Difference Between Petrol and Diesel

Difference Between Petrol and Diesel

The Main Difference between Petrol & Diesel is explained as Follows:

  • Petrol and Diesel are similar in terms of performance but there are differences between them which make one better than the other.
  • Petrol and diesel are two types of fuel that are used to run vehicles by generating power in a combustion engine.  Petrol is a refined petroleum product whereas diesel is a blend of hydrocarbons. Diesel is used to fuel ships, trains, and heavy trucks while petrol powers cars, bikes, and small boats.  Petrol is a clear, yellowish liquid while diesel is a dark brown or black oil.
  • Petrol burns at a temperature of about 350 degrees Celsius while diesel burns at around 400 degrees Celsius. petrol is a lower energy density compared to Diesel which burns more efficiently.




  • Diesel has higher carbon content than petrol. Diesel, on the other hand, is produced by mixing petroleum components with diesel fuel.  The main difference between them is that petrol contains more energy than diesel, but it is less efficient at turning into power. Petrol has an octane rating of 87 while diesel has a rating of 84.
  • To burn the petrol in internal Combustion Engines a spark plug is required.
  • To burn the diesel in internal Combustion Engines heat is required. heat is generated by a high compression ratio more than the petrol engine required. so this high compression ratio develops more vibrations than a petrol engine. 
  • Petrol is gasoline without any additives while diesel has additives added before being pumped into engines.
  • Petrol has a higher octane rating than diesel which helps it to start up easier in cold weather conditions.
  • Petrol releases more CO2 than diesel, which means it produces a greater greenhouse gas effect on global warming.



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