Have you ever been waiting in line at the gas station and wondered whether diesel might do the job instead? While gasoline and diesel fuel have a lot in common, you probably know they can't be used interchangeably. Despite coming from the same source, gas and diesel don’t share identical molecular structures, which makes them behave differently in your tank and calls for varying engine designs.

From Crude Oil to Gas & Diesel

Both types of fuel come from crude oil. During the refining process, oil is separated into different parts according to the size of their molecules. The shorter the molecules, the less dense the resulting fuel is. Gasoline has the shortest molecule chains, followed by jet fuel, diesel, and even heavier fuels.

How They Behave

Because of the difference in density, gasoline is more volatile than diesel. It evaporates more easily and is more flammable. In comparison, diesel is stable and harder to ignite, but because it has a higher density, it also packs more energy per gallon.

Two Engine Styles

Thanks to the individual characteristics of gas and diesel, engines have to be designed specifically to use one or the other. A diesel engine uses compression to heat the air in its cylinders before the fuel is injected. This hot air is enough to ignite the diesel fuel as soon as it hits the cylinder. Ordinary gas engines, on the other hand, mix the fuel and air to start with and compress the mixture very little to avoid the volatile gasoline firing prematurely. Instead, they rely on a spark from the spark plug to set off each blast at the right time.

Gasoline and diesel serve a lot of the same purposes, but they aren't interchangeable. To get the best performance and avoid any damage, know your engine's needs and fill up with the right fuel.

State Fuel Company in Rochester, NY, delivers the fuel you need right to your doorstep. Whether you're looking for kerosene, heating oil, or diesel, they'll provide regular, dependable delivery. They will even service your burner to ensure you always have a reliable source of warmth. For questions or to make an order, call (585) 247-2380 or get in touch online.