What is refined oil?
3 Answers
Refined oil refers to petroleum products obtained through modern refining and processing of crude oil. In a broad sense, refined oil denotes all oil products derived from crude oil processing, which can be categorized into six types: petroleum fuels, petroleum solvents & chemical raw materials, lubricants, paraffin wax, petroleum asphalt, and petroleum coke. In a narrow sense, refined oil specifically refers to commonly encountered fuels such as automotive fuel and aviation fuel. Gasoline is a volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture obtained through distillation, cracking, or pyrolysis of petroleum, primarily used as fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It mainly consists of organic compounds derived from crude oil distillation and various additives.
Refined oil refers to the fuels like gasoline or diesel that we commonly use when filling up at gas stations. As a car enthusiast, I often pay attention to this—it is essentially the final product obtained after crude oil is processed in refineries. When crude oil is extracted from the ground, it is dirty and contains many impurities, making it unsuitable for direct use. The refining process includes distillation to remove impurities and chemical reactions to improve octane ratings, transforming it into standardized gasoline and diesel. When we use refined oil, the fuel quality directly impacts engine performance—for example, high-octane gasoline can reduce knocking and enhance power output. Additionally, refined oil also includes diesel and kerosene, each suitable for different types of vehicles. Choosing higher-quality fuel can improve fuel efficiency and reduce malfunctions. It's recommended to use standardized fuel from Sinopec or PetroChina rather than opting for cheaper, low-quality fuel from lesser-known brands, as it can lead to carbon buildup and damage the engine.
My understanding of refined oil is based on automotive technology, which generally refers to refined fuels such as gasoline and diesel. After crude oil enters the refinery, it is converted into fractionated products through processes like catalytic cracking and hydrogenation: gasoline is suitable for passenger vehicles, while diesel is more suitable for trucks and large engines. The quality standards of refined oil, such as octane number and sulfur content, are crucial. High-grade gasoline can improve engine efficiency and reduce emission pollution. Nowadays, with strict environmental requirements, many refineries produce low-sulfur diesel to meet the China VI standard. The composition of the oil determines its applicability. For example, ethanol gasoline performs better in cold regions, while pure gasoline is more stable at high temperatures. Choosing the right oil can optimize vehicle performance.
