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5 Different Types of Fuel

There’s a good reason the EZ-POUR® spout was born – to let you smoothly pour fuel into an engine again. The portable fuel containers we once loved are no longer available, but the different types of fuel still have their own cans. This time around, we’re talking about gasoline and diesel fuel – which both share a similar purpose when it comes to powering a heavy piece of machinery. Gasoline falls into the three main categories of regular unleaded, premium, and ethanol, while diesel fuel can be identified as standard or biodiesel.  

Regular Unleaded

Regular unleaded gasoline, one of the most popular and cheapest options at gas stations across the United States, is categorized by its 87 octane rating. According to the EIA, “Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability. These ratings are based on the pressure at which a fuel will spontaneously combust (auto-ignite) in a testing engine.” This type of fuel is handy for a variety of machines including vehicles, lawn mowers, and other gas-powered tools.

Premium

Another kind of fuel that powers vehicles is premium gasoline. With an octane rating of 90 or higher, it is meant for engines that require higher performance to operate effectively. Premium gasoline is typically either recommended or required. When it is recommended, an engine can still run on regular unleaded gasoline but there will be a difference in fuel economy and performance. When it is required, an engine needs to avoid knocking, or when air and fuel fail to burn evenly.

Ethanol

Known for its ability to burn clean, ethanol is a renewable fuel that comes from plants such as corn. It is normally mixed with gasoline to be used in an engine. The most well-known mixtures are E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), E15 (15% ethanol and 85% gasoline), and E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). If a vehicle runs on gasoline, it can also run on E10. E15 and E85, however, are for flex-fuel vehicles.

EZ-POUR® Tip #1: The replacement fuel spout and rigid replacement spout work well for pouring gasoline. They also match the size of gas pump nozzles.

Standard Diesel

Standard diesel fuel offers more power and energy than both regular unleaded and premium gasoline. It’s more fuel efficient because of that fact and also used for much larger vehicles including boats, buses, trains, trucks, and even agricultural and construction machinery. Instead of an octane, diesel has a cetane rating on how quickly and easily it can burn. Standard diesel fuel is typically greater than 40 but less than 55.

Biodiesel

Another renewable type of fuel, biodiesel comes from recycled vegetable oils and animal fats. According to Biodiesel.org, “Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications in order to ensure proper performance.” It can be used as a replacement in diesel engines and is occasionally blended with standard diesel fuel.

EZ-POUR® Tip #2: The HI-FLO replacement spout matches the size of pump nozzles for diesel fuel.

Always Check the Owner’s Manual

Now that you have a better understanding of the types of fuel available, never forget to check your owner’s manual for using the correct fuel. Gasoline should not be used in a diesel engine nor should diesel fuel be used in a gasoline engine. Remember that red cans hold gasoline and yellow cans hold diesel. Also, try to have more than one EZ-POUR® spout on hand so that you don’t need to switch between the containers.

Buy yours online at ezpourspout.com.