Diesel Fuel is a specific distillate fraction of fuel oil that is used in diesel
engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel, and perfected by Charles F.
Kettering. Overwhelmingly the term refers to fuel that is processed from
petroleum, but increasingly, alternatives such as biodiesel that are not derived
form petroleum are being developed.
Diesel is identical to heating oil, used in central heating. In both Europe and
the United States taxes on diesel fuel are higher than on heating oil, and in
those areas, heating oil is marked with dye and trace chemicals to prevent and
detect tax fraud. In the UK it is known as red diesel, and is also used by
agricultural vehicles.
