Diesel and Petrol

What is The Difference between Diesel and Petrol?

Many people will head to a fuel station and top up their tanks, but not many people really know the difference between diesel and petrol.

In recent years, numerous people have been faced with the choice of staying with petrol engine vehicles, or switching to cars powered by diesel engines.

When it comes to this choice, it is important to understand the difference between these types of fuel.

Interestingly, both diesel and petrol are produced using mineral oil, but what separates the two is the method used to refine them.

Petrol is more difficult to refine than diesel, but the latter is loaded with more pollutants which need to be removed before it matches the same level of emissions as petrol.

Diesel also contains more energy than petrol, per litre, which is why it offers a higher level of fuel efficiency. However, when burning the same amount of fuel, Diesel will produce slightly more CO2 emissions.

Due to the combustion process of a diesel engine, it can be up to 40% more efficient than its petrol competitor at the same power output.

Diesel is also denser than petrol, which is why it packs more energy.

When it comes to refinement, the technical difference is that petrol consists of alkanes and cycloalkanes – boasting a chain length of 5-12 carbon atoms which will boil at temperatures between 40 and 205 degrees Celsius.

Diesel is made up of alkanes that contain 12 or more carbon atoms, with the boiling point being considerably higher (250-350 degrees Celsius).

In many countries, petrol vehicles are cheaper than their diesel options, which is a big reason as to why many people choose them. Diesel vehicles also used to be a lot noisier; however, the newer engines can offer an almost silent driving experience.

No matter what you choose though, Brandvlei Verspreiders will ensure that you are always topped up with clean fuels as we supply wholesalers, resellers and consumers across the Gauteng and North West provinces.