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

Crude oil is not flammable enough. People made torches by dipping wood in crude, it barely burns better than wood.

The first engines use kerosene, which was available in the lab at low cost because it was used in lanterns. Then they found that a more volatile substance, gasoline, produced more power in the engine.

Answer 2

Crude oil is not flammable enough. People made torches by dipping wood in crude, it barely burns better than wood.

The first engines use kerosene, which was available in the lab at low cost because it was used in lanterns. Then they found that a more volatile substance, gasoline, produced more power in the engine.