Katerina Swanson
Gasoline, or petrol, is a fossil fuel derived from the fractional distillation of crude oil. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons with between four and twelve carbon atoms per molecule, including paraffins (alkanes), olefins (alkenes), napthenes (cycloalkanes), and aromatics. Gasoline is used as a fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines, which power most light-duty vehicles, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. The history of gasoline as a fuel for cars began in the early 1890s, and by 1920, there were around nine million gasoline-powered vehicles in the United States. Today, gasoline is facing competition from more sustainable alternatives due to its environmental impact and finite nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of oil used as car fuel | Crude oil, Vegetable oil, Diesel, Gasoline, Kerosene, Jet fuel, Heater fuel oil, Aviation gasoline, LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) |
| How is oil formed? | Oil is formed from organic material from small creatures like phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, and bacteria that died and settled on the ocean floor millions of years ago |
| How is oil harvested? | Oil companies employ geologists to find oil shale and reservoirs using tools like sniffers that detect oil hydrocarbons in the water |
| How is oil refined? | Crude oil is broken down into its constituent hydrocarbons inside a fractionating column, with lighter hydrocarbons like petrol tapped off higher up and heavier ones like diesel separated lower down |
| Vegetable oil as car fuel | Possible to use if the car is modified to address viscosity issues, but not recommended due to potential engine damage and warranty invalidation |
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline, petrol, and their history
The history of gasoline and petrol is closely tied to the invention of the automobile and the internal combustion engine. The story begins in 1859 when Edwin Drake dug the first crude oil well in Pennsylvania. While Drake's primary product was kerosene for lighting, the distillation process also produced other petroleum products, including gasoline, which he discarded.
It wasn't until the late 19th century, with the invention of the internal combustion engine, that interest in gasoline-like fuels emerged. The so-called Otto engines, developed in Germany during this time, used a relatively volatile hydrocarbon obtained from coal gas with a boiling point near 85°C, well-suited for early carburetors. This marked the beginning of the use of gasoline as a fuel for engines.
In the 1870s, petrol, a refined mineral oil product, was marketed as a solvent by the British wholesaler Carless Refining and Marketing Ltd. When petrol later found use as a motor fuel, the company attempted to trademark the term "Petrol" but was denied as it had already become a generic term for motor fuel. Despite this, Carless retained the legal rights to the uppercase spelling of "Petrol".
With the invention of the automobile in 1892, gasoline was finally recognised as a valuable fuel. By the 1920s, 9 million vehicles powered by gasoline were on the road worldwide, and service stations selling gasoline were opening globally. As cars became bigger and faster in the 1950s, the octane rating of gasoline increased, and lead was added to improve engine performance. However, due to health concerns, unleaded gasoline was introduced in the 1970s, and leaded gasoline for on-road vehicles was phased out in the United States by 1996.
Today, gasoline, or petrol, is a high-volume profitable product, chemically composed of organic compounds derived from the fractional distillation of petroleum and enhanced with additives. It is characterised as a transparent, yellowish, and flammable liquid used as fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines.
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Crude oil and its refinement
Crude oil is a fossil fuel found in underground reservoirs. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons with between four and twelve carbon atoms per molecule. Crude oil is classified by density, sulfur content, and acidity, and these factors determine how the oil is refined.
Crude oil is converted (refined) in petroleum refineries into petroleum products. Petroleum refineries are complex and expensive industrial facilities. The first oil well in North America was drilled in 1858 in Canada, and the first in the US was found in Pennsylvania in 1859. The industry grew slowly in the 1800s, primarily producing kerosene for lighting. The invention of the automobile in 1892 created a market for gasoline, which became the fuel for nearly all light-duty vehicles in the US.
The first step in the refining process is to separate the crude oil into its various components. This is done through a process called distillation, which separates the oil by boiling point. The heavy, lower-value fractions can then be further processed into lighter, higher-value products such as gasoline. This is done through a process called cracking, which uses heat, pressure, catalysts, and sometimes hydrogen to break down heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter ones. Other refinery processes rearrange molecules rather than splitting them to add value.
The final treatment involves carefully combining a variety of streams from the processing units to make gasoline. Octane level, vapor pressure ratings, and other factors determine the blend. Both incoming crude oil and the outgoing final products are stored temporarily in large tanks near the refinery before being transported via pipeline, train, truck, or ship.
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How gasoline is made
Gasoline, or petrol, is a fossil fuel that is derived from crude oil. Crude oil is a byproduct of organic material exposed to heat and compression over millions of years. It is carbon-rich, formed from the remnants of dead animals and plants that have been pressurized and heated at high temperatures underground.
To make gasoline, the hydrocarbons present in crude oil must be separated and purified. This is done through a process called fractional distillation, where the oil is broken down into petroleum products. The usable gasoline is then transported to gas stations via pipelines. Gasoline is a highly flammable, energy-dense liquid that evaporates quickly.
The composition of gasoline depends on the refining process and the original source. It is made up of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon atoms, typically with between four and twelve carbon atoms per molecule. This is referred to as C4-C12. Gasoline is a mixture of paraffins (also called alkanes), olefins (alkenes), napthenes (cycloalkanes), and aromatics. The use of the term paraffin instead of alkane is specific to the oil industry.
The performance specifications of gasoline vary with the season, requiring less volatile blends during summer to minimize evaporative losses. Gasoline blends also differ, with the actual energy content varying by up to 1.75% more or less than the average. The ability of a particular gasoline blend to resist premature ignition (which causes knocking and reduces efficiency) is measured by its octane rating. Tetraethyl lead was once used to increase the octane rating but is no longer used in automotive gasoline due to health hazards. However, it is still used in aviation, off-road motor vehicles, and racing car engines.
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Gasoline's use in cars
Gasoline, also known as petrol, is a type of fuel that is used in cars with spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It is derived from the fractional distillation of petroleum and is chemically enhanced with additives. The use of gasoline in cars was popularised following the invention of the automobile in 1892. By 1920, there were 9 million vehicles powered by gasoline on the roads, and service stations selling gasoline were opening across the United States.
The process of extracting gasoline from crude oil was first developed by Edwin Drake, who dug the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859. However, at the time, Drake had no use for the gasoline and instead focused on producing kerosene for lighting. It was only after the invention of the automobile that gasoline became recognised as a valuable fuel.
The composition of gasoline can vary depending on the oil refinery that produces it, as different refineries have different processing units. It typically consists of a mixture of paraffins (also known as alkanes in the oil industry), olefins (alkenes), napthenes (cycloalkanes), and aromatics. The octane rating of gasoline is important, as it measures the fuel's ability to resist premature ignition, which can cause knocking and reduce engine efficiency. Tetraethyl lead was once added to gasoline to increase its octane rating, but this practice was discontinued due to health hazards.
In the United States, light-duty vehicles, including cars, sport utility vehicles, and small trucks, account for about 91% of all gasoline consumption. In 2022, Americans consumed about 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline, making it one of the most consumed fuels in the country. The energy efficiency of gasoline-powered vehicles can vary depending on driving conditions, with city driving involving more idling and energy loss compared to highway driving.
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Alternatives to gasoline
The search for alternatives to gasoline has been ongoing for some time, with a variety of options available and in development. These alternatives are driven by the need to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and explore renewable sources of energy.
One alternative is hydrogen, which can be produced from renewable resources and used in fuel cell electric vehicles, offering a potentially emissions-free option. Natural gas is another alternative, offering cost advantages over gasoline and diesel fuels. It is also a more readily available and abundant fuel source. Similarly, propane is a widely used gaseous fuel that has been employed in vehicles globally for many years.
Renewable diesel is a biomass-derived fuel that can be used in diesel engines, and sustainable aviation fuel is another option, derived from renewable feedstocks, which helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Renewable gasoline, also known as green gasoline, is produced from biomass sources through biological, thermal, and chemical processes. It is chemically identical to petroleum gasoline, allowing it to be used in existing engines and infrastructure. However, it is not yet commercially used in the US due to the focus on electrifying the light-duty market.
Other alternatives to gasoline include alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, and butanol, as well as vegetable and waste-derived oils, and even electricity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to use straight vegetable oil (SSO) as fuel, but only if the car has been modified to address the viscosity issue. For example, by adding a heat exchanger to preheat the oil, therefore reducing its viscosity and surface tension.
Older diesel engines are more likely to run on cooking oil or even used oil that has been strained. Modern diesel engines will need the oil to be enhanced and turned into biofuel.
Gasoline is the most-consumed petroleum product in the United States. In 2022, consumption of finished motor gasoline averaged about 8.78 million barrels per day, accounting for 43% of total US petroleum consumption.
Crude oil is broken down into its constituent hydrocarbons inside a fractionating column. Lighter hydrocarbons, such as petrol, are tapped off high up the column, while heavier ones, such as diesel, separate out lower down.
