Petrol and diesel are two of the most common fuels used to power motor vehicles. Both are also derived from petroleum. In fact, both petrol and diesel are types of diesel fuel. But what exactly is the difference between petrol and diesel? The answer to that question is not straightforward because it's not just a matter of how they’re different—it also has a lot to do with where you are as well as what kind of vehicle you have. Let’s take a look at the key points you need to know about petrol vs. diesel…
Petrol is a type of fuel known as a hydrocarbon. The word hydrocarbon refers to any chemical compound that consists entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are one of the most common types of fuel used by humans. Other examples of hydrocarbons include natural gas, crude oil, and propane. The only difference between petrol and crude oil is that crude oil is not yet processed into usable fuel. This happens at a refinery where the crude oil is heated to extremely high temperatures. This process separates the crude oil into various products, including petrol. Even though petrol is made from crude oil, it is not the same as crude oil. Crude oil is a non-combustible, heavy liquid. Petrol, on the other hand, is a combustible liquid that evaporates quickly.
Diesel is a type of fuel that is also known as crude oil distillate. It is a type of hydrocarbon like petrol, but it is made from a different part of crude oil. Diesel is made from the heavier oils that are left behind after the lighter gases and oils are taken from crude oil. This makes diesel a more stable, less volatile fuel than petrol. Diesel has a lower octane rating than petrol. Octane is a measure of how efficiently the fuel can burn inside an engine.
As we’ve already discussed, these two fuels are made from crude oil. However, different parts of the crude oil are used to make them. A crude oil refinery will first separate the crude oil by boiling it. The lighter gases rise to the top of the liquid while the heavier oils sink to the bottom. The lighter gases include things like methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane. The heavier oils are a mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons, including things like benzene, toluene, xylene, and naphthalene. Petrol is made from lighter gases that are taken from crude oil. Diesel is made from the heavier oils that are left behind after the lighter gases and oils are taken from crude oil.
As we’ve seen, these fuels have a lot in common. They’re both made from crude oil, they’re both hydrocarbons, and they both evaporate quickly. But there are some key differences between these fuels. Petrol and diesel are different in terms of their octane rating. Octane is a measure of how efficiently the fuel can burn inside an engine. The higher the octane rating, the more efficiently the fuel can burn. Petrol has a higher octane rating than diesel. Another key difference between petrol and diesel is how they’re refined. Diesel is a much more stable fuel than petrol. This means that it requires very little refining to meet the quality standards required of it in the marketplace. Petrol, on the other hand, requires a lot of refining to meet those same quality standards.
As you can see, there’s a lot of overlap between petrol and diesel. But there are some key differences between the two fuels that are worth bearing in mind. Petrol is more volatile than diesel. It also has a higher octane rating, so it’s more efficient in higher-load engines. Diesel is a more stable fuel, so it’s easier to refine. These differences have resulted in petrol and diesel becoming the two most common fuels in the world. If you’re driving in a country that uses one of these fuels, you’ll know when to put the fuel in your car. But what happens when you’re driving in a country that uses other fuel?
