Kerosene is a combustible liquid fuel, also derived from crude oil, sitting between gasoline and diesel in terms of weight and refining profile. It’s a hydrocarbon mix with molecules typically having 10 to 16 carbon atoms, extracted during distillation at a boiling range of about 150–275°C (302–527°F). Lighter than diesel but heavier than gasoline, it’s less volatile than gas and has an energy content of roughly 35 megajoules per liter (or 125 MJ per gallon), making it a versatile middle-ground fuel.
Kerosene’s cleaner burn compared to coal or wood made it a staple in the past, but it’s not without downsides, spills can pollute, and burning it still pumps out CO2. It’s less common in road vehicles because it lacks the ignition properties of gasoline or diesel for those engines.
Kerosene Types
- Jet A - Used mainly in the U.S., has a higher freezing point.
- Jet A-1 - International standard, lower freezing point.
- Jet B - A blend with gasoline, used in extremely cold conditions.
