What is the density of gasoline?
2 Answers
0.70 to 0.78g per cubic centimeter. Introduction to gasoline: The English name for gasoline is gasoline or gas (American English), also known as petrol (British English). It is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid obtained through distillation, cracking, or pyrolysis of petroleum. Function of gasoline: Primarily used as fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It mainly consists of organic compounds obtained from crude oil distillation and various additives. Development of gasoline: Although the yield varies with the composition of crude oil, typically, a barrel of 42 US gallons (160 liters) of crude oil can produce 19 US gallons (72 liters) of gasoline after processing in a refinery.
I often enjoy discussing car topics with friends, and gasoline density is actually quite basic yet practical. Density refers to how much weight there is per unit volume, with standard gasoline density being approximately 0.71 to 0.77 grams per milliliter. Regular unleaded fuel averages around 0.74, much lighter than water. Why care about it? When refueling, you pay by the liter, but weight affects the vehicle's total load—higher-density fuel is slightly heavier, potentially saving a bit on long trips, though the difference is minimal. Seasonal changes also have an impact: in winter, lower temperatures mean higher density, making refueling more economical as the same volume contains more fuel; in summer, higher temperatures reduce density, possibly costing the same but yielding slightly less mileage. Don’t worry about measuring it—testing isn’t common for everyday driving. Understanding this helps you make smarter fuel choices, and manuals provide reference values.
