Distillate fuel oil, refined from crude oil, for use in motor vehicles with compression ignition engines.
- Diesel-engine generators to generate electricity
- On-road transport vehicles
- Off-road farm and construction equipment
Benefits
Greater energy density
Diesel provides more useful energy per unit of volume than other liquid fuels. With its good lubricating properties, diesel fuel has a positive effect on moving parts. Diesel engines generally produce better fuel economy than gasoline engines because they generate more power from less fuel due to their higher compression rating. With the addition of modern high-pressure fuel-injection systems, even better fuel economy is possible.
Environment
To meet EPA standards, the petroleum industry in the U.S. only produces Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, a cleaner-burning diesel fuel. ULSD in combination with higher emissions standards for diesel engine highway vehicles with advanced exhaust emission control systems can reduce vehicle particulate emissions by up to 90% and emissions of nitrogen compounds (NOx) by 25% to 50%. ULSD fuel helps reduce emissions in older engines as well. Diesel fuel also has a lower fire hazard. The chance of fuel igniting when an accident occurs is lower with diesel fuel as it has a higher flashpoint than gasoline.