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As the 21st century has progressed, we've made significant strides in how we power our daily lives.

Electric cars have become a common sight on the road, and many homes and properties now use windmills and solar panels.

We're exploring alternative renewable energy sources, including some unusual ones, but we still have a long way to go before we can fully move away from fossil fuels.

Oil remains one of the most important resources in the world for many reasons.

From powering cars and trucks to helping create a range of medical products, crude oil is integral to our current way of life.

Despite this, there are still some gaps in public knowledge about it, especially when it comes to the differences between the fuels made from it.

Most people are familiar with gasoline, as it's used to power many common appliances and vehicles.

However, there can be some confusion when it comes to two of its contemporaries: diesel and kerosene.

So, what's the difference between diesel and kerosene? Even though they're somewhat alike, the differences are significant.

Between the two fuel sources, diesel is the one you're more likely to encounter in daily life than kerosene.

It's typically used in various vehicles such as delivery trucks, boats, buses, and similar machines, as well as generators containing diesel engines.

That's why it can be purchased at most gas stations.

Diesel fuel can fall into one of three categories.

Off-road or red diesel is for machinery and non-road-ready vehicles.

Truck diesel is geared toward long-haul trucks, and automobile diesel is for diesel-capable cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

Each involves different tax rates and exemptions, which, if not followed, can cause legal trouble.

Moving into the science behind diesel fuel, it is extracted from crude oil after kerosene, as extraction is based on the lowest to highest boiling point.

The boiling point of diesel sits at a maximum of approximately 675 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once extracted, it is used for heavier vehicles over gasoline for a few reasons.

It's much thicker and burns comparatively slower, thus fueling diesel engines effectively for longer periods and giving them the power they need to move more weight than the average gasoline engine.

While it's not necessarily rare or difficult to come across, kerosene isn't advertised in the same way as diesel.

That's because, unlike diesel, kerosene isn't a prime choice for powering a truck or similar large modes of transportation.

It can technically run a diesel engine, but due to a lack of lubrication, it can do more harm than good in the long run.

Rather, kerosene is better used for other appliances in need of fuel.

It has historically been used to power lamps, is a fuel source for room-sized heaters, and is used in the production of jet fuel.

Kerosene is extracted from crude oil before diesel, with a maximum boiling point of around 572 degrees Fahrenheit.

It can then be sorted into two varieties: Type 1 K for limited indoor use with a sulfur by weight content of 0.

04 percent, and Type 2 K for flue-equipped heaters and other appliances with 0.

30 percent sulfur by weight.

Overall, compared to diesel, it burns much cleaner and is less likely to gel under colder temperatures.

Additionally, kerosene is clear or a pale yellow color, while diesel can sometimes have a reddish shade.

With these details in mind, hopefully, it has become clearer what the differences are between diesel and kerosene in terms of their uses and scientific qualities.