Difference Between Engine Oil and Diesel?
3 Answers
Engine oil and diesel have the following differences: 1. Different fuel economy grades. The latest ACEA European lubricant classification consists of three series: A/B series for gasoline and light-duty diesel engine oils; C series for heavy-duty diesel engine oils. 2. The compression ratio of a diesel engine is more than twice that of a gasoline engine. Its main components endure much higher temperatures, pressures, and impacts than those in a gasoline engine, hence some parts are made from different materials. 3. Diesel contains more sulfur than gasoline. This harmful substance forms sulfuric or sulfurous acid during combustion, which, along with high-temperature and high-pressure exhaust gases, enters the oil pan, accelerating the oxidation and deterioration of the engine oil. Therefore, diesel engine oils require more additives that provide oxidation resistance and maintain a stronger alkaline state.
I've been driving for over a decade and know these two types of oil all too well. Diesel fuel is what powers the engine - it's the fuel we pump at gas stations every day, going straight into the fuel tank to be burned up. Engine oil is completely different; it's specifically for protecting the engine, normally staying in the oil pan at the bottom to lubricate parts and dissipate heat. You need to change it every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers, or the engine will suffer. Using the wrong one can be disastrous - once my neighbor accidentally poured engine oil into the fuel tank, and the entire fuel system had to be disassembled and cleaned, costing over 5,000 yuan in repairs.
After working in the auto repair shop for so many years, the most frequent reminder to customers is to distinguish between engine oil and diesel. Diesel is a light oil, primarily composed of hydrocarbons, responsible for combustion to drive piston movement, appearing yellowish and transparent. Engine oil is far more complex, with over a dozen additives like anti-wear agents and detergents mixed into the base oil, thick like honey, capable of forming a protective film under high temperature and pressure. Recently, a semi-truck driver mistakenly added diesel as engine oil, leading to cylinder seizure after just half an hour of operation, with the crankshaft bearings melted, resulting in a repair bill as high as over twenty thousand yuan.
