What Is the Difference Between Gasoline, Kerosene, & Diesel?

While we’re proud to provide shoppers like you with a fantastic selection of new and pre-owned vehicles for your Schaumburg adventures, we’re also here to help you learn everything you need to know about automotive vehicles. From purchasing a new ride to exploring the different aspects of car maintenance, the experts at Biggers Mazda are here to help. Today, we’re going to help you answer, “What is the difference between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine?”

Nowadays, many vehicles come in a gasoline engine or a diesel engine, and there are some distinct differences between the two engine choices. Additionally, kerosene is also produced from a similar liquid that gas and diesel are produced from, so we’re going to go over how kerosene compares to gas and diesel as well. Learn all about diesel, gasoline, and kerosene today with our experts!

Do You Know the Difference Between Gasoline, Kerosene, & Diesel?

So, what is the difference between gasoline engines and diesel engines? Before we can answer that question, let’s explore how gasoline, kerosene, and diesel are different from each other. We asked members of our community if they knew, and one person mentioned, “Car, lantern, truck.” and this answer isn’t actually far off! While all three are produced from petroleum, the main difference between them is their boiling points. In simple terms, petroleum is the crude version of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.

As petroleum is refined and boiled, you get different fuel options. Gasoline vaporizes at temperatures below the boiling point of water, followed by kerosene, then fuel. With that being said, kerosene is not used regularly to power vehicles on the St Charles roads. Instead, you’ll find kerosene being used in furnaces, heaters, and even fuel for jet engine components. Since kerosene is not being used in regular vehicles, what’s the difference between gas and diesel engines?

Find out below:

Gasoline Engines

• Fuel Delivery: Gasoline engines get fuel delivery with a fuel injection system or a carburetor. Fuel is injected into the engine and sparked by spark plugs to create mini-explosions that power your vehicle on the Geneva streets.
• Performance: By design, gas engines typically will offer higher horsepower figures, allowing for impressive top-end speed.
• Efficiency: Modern-day gasoline engines have become incredibly efficient, especially when combined with electric motors for a hybrid powertrain.

Diesel Engines

• Fuel Delivery: Diesel engines don’t have a spark plug to spark fuel. Instead, diesel fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber and is ignited by engine compression. No spark plugs mean no spark plug maintenance.
• Performance: If you need a vehicle with impressive towing power, you’ll want a diesel engine. While diesel engines may not be able to produce high-horsepower figures like a gas engine, they do have the ability to provide large torque figures. The more torque you have, the more towing power your vehicle will possess.
• Efficiency: Since diesel engines have a high compression ratio to ignite diesel fuel, they’re also incredibly efficient, allowing for fewer stops at the pump.

While there are some slight differences between diesel and gasoline engines, they both come with their own set of advantages, and you’ll want to explore your needs before making a final decision.

Stop by Biggers Mazda Today!

We’re about a half-hour drive from Crystal Lake, allowing you to easily get to our Elgin dealership when you need our assistance. Whether you’re shopping for a diesel vehicle or a brand new Mazda, we’re more than happy to help you find the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle at Biggers Mazda! If you need any assistance throughout your automotive journey, feel free to contact us online!