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

At the time of the invention of the automobile, gasoline was a mostly unused byproduct of producing kerosene which was used for heating and lamps.

Answer 2

At the time of the invention of the automobile, gasoline was a mostly unused byproduct of producing kerosene which was used for heating and lamps.