When cars were originally being made and designed, why was “gasoline” used rather than crude oil, especially since it was what came from the Earth?

Question

Cars today run on “gasoline” which has the hydrocarbons that work with the air and make the combustion possible, but why design engines like this, especially since the refining process is so arduous? Would it not have been easier and more logical to try using the crude oil straight from the Earth?

In: 16

Answer 1

Undistilled crude oil is not very combustible since it contains asphalt. Lighter distillates like acetone are too flammable and prone to accidental explosion. Gasoline is stable enough not to explode without an open flame, but volatile enough to combust near an open flame.

Some very large industrial fuel engines could run on straight up crude, but they would seize after prolonged use due to the present asphalt. Engines dont like asphalt.

Answer 2

Undistilled crude oil is not very combustible since it contains asphalt. Lighter distillates like acetone are too flammable and prone to accidental explosion. Gasoline is stable enough not to explode without an open flame, but volatile enough to combust near an open flame.

Some very large industrial fuel engines could run on straight up crude, but they would seize after prolonged use due to the present asphalt. Engines dont like asphalt.