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Diesel engines—and the diesel fuel that powers them—have come a long way from their initial development as an alternative to the steam engine. In fact, there now are countless businesses all over Southern Maine that depend on diesel for their day-to-day operations including lumber companies, construction companies, courier and delivery companies, food-service companies, landscapers, caterers, beverage distributors, moving companies, warehouses, and so many more!
If diesel fuel is an integral part of how you run your Maine business, here are five facts you may find useful, interesting and helpful!
Diesel fuel was named in honor of German engineer and inventor Rudolph Diesel, who introduced the first successful diesel engine to the world in 1897, one year before the first commercial engine of its kind was installed in a factory—also in Germany.
Unlike traditional gasoline-fueled engines, diesel engines do not use sparkplugs. Instead, the fuel is injected into a combustion chamber filled with highly compressed air. The fuel is then ignited by the heat in the chamber. In very cold weather, a device called a glow plug is sometimes used to keep the compressed as hot as it needs to be so the fuel ignites.
On-road diesel fuel is clear and clean burning. It helps extend engine life and is used for vehicles that are on roads with “civilian” cars. The vehicles that use on-road diesel include delivery trucks, vehicles with trailers, and other light-duty highway vehicles. (These are defined as motor vehicles that correspond to a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less.)
Off-road diesel fuel, on the other hand, is dyed red. This makes it easy to distinguish from on-road diesel, which incurs taxes. This fuel is used for tractors and other farm equipment, and it is often used at construction sites.
The first advanced biofuel in the U.S. was biodiesel. It features several different ingredients, including recycled cooking oil, animal fats and agricultural oils, which makes the diesel fuel of today a product of renewable resources. While slightly more expensive, biodiesel has become the No. 1 alternative fuel in Germany—and in Europe, more than 40 percent of passenger cars sold are diesel-powered!
Diesel is much more efficient than gasoline, but needs to stick to moderate speeds, generally up to 65 miles per hour. Additionally, diesel engines boast an efficiency of 40 percent, compared to 20 percent for gas engines. Also, a diesel engine can run for 400 to 800 miles on a single tank for passenger vehicles, which lowers the price you pay for fuel!
No matter how your local business utilizes diesel fuel, it pays to have the right supplier. Sometimes you can’t just head over to the gas station down the road for refueling—maybe that gas station is in the next town and that fueling trip can take an up to an hour or even longer. Local businesses here in Maine that need on-site bulk gasoline and diesel fuels to keep the job going with minimal downtime depend on PitStop Fuels to provide prompt, safe and professional fuel delivery service all year long?
How can we help you? We can:
Contact us to learn our available diesel fuel services and how we can help your bottom line. From snowplows to commercial mowers, waste haulers to forklifts, and beyond, diesel fuel will have your business covered. Find out if you’re in our service area today!