Fuel for Thought: Fun Facts about Diesel, Gasoline, & Propane

Energy products like diesel, gasoline, or propane may not make you think of the word "fun," but here's a little trivia about them that you might enjoy!

Diesel

1. Diesel engines were originally designed to run on peanut oil.

When Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in the 1890s, he demonstrated it at the 1900 World’s Fair using peanut oil as fuel. His vision was for farmers to grow their own fuel using vegetable oils - what we now call biodiesel. It wasn’t until later that petroleum-based diesel became the dominant fuel due to its lower cost and easier availability.

2. Diesel fuel is less flammable than gasoline!

While gasoline vapors can ignite with just a spark, diesel requires much higher temperatures and pressure to combust. That’s why diesel engines don’t use spark plugs - they rely on compression ignition. It also means diesel is safer to store and handle, especially in high-heat environments.

Gasoline

1. Gasoline glows under UV light!

Gasoline contains aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, which fluoresce under ultraviolet (black) light. So, if you shine a UV light on a gasoline spill in the dark, it’ll glow with a bluish or greenish tint. (Kids, please don’t try this at home!)

2. The word gasoline is mostly American!

In the U.K. and many other countries, what Americans call gasoline is known as petrol. The term "gasoline" likely evolved from the brand name “Cazeline” or “Gazeline” in the mid-1800s, coined by a British entrepreneur. Over time, the American version stuck as "gasoline," while the British stuck with "petrol."

Propane

1. Propane is odorless but smells terrible on purpose!

Pure propane has no scent, so for safety, a chemical called ethyl mercaptan is added to give it that strong, rotten egg smell. This makes it easy to detect leaks before they become dangerous. Without it, propane leaks would be nearly impossible to notice!

2. Propane can exist as both a liquid and a gas at the same time!

Under pressure, propane turns into a liquid, which makes it easy to store and transport in tanks. When you release the pressure (like opening the valve on a grill tank), it instantly vaporizes back into a gas. This unique property is why propane is so popular for portable energy - it packs a lot of power into a small, easy-to-carry container.