why doesnt petrol or diesel freeze ?

Answer 1

Diesel and petrol are both mixtures of different hydrocarbons, so their 'gelling' or 'freezing' is a more complex process than with water, but it does happen.

The links below describe each case far clearer and more succinctly than I can. I hope you find them useful. :)

Answer 2

Diesel Freezing Point

Answer 3

To begin with, you have to appreciate that petrol is not a single chemical. It is a concotion of various hydrocarbons. Some of these hydrocarbons are fairly viscous whilst others are thinner than water. Petrol also contains aromatics which are normally gaseous at room temperature. By their nature, the viscous hydrocarbons will solidify before the aromatic hydrocarbons

Petrol has what is known as a "flash-point" of around -71.7 degrees Centigrade, give or take a few degrees depending on the exact composition of the petrol. At this temperature, petrol is still a liquid and this flash-point is the temperature at which the vapour of petrol will catch alight. Now, as you can imagine -71.7 degrees Centigrade is a very low temperature - but it gets worse.

The more viscous hydrocarbons contained within petrol will become solid within a wide range of atmospheric temperatures. However, the aromatic hydrocarbons will not solidify until around -129 degrees Centigrade to around -185 degrees Centigrade - the composition of the petrol again plays a part in this.

Sometimes miniscule amounts of water are present in petrol. This water will freeze-out at the same temperature as it does in the environment ie 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, to answer your question petrol, unlike diesel, does not become a gel.

To summarise, if you asked what was the freezing point of petrol I would have said anything between -71.7 degrees Centigrade and -185 degrees Centigrade.

Apologies for the lecture!

Answer 4

A difficult question to answer, because neither petrol or diesel are simple compounds. The various elements will start to freeze at various temperatures.

However, assuming zero water content, low impurities and a standard cetane level:

Diesel freezes at -40 degrees Celsius.
Petrol freezes at between -200 and -250 degrees Celsius (absolute zero is -272 degrees Celsius...).

EVERYTHING can exist in three main states - solid, liquid or gas. The temperatures that those changes will occur at vary hugely.

Answer 5

I drive an 18 wheeler and diesel don't freeze but will jell up in cold weather you can buy an additive at walmart thats called diesel service to prevent it.No gas or petrol will not freeze.

Answer 6

They now put special additives in diesel to stop it freezing under normal conditions. petrol has a much lower freezing point than diesel around -70 deg C

Answer 7

Petrol freezes at a lower temperature than diesel. I used to be a milkman and the diesel in my van often froze on a cold winter night. (Some drivers even lit fires under the engine to thaw it out quicker)...NOT recommended for petrol engines!!

Answer 8

petrol and diesel can freeze but have such a low freezing point that our weather never gets that cold,diesel can freeze in a severe winter but i think it's due to additives in it raising the freezing point.

Answer 9

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Yes it will. I know. because I was stuck on the side of the road with jelled diesel fuel. They do sell an additive that will prevent it from freezing. Check a truck stop for it. Don't listen to those idiots who say it won't. Ask any long haul trucker. It won't freeze solid, but it will damn sure jell.

Answer 10

Diesel certainly does freeze - and I think petrol does too!!