Gasoline /ˈɡæsəliːn/, or petrol /ˈpɛtrəl/, is a toxic, clear liquid that is mostly used as a fuel in internal combustion engines.
More precisely, used as a fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines.
It is made by boiling petroleum, a fossil fuel. In a distillation process, petroleum is heated to a very high temperature, then it separates into its components, one of them is gasoline. This is an expensive process. It is made mostly of octane (C8H18), a hydrocarbon.
Gasoline is sold at gas stations (petrol stations). In order to burn properly in high-compression internal combustion engines, each brand of gasoline includes gasoline additives. So, the exact make up of gasoline is different at different stations. Gasoline is graded by its octane rating that measures how well it will burn. Most car engines can burn "regular" gasoline which has an octane rating of 87. Precision-made engines require or prefer "premium" gasoline with an octane rating of 93. Most stations offer three different mixtures of gasoline with three separate octane ratings and prices.
Energy content of some fuels compared with gasoline:[1] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fuel type | MJ/L | MJ/kg | Research octane number |
Ethanol | 21.2[2] | 26.8[2] | 108.6[3] |
E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) |
25.2 | 33.2 | 105 |
Liquefied natural gas | 25.3 | ~55 | |
Autogas (LPG) (60% propane + 40% butane) |
26.8 | 50. | |
Aviation gasoline (high-octane gasoline, not jet fuel) |
33.5 | 46.8 | 100/130 (lean/rich) |
Gasohol (90% gasoline + 10% ethanol) |
33.7 | 47.1 | 93/94 |
Regular gasoline | 34.8 | 44.4[4] | min. 91 |
Premium gasoline | max. 104 | ||
Diesel | 38.6 | 45.4 | 25 |
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