The Difference Between Aviation Fuel and Ground Transportation Fuel

The Difference Between Aviation Fuel and Ground Transportation Fuel

Aviation fuel and ground transportation fuel both come from petroleum. Petroleum comes from crude oil, which is a fossil fuel. Yet the makeup of each is quite different. Ground transportation's vapors are flammable, whereas aviation fuel has to be non-flammable. There are multiple types of aviation gasoline, as well as ground transportation fuel.

There are two different types of aviation gas, which are jet fuel and avgas. Avgas is a combination of the two words aviation and gasoline. Avgas is normally used in aircraft that have reciprocating engines. It is a high-octane fuel used for aircraft and racing cars. The higher the octane, the less flammable and/or combustible the fuel is.

Jet fuel is the more common of the two. There are three types of jet fuel. These are Jet A, Jet A-1 and Jet B. The most common jet fuel is a kerosene and paraffin oil-based fuel classified as JET A-1. Kerosene is thin oil distilled from petroleum or shale oil. Jet A-1 fuel has to comply with international standardized set specifications. JET B is a fuel in the naptha-kerosene "family" that is prized for its superior cold-weather performance. Since it is a lighter composition, it is more dangerous. Both JET A and JET B typically contain a number of additives, including antioxidants to prevent gumming, antistatic agents to dissipate static electricity and prevent sparking, and fuel system icing inhibitor agents.

Ground transportation fuel is normally gasoline or diesel. Both come from petroleum. Production of gasoline is achieved by distillation of crude oil. The desirable liquid is separated from the crude oil in refineries. To create gasoline, petroleum must first be removed from crude oil. Gasoline for sale in most countries carries an octane rating. Octane is a measure of gasoline's resistance to combusting prematurely. Diesel is a by-product of crude oil. A diesel engine is a type of internal combustion engine which ignites fuel by compressing it, as opposed to a gasoline engine that uses a spark plug.

All of these fuels come from fossil fuels, which are then turned into crude oil. After different types of refining, a fuel is made to suit the type of engine and conditions it will be used in. If an inappropriate fuel is used in an engine, then the desired outcome will not be achieved.