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Gasoline is for spark-ignition engines, diesel is for compression-ignition engines, kerosene-type jet fuel is for turbine aircraft, and heating oil is for compatible furnaces and boilers. They are all petroleum products, but they have different intended uses and specifications; sharing a refinery origin does not make them interchangeable.
How the four fuels differ
| Fuel | Designed for | How it is used | U.S. product specification noted by EIA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | Spark-ignition engines, such as those in most cars | A spark ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engine. | Finished motor gasoline; grades and requirements vary. |
| Diesel | Compression-ignition diesel engines, used in vehicles, equipment, vessels, and other applications | Fuel is injected into hot, compressed air and ignites; the engine does not use spark plugs to ignite it. | No. 2 diesel is defined under ASTM D975. |
| Kerosene-type jet fuel | Turbojet and turboprop aircraft | Aviation turbine engines burn a kerosene-based fuel meeting aviation requirements. | EIA identifies ASTM D1655 in its definition of kerosene-type jet fuel. |
| Heating oil | Compatible furnaces and boilers | No. 2 heating oil is used in atomizing burners for domestic heating and some commercial or industrial equipment. | No. 2 heating oil is defined under ASTM D396; other heating-oil grades exist. |
These U.S. product terms and standards are not a universal description of fuel names or rules in every country. Use the grade specified by the equipment maker and, for aircraft, the applicable aviation authority.
Why related petroleum products are not interchangeable
Refineries separate crude oil into fractions and further process and blend them into finished products. Gasoline is generally a lighter, more volatile product; kerosene and distillate products such as diesel and heating oil occupy broader middle ranges. Their boiling ranges can overlap, but that does not mean the finished fuels meet the same requirements. Refining and blending produce fuels suited to different engines, burners, and operating conditions. EIA’s refining overview explains the process and why yields vary with crude oil and refinery processing; a U.S. Department of Energy technical review discusses overlapping boiling ranges.
What makes each fuel distinct?
Gasoline: volatile fuel for spark-ignition engines
Finished motor gasoline is a complex blend designed for spark-ignition engines. Its volatility helps it mix with air and burn under the engine’s operating conditions. Octane measures resistance to engine knock, not the fuel’s energy content or a simple measure of quality: the appropriate octane grade is the one specified for the engine. EIA distinguishes motor gasoline from aviation gasoline, or avgas.
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Diesel: distillate fuel for compression ignition
Diesel engines compress air until it becomes hot, then inject fuel so it ignites in that air. Diesel is a distillate fuel, and EIA describes its boiling point and specific gravity as higher than gasoline’s. Diesel fuel serves trucks, buses, tractors, trains, boats, and other equipment and applications.
Jet fuel: aviation turbine fuel, not avgas
Commercial kerosene-type jet fuel is made for turbine aircraft, including turbojets and turboprops, and must meet aviation-specific requirements. It is not the same as ordinary kerosene merely because both are kerosene-based. Nor does “aircraft fuel” always mean jet fuel: piston-engine aircraft use aviation gasoline. The Federal Aviation Administration’s explanation of avgas clarifies that distinction.
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Heating oil: fuel for compatible heating equipment
Heating oil is a broad term that can refer to different grades. In EIA’s definitions, No. 2 heating oil is a distillate used in atomizing burners for domestic heating and some commercial or industrial burner units. A furnace or boiler must be designed for the fuel grade being supplied.
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EIA classifies No. 2 distillate as material that can be used as either diesel fuel or fuel oil, but its definitions distinguish No. 2 diesel under ASTM D975 from No. 2 heating oil under ASTM D396 and describe different applications. That family resemblance is not a blanket approval to substitute one for the other. Follow the equipment maker’s fuel specification and applicable rules rather than relying on the name or appearance of the fuel. EIA’s product definitions provide the U.S. terminology.
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Heat content per barrel: useful context, not an efficiency ranking
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s heat-content table lists the following values per barrel. These describe fuel energy content, not how much useful work a vehicle or heating system delivers; that depends on the equipment and operating conditions as well as the fuel.
| Fuel (EIA category) | Heat content per barrel |
|---|---|
| Finished motor gasoline | 5.049 MMBtu |
| Diesel and home heating fuel (distillate fuel oil) | 5.770 MMBtu |
| Jet fuel | 5.670 MMBtu |
Values are from the EIA heat-content table and emissions methodology, accessed in 2026. They should not be used on their own to compare cost, mileage, emissions, or appliance performance.
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How much of each fuel comes from a barrel of crude?
Refineries do not follow a fixed recipe that yields the same amounts of each product from every barrel. The EIA reports that U.S. refinery output in 2023 averaged 19.57 gallons of finished motor gasoline, 12.47 gallons of distillate fuel oil, and 4.41 gallons of kerosene-type jet fuel per 42-gallon barrel of crude oil input. The figures are preliminary averages, not guaranteed yields; the shares depend on the crude and refinery processing. Total output can exceed the crude-input volume because processing increases the volume of products. See EIA’s explanation of refinery inputs and outputs (last updated June 20, 2024).
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Which fuel should you use?
- For a vehicle or machine, use the fuel grade specified by its manufacturer.
- For a furnace or boiler, confirm the permitted heating-oil grade in the equipment documentation or with a qualified service provider.
- For aircraft, follow the aircraft and engine documentation and applicable aviation requirements; do not infer suitability from the fact that two fuels are petroleum-derived or kerosene-based.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
