This name originates from the experiments of German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel, who first developed diesel fuel for his compression-ignition engine in the 1890s. During his initial tests, Diesel used illuminating gas as fuel and built functional engine designs with and without pilot injection.
Diesel fuel is also historically referred to as heavy oil. This term reflects the fact that diesel engines, particularly in watercraft, often ran on cheap, heavy fuel oils before the standardization of diesel fuel. These heavy fuel oils are still used in some diesel-powered and steam-powered vessels today.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, which is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil. However, alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming increasingly common.
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Diesel engines have higher fuel efficiency than spark-ignition engines
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. Diesel engines are compression-ignition engines, which means that fuel ignition occurs without a spark as a result of the compression of inlet air and the subsequent injection of fuel.
Diesel engines have a higher fuel efficiency than spark-ignition engines, such as gasoline engines, due to several key factors:
Firstly, diesel engines have a higher compression ratio. This means that they can compress only air, resulting in a higher compression ratio without the risk of premature detonation. In contrast, spark-ignition engines mix fuel and air before entry into the cylinder, limiting the compression ratio to prevent pre-ignition and potential engine damage. The higher compression ratio in diesel engines leads to increased efficiency and power generation.
Secondly, diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, providing more power and mileage per gallon. This higher energy density contributes to the overall fuel efficiency of diesel engines.
Thirdly, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, relying instead on spontaneous combustion. This absence of spark plugs allows for greater flexibility in fuel injection timing and the ability to utilise forced induction setups, such as turbocharging, which further enhances efficiency and torque output.
Additionally, diesel engines have a higher air-fuel equivalence ratio and lack intake air restrictions, such as throttle valves, which further contribute to their fuel efficiency.
It is important to note that while diesel engines offer higher fuel efficiency, gasoline engines have their own advantages. Gasoline engines are lighter, deliver higher performance, and are generally less expensive to repair due to their wider usage. Therefore, the choice between diesel and gasoline engines depends on specific requirements and use cases.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. It is commonly refined from crude oil and from biomass materials.
No, diesel fuel is not gas. Gas-powered vehicles need gasoline, not diesel. Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline and is refined from crude oil.
Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, the most common being petroleum. Other sources include biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, and coal liquefaction.
Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline and provides more power and mileage per gallon. Gasoline engines are lighter and deliver higher performance than diesel engines.
