If we consider the frequently used items in our daily lives, we shall end up with several of them. Nonetheless, several things are as vital as oxygen nowadays. One of those is gasoline if it is a multipurpose item that we use differently.
And, our curiosity has no boundaries where one query exists what colour is gasoline? The basic colour of gasoline is white, light amber, or crystal clear. We usually don’t see the colours of gasoline while filling up our fuel tank. Therefore, this information is not that common to us. But, the petrol we use in vehicles has a soft amber colour.
We can observe some other colours also, which have different meanings. Let’s find out the implications of the colour differences.
What Color Is Gasoline?
The primary colour of gasoline is clear or light amber. After the gasoline is hunted from the mines, the supplier mixes colours to distinguish the grades of the gasoline. Here are some of the colours’ explanations and reasons for using artificial colours.
Red Color
The reason behind the meagre price is it faces fewer tax obstacles. We can often experience that our heating or cooking gasoline is red. Moreover, the expense of this gasoline is less than any other type.
People are using it for many other different purposes. Such as farming tools, construction machinery, marine transportation, and many others.
Purple Gasoline
Another most prevalent gasoline colour is purple. The characteristics are similar to red gasoline. It is also used for many other different purposes. Such as farming tools, construction machinery, marine transportation, and many others.
Like red gasoline, purple gasoline is exempted from tax also. In easy words, we can define purple gasoline as another variety of red gasoline.
Yellow Gasoline
Another fuel or gasoline colour is yellow. It is also a heating oil which is determined by European countries.
The fuel from Australia is also yellow. And, it comes with the colour naturally and does not require any extra dying method.
Green Fuel
Heating oil has many uses in those countries which suffer from freezing cold; Ireland is an example of using green colour gasoline. Sometimes, the diesel in that region does not require the extra dye colour.
The hue of green exists from nature. So, we can easily detect green gasoline as gasoline that is from the Ireland region.
Blue Gasoline
We generally do not experience blue gasoline in our daily lives because the use of this gasoline is pretty limited. In France, blue gasoline is to run marine vessels. So, we can also call it marine fuel.
Although France does the blue dye mixing process, there are several reports which say the gasoline coming out from the North American region is naturally blue.
Black Gasoline
Greece uses black for the dye mixing method with gasoline. The purpose of black gasoline is similar to blue gasoline. We use black gasoline to run the marine vessels.
2 Stroke Fuel
The Color of 2-stroke fuel can vary. Still, the standard colour of the 2-stroke fuel is green jerry.
Types of Gasoline and Their Colors
Based on the octane rating, gasoline has three different types. To simplify, octane rating means the level of compression any gas can withstand before combustion.
Regular Gasoline: 87 Octane Rating
The colour of regular gasoline is a bit bluish or greenish. Since the octane rating is 87 (lower than other options), the chance of occurring combustion at the wrong time is quite high.
Midgrade Gasoline: 89 Octane Rating
This type of gasoline is typically yellowish in colour. 89 octane rating is in the mid-range. So, the chance of combustion taking place at the wrong time is neither high nor low.
Premium Gasoline: 90+ Octane Rating
Premium gasoline is typically pink in colour. It has high octane rating; usually 90 and above. The higher the octane rating is, the lower the chance of combustion taking place at the wrong time.
Why Is Gasoline Dyed?
There are several explanations behind these, and all are acceptable. Here are some of the most common reasons to use dye in gasoline.
Firstly, the tax rate depends on the colour. Several countries have a high tax rate on crystal clear or white gasoline. But the tax rate decreases when the gas is a dye with colour. So, the suppliers use the dye with the fuel to plummet the overall tax for ease of trade.
Secondly, determination of the grade of the gasoline. Many countries determine the grades, like India. Some countries determine the quality of the gas by adding colours. In India, the colour of kerosene is blue, and petrol is mild amber.
Thirdly, determination of the origin. Each country has its colours to determine gasoline. They use colour as their sign. Eventually, the source is easily detectable because of that.
Why Does Color Matter?
The colour of the gasoline matters specifically when you’re planning to store gasoline. Because you need to know the colour of bad gasoline and dispose of it when necessary. Pin it for later, we’ll talk about storing the fuel later.
Another point to be concerned about is using red-coloured gasoline. Although there are no particular laws about the colour of commercial gasoline, it’s supposed to be clear or have a bit of yellow tint to it.
In case, you notice that your gasoline is red-coloured, it means the fuel in a vehicle is illegal on roads. These fuels are used for machines (e.g generators, construction equipment, tractors) that are not driven on roads.
For this, ‘red diesel’ is also known as off-road diesel. Since you’re not using off-road diesel in vehicles that are driven on roads, you’re not bound to pay tax for it. And, that’s why red gasoline is cheaper than on-road diesel.
But this also means that you need to pay significant fines if you use off-road diesel in vehicles running on highways or other public roads. However, the rules aren’t that strict for government vehicles.
How To Determine If The Gasoline has Artificial Color?
If the gasoline has an artificial colour, you can detect it easily. First, take a white paper. After that, spill a drop of fuel on the paper. The fuel will start spreading immediately and evaporate. After a short while, the fuel will vaporize entirely and leave a mark on the paper. You can determine the colour of the fuel by seeing the paper. If there is no mark, there is no colour.
How Do I Know If The Gasoline Is Bad?
You can smell the gasoline or inspect its colour of it to determine if it’s bad. The smell of bad gasoline is not strong so you won’t find it bothering to breathe normally around it. And, the colour gets darkened in most cases.
Fresh gasoline is clear in colour with a bit of yellow hue but it changes to a dark red or brown colour when the gasoline degrades over time.
Once gasoline has gone bad, it’s unsafe to use it in any of your engines because the engine might run poorly or not start at all. Ignition problems can also occur if you use bad gasoline.
The shelf-life of gasoline isn’t long enough; it lasts up to 6 months. However, you can use different fuel stabilizers to extend the lifespan of gasoline.
What to Do When The Gasoline Has Gone Bad?
Of course, bad gas must be removed from your vehicle or the engine may damage by this fuel.
Moreover, bad fuel triggers water vapour entrance into the system which results in the corrosion of your tank and system. Pinging sound, engine stalling, rough idling, and difficulty starting up are some common effects of bad gasoline.
It’s best to take professional help to remove bad gasoline from your fuel tank. You can do it yourself as well. Here’s how:
- Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area so you don’t inhale the dangerous vapours of gasoline
- Now, get a siphon hand pump to get the gas out of the fuel tank.
- Use another item that will help you store and dispose of the oxidized gas.
- Start pumping out the gas and keep doing so until your fuel tank is empty.
- When you’re done siphoning out all the bad gas in your fuel tank, now find a government-approved site to dispose of it.
Do not ever throw away bad gas in lakes, drains, or trash cans. Instead, talk to the local waste department of your area and get the necessary information before taking any action.
Storage Tips for Gasoline
Since gasoline is a flammable liquid, you must be careful while storing it. Here are a few tips for you.
- Try to store gasoline in a garage or a shed or any place that’s separate from your house.
- Make sure you store gasoline at room temperature and keep it at enough distance from potential heat sources like a hot water heater or a furnace. You need to keep the gasoline a minimum of 50 feet away from the ignition sources to avoid any unwanted situation.
- Always handle gasoline outdoors for better ventilation.
- Make sure you don’t ever mix a tiny amount of diesel or kerosene with gasoline.
- It’s better to check for the rules and regulations on gasoline storage set by your local and state governments.
FAQs
1. What is the real colour of gasoline?
Answer: The primary colour of gasoline is clear, white or light amber with a reddish hue. After the gasoline is hunted from the mines, the supplier mixes colours to distinguish the grades of the gasoline. There is some gasoline which has a greenish hue like Ireland’s gasoline.
2. Does gas have a colour?
Answer: Yes, sometimes gasoline has a white or amber colour. There is also crystal-clear gasoline. Moreover, to determine the grade uses and origin, different countries use different colours. There are some exceptions like Ireland’s gasoline has a green hue to it. Australian gasoline has a yellowish hue.
2. Is gas yellow or clear?
Answer: The natural colour of gasoline is clear, white or amber. But Australian gasoline is different. It has a yellowish hue in it. Again the gasoline from Ireland has a green hue in it. Other than that, all the colours of gasoline from different regions are the same.
Conclusion
Eventually, now you can guess the meaning of the colors of gasoline and know what color is gasoline. When the gasoline is out of nature and at the first stage of usable, it is a clear or slight amber color. You can also count the colors as purity.
