Four Facts You May Not Know About Diesel Fuel
Posted on: 6 January 2015
You know that diesel is used to power semi trucks, some large pickups, and tractors. You probably know that industrial equipment also often relies on this efficient fuel source for heavy machinery. There may be a lot of things you already know about how diesel fuel is used, but there are many fun facts you may have never heard before. Here are four facts you probably do not know about diesel fuel, its history, and how it is used.
1. Hydrogenated Diesel Fuel
You my have heard about people making use of old vegetable oil to power an enhanced vehicle, but did you know that these hydrogenated oils, once put through a chemical separation process, are actually a form of diesel fuel? Many studies are being performed on this topic in recent years because this form of diesel is known to burn cleaner without environmental repercussions.
2. Diesel Fuel Efficiency
It is common knowledge that most forms of diesel cause less fuel emissions from a motor than the typical gas powered engine. However, what you may not know is that diesel can be as much as 20 to 40 percent more efficient than gasoline.
3. Diesel and Heating Oil
Diesel fuel and heating oil, which is used to power many central heating systems, are so similar that it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference. Because diesel is used as fuel in vehicles, taxes associated are higher, which drives the cost higher per gallon. In some countries it is a major problem for people to try and use untaxed heating oil as fuel for their vehicles to save money. If caught, people who do are faced with serious fines.
4. Diesel Fuel Does Not Freeze
It is a common misconception that diesel fuel will freeze during colder temperatures. However, this is actually not the truth. Cold temperatures can cause a slight difference in the way diesel behaves within a motor, such as how quickly it can radiate through a fuel system to allow the vehicle to start. In most cases, water in the diesel tank is the main culprit for this misconception and usually comes from a contaminated fuel source.
When you take a closer look at diesel as a source of fuel, it is easy to see why it is gaining traction as the fuel source of the future. The next several years of diesel use and production by companies like Fairbanks Fuel Distributors, Inc. is sure to be different than what consumers have been accustomed to in the past.
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