Summary: Similarities Between Gasoline And Diesel

Differences Between Gasoline and Diesel Many people just go to a gas station and fill up their car with the gas they need not knowing about what actually goes into the process of making the fuel and getting there. When people see diesel whose cars do not need it, their minds instantly think “Woops, that is diesel, better not use that kind of gas in my car or else something bad could happen.” Do people really know the differences between the two fuels? Could they explain to someone who wants to know more about the two fuels about what some of the differences are? The answer most likely be a no and will probably just tell them to stick to gasoline. Even though gasoline and diesel share similarities, they are both different types in fuel in terms …show more content…
Both of the fuels start out as oil found in the ground. According to Marshall Brain, “The crude oil pumped out of the ground is a black liquid called petroleum” (Brain). Afterward, the petroleum extracted is then sent to an oil refinery. Once it reaches there, the oil can be processed into many different products. Gasoline is formed from different chain of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. Marshall Brain states that “the chains from C7H24 and C11H24 are blended together and used for gasoline” (Brain). There are many hydrocarbons found in crude oil and putting different chains together produces different products. Diesel is also formed from hydrocarbons, just from different ones. Marshall Brain illustrates that diesel “contains more carbon atoms in longer chains than gasoline (gasoline is typically C9H20, while diesel fuel is typically C14H30)” (Brain). Diesel has longer chains of hydrocarbons and contains more carbon than gasoline does. It also does not need as much refining which makes it cheaper to make diesel. The reason diesel is more expensive than gasoline is because the demand for it is higher. Gasoline and diesel are both made from crude oil pumped from the ground, yet they require different refinery methods to make each …show more content…
The two fuels are both processed from crude oil, but go through different refinery methods. As a transportation fuel, gasoline is primarily used to fuel many everyday cars. Diesel is mainly used as transportation fuel in trucks, boats, trains, et cetera that require the extra energy. While both fuels are incredibly useful in today’s society, the emissions they give off are harmful to the environment. The next time somebody asks someone else about the differences between gasoline and diesel, they will be able to answer their