Regan Brown
Car fuel, or motor fuel, is a type of fuel that powers the engine of motor vehicles. The most common type of car fuel is petroleum-based fossil fuels such as gasoline, or petrol, and diesel. However, there are many other types of car fuel, including ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), and hydrogen. The type of fuel a car uses will depend on its engine type, and factors such as the profitability of the fuel and the driving performance of the user.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Motor fuel is used to provide power to the engine of motor vehicles |
| Types | Petroleum-based fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, autogas), ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, synthetic alternative fuels, renewable biofuels, battery-stored electricity |
| Engine type | Internal combustion engines, hybrid drivetrain, fuel cells, hydrogen combustion |
| Fuel system components | Fuel filler, fuel injection system, fuel line, fuel pump, fuel tank |
| Fuel properties | Stability (resistance to preignition, knocking, or pinging during combustion), octane rating, molecular weight, relative density, heat of vaporization, HHV, LHV |
| Fuel economy | Diesel engines generally have better fuel consumption than gasoline engines |
| Fuel prices | Higher octane fuel is more expensive; prices vary seasonally and by geography |
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline
The use of gasoline as a fuel for motor vehicles began with the invention of internal combustion engines suitable for use in transportation applications. The so-called Otto engines were developed in Germany during the last quarter of the 19th century. The fuel for these early engines was a relatively volatile hydrocarbon obtained from coal gas. With a boiling point near 85 °C (185 °F), it was well-suited for early carburetors (evaporators).
The process of producing gasoline from crude oil involves distillation, where the volatile, more valuable fractions of crude petroleum are separated. Later processes, such as thermal cracking and catalytic cracking, were introduced to increase the yield of gasoline from crude oil. Thermal cracking, introduced in 1913, employs heat and high pressure to split large molecules into smaller ones. Catalytic cracking, on the other hand, uses catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions that produce more gasoline.
The quality of gasoline has been improved over time with various methods such as polymerization, alkylation, isomerization, and reforming. Additives are also used to enhance the performance and stability of gasoline, such as detergents, anti-icing agents, and antioxidants. The antiknock characteristic of gasoline, or its ability to resist premature ignition, is measured by its octane rating. While tetraethyl lead was once used to increase the octane rating, it is no longer used in modern automotive gasoline due to health hazards.
The demand for gasoline has been peaking in many countries, but it may decline with the development of smaller and more efficient cars. The use of alternative fuels, such as renewable biofuels and battery-powered electric vehicles, is also increasing, especially in Europe.
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Diesel
The process of fractional distillation involves heating crude oil in a distillation column, separating the different hydrocarbon chains by their vaporisation temperatures, and then recondensing them. The quantity and quality of the distillate depend on the chemical composition of the crude oil. Other sources of diesel fuel include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, which are not derived from petroleum. Biodiesel, for example, can be made from vegetable seed oil, an idea originally considered by Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, and biomass materials.
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Hybrid
The combination of two power sources in hybrids results in higher overall efficiency than their gas-only counterparts. Notably, hybrids exhibit higher fuel economy in city driving due to the greater impact of the electric motor at lower speeds. In contrast, fuel economy on long highway stretches at higher speeds may be lower than that of conventional vehicles. Despite the advanced technology, hybrids often cost the same as or even less than comparable non-hybrid vehicles, and the monthly fuel savings can outweigh any increase in monthly payments.
Parallel hybrids, which can use either the gasoline engine or the electric motor independently or simultaneously, are the most common type of hybrid. At lower speeds, the electric motor is typically used due to its high initial torque and efficiency, while the gasoline engine takes over at higher speeds. Mild hybrids, which have 48-volt batteries that cannot produce meaningful propulsion, are another type of hybrid system. These mild hybrids are topped up by regeneration and combine the starter and alternator into one unit.
The use of hybrid vehicles is becoming increasingly common, with most automakers offering at least one hybrid option. Hybrids are an excellent choice for those seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on fuel. They also do not require a separate starter motor or external power source, as the electric motor handles the starting, and the regenerative braking system provides electricity for the motor.
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Octane ratings
The octane rating is based on the pressure at which a fuel will spontaneously combust (auto-ignite) in a testing engine. The standard method for testing octane involves using an octane testing engine, which determines the pressure at which knocking occurs. The octane number is the average of two different octane rating methods: the motor octane rating (MOR) and the research octane rating (RON). These two methods differ in the specifics of the operating conditions, with the RON being tested under idle conditions with a low air temperature and slow engine speed, and the MON being tested under more stressful conditions of higher air temperature and engine speed.
The octane rating required for a vehicle is specified by the manufacturer and can be found in the owner's manual. Using a lower octane fuel than required can cause the engine to run poorly and can even damage the engine and emissions control system over time. It may also void the warranty. In older vehicles, the engine can make an audible "knocking" or "pinging" sound due to using a lower octane fuel than required. Newer vehicles may be able to adjust the spark timing to reduce knock, but engine power and fuel economy will still be negatively affected.
Higher octane fuels are often required or recommended for engines that use a higher compression ratio and/or supercharging or turbocharging to force more air into the engine. Higher octane fuels can improve performance and gas mileage and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during severe duty operation, such as towing heavy loads or driving in hot weather. However, under normal driving conditions, the benefits of using a higher octane fuel may not be significant.
It is worth noting that ethanol has a much higher octane rating (around 109) than gasoline, and it is often blended with gasoline to boost its octane rating. In the US, most gasoline contains up to 10% ethanol, and blends with up to 15% ethanol are available in some areas and approved by manufacturers for recent-model vehicles.
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Fossil fuels
Coal is a solid, carbon-heavy rock that comes in four main varieties: lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. It is usually found in sedimentary rock deposits where rock and dead plant and animal matter are piled up in layers. More than 50% of a piece of coal's weight must be from fossilized plants. Coal is extracted through underground mining or surface mining (strip mining), which removes entire layers of soil and rock to access coal deposits.
Natural gas is often found in pockets above oil deposits or in sedimentary rock layers that don't contain oil. It is primarily made up of methane. Burning fossil fuels has been the primary source of energy for transportation, electricity, and heat for over a century. However, it has also been the largest contributor to climate change and air pollution, releasing greenhouse gases (CO2), air pollutants (SO2 and NOx), and toxins.
The use of fossil fuels has had a significant impact on the environment and human health. The extraction, processing, and transportation of fossil fuels have harmed ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Additionally, the combustion of fossil fuels has led to global warming and air and water pollution. As a result, there is a growing movement towards alternative fuels and a push for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, such as renewable biofuels and battery electric vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Car fuel, or motor fuel, is used to power the engine of motor vehicles. The majority of cars use internal combustion engines powered by petroleum-based fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel or autogas.
Other types of car fuel include ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen. There are also synthetic alternative fuels, such as renewable biofuels, and electric vehicles that are powered by stored electricity rather than fuel.
Gasoline is a type of petroleum-based fossil fuel that is used to power the majority of motor vehicles. It is also known as petrol.
The octane rating of fuel is a measure of its stability. A higher octane number indicates greater stability, which means the fuel is less likely to ignite early and cause a 'knocking' or 'pinging' sound in the engine.
