How Much Does Diesel Fuel Weigh Per Gallon?

Fuel is the lubricant that keeps trucks on the road. If you want to haul profitable goods and keep your trucking firm afloat, you’ll need diesel fuel to get from point A to point B.

Although it’s a simple calculation, have you ever considered the intricacies of diesel fuel? Have you considered how much diesel fuel weighs? What’s the weight of a full tank of diesel fuel? Is there a difference in the weight of diesel based on the outside temperature? How does the weight of diesel fuel affect the weight of your truck, especially when it’s time to weigh it?

What is the weight of diesel fuel?

A gallon of diesel is approximately 7 pounds in weight. In the United States, diesel weighs somewhat less than 7 pounds per gallon (and slightly more than 7 pounds per gallon in Canada), but we’ll use 7 pounds per gallon to keep things simple.

What is the fuel weight of a full tank?

Semi-truck fuel tanks are available in a variety of sizes, but they typically store 125 to 300 gallons of petroleum. Each side of the tractor has a gasoline tank, with fuel apportioned between the two tanks to balance the truck’s total weight. Because diesel fuel weighs around 7 pounds per gallon, a full tank of diesel might weigh anywhere between 875 and 2,100 pounds.

Does the weight of diesel fuel change when it’s colder vs. warmer?

Yes, but it’s a teeny-tiny fraction of a percent. Take a look at this handy calculator. Let’s imagine the temperature is 16 degrees Fahrenheit and a gallon of diesel weighs 7.1 pounds. When the temperature is 106 degrees Fahrenheit, a gallon of diesel fuel weighs 6.8 pounds. Now set the temperature to 69 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a very pleasant temperature. The weight of a gallon of diesel fuel is 6.9 pounds. See? All of the differences are minor. Consider the following scenario: Depending on the size of the fuel tank, the temperature weight differential of diesel fuel will never be more than 10-50 pounds.

How much does a gallon of #2 diesel weigh?

2D, or Number 2 diesel, on the other hand, is the most popular type used in normal and warm weather circumstances and has a higher viscosity than 1D. It’s occasionally blended with 1D fuel to make a reliable winter fuel. Within the room temperature range of 59F to 76F, a gallon of 2D diesel fuel weights between 6.96 pounds and 6.91 lbs in some regions. A gallon of diesel weighs around 7.05 pounds at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Petroleum diesel, also known as fractional distillate, petrodiesel, or fossil diesel, is the most prevalent form and is produced by boiling or distilling crude oil to remove useless components.
  • Synthetic diesel is made out of carbonaceous materials such as biomass, biogas, natural gas, coal, and a variety of others. It is also known as biomass-to-liquid (BTL), gas-to-liquid (GTL), or coal-to-liquid (CTL). It also has a paraffinic type that has nearly no sulfur and very few aromatics, limiting uncontrolled emissions of hazardous gases. This type also includes DME (Dimethyl Ether), which is likewise environmentally favorable.
  • Biodiesel B5 has a long chain of fatty acids from vegetable oil or animal fats and is made up of 5% biodiesel and 95% normal diesel. Though most engines may run on mixes of up to 30%, B5 is the only biodiesel kind that meets manufacturer’s warranties and is controlled by the ASTM D6571 standard.
  • Green diesel, often known as hydrogenated oil and fats, is a hybrid of synthetic and biodiesel. Unlike biodiesel, however, it employs a refining and hydrogenation process to convert vegetable and animal fats into alkanes. Many of its characteristics are comparable to those of synthetic diesel.
  • The S15, S500, and S5000 varieties of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) were utilized on roads until 2006 and off-road until 2014, but are now being phased out due to environmental concerns. Only S15 ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is left, and it will be mandatory by 2014. In Sweden, the MK-1 (class 1 environmental diesel) is the more expensive variety.
  • Marine diesel fuel comes in a variety of forms. Its MGO (marine gas oil) type is the same as 2D fuel derived from distillate.

Finally, 4D or Number 4 diesel is utilized for stationary units and low-/medium-speed engines such as train locomotives and power generators that operate at a steady speed. 1D and 2D diesel have a density of 59.9 lb/ft3 or 8 pounds per gallon, whereas 4D diesel has a density of 59.9 lb/ft3 or 8 pounds per gallon.

What is the weight of 100 gallons of diesel?

To make things easy, we like to round off the weight of diesel fuel. When estimating the weight, use the round number of 7 lb. per gallon…. The weight of a hundred gallons is 700 lbs.

It weighs a little more than 7 lb. per gallon in Canada, as the gallon is larger, a little less than 7 lb. per gallon in the U.S., but it is a safe round, easy number to work with when doing a little ‘mental math’.

Does diesel fuel have a higher density than gasoline?

We’ve also witnessed the opposite: one of our clients put gasoline directly into one of his tractor’s diesel fuel tanks by accident. He wanted to know whether there would be any issues.

If you work in the fuel industry long enough, you’ll come across a situation like this at some point. Mixing gasoline with diesel is never a good idea, but it isn’t always a disaster. The most important factor is how much of each you unintentionally added. If that happens to you, here’s what you may expect.

Big Differences between gasoline and diesel fuel

When we talk about diesel fuel, we’re talking about #2 diesel fuel, whether it’s for on-road or off-road use.

When attempting to foresee what problems might occur if one fuel is mistakenly mixed with the other, you must consider the most significant distinctions between the two fuels.

Because diesel fuel is made up of big molecules, it is heavier than gasoline. Because of the difference in density and viscosity, it atomizes differently. It also has a much greater flash point and autoignition temperature. And, given these, the inverse can be applied as well. Gasoline is lighter than diesel and flashes at a lower temperature.

When you bring in fuel that isn’t supposed to be there, these variations in physical qualities cause difficulties in engines and fuel systems.

Is diesel heavier when it’s cold?

The variety of components that make up each of these energy sources is the key difference between gasoline and diesel.

Diesel molecules are much bigger and compact nicely against one another, giving it a dense substance.

A gallon of gasoline weighs around 6.2 pounds on average. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, has a slightly higher average density of 6.9 pounds per gallon. More energy = denser fuel, sounds simple enough! However, it is this “compaction” property that is the undoing of diesel fuel use in cold weather.

How much does a gallon of water weigh?

What is the weight of a gallon of water? This is one of the questions that many people avoid or answer incorrectly. The answer to this topic has been estimated to be between 5 and 15 pounds by some. Some people, in an attempt to be clever, have framed it as a difficult issue with no definitive solution. Others will even inquire about the water’s temperature. The weight of water was originally defined as 1 kg/liter. The definition was dropped, however, because the density of water is altered by temperature and air pressure. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.3 pounds, therefore the solution is clear. The maximum density of an imperial gallon of water is 10.02 pounds, but the weight of a US dry gallon of water is 9.71 pounds. The response, however, comes with a proviso. Temperature affects the weight per gallon of water.

Which is heavier, diesel fuel or water?

Because water is denser than fuel, it always sinks to the bottom of the tanks. Condensation of water in diesel fuel storage tanks is a prevalent issue. The longer the fuel is held, the worse the situation becomes.

Is a gallon of milk or a gallon of water heavier?

No, this is not the case. Because of the fat content in milk, a gallon of milk weighs heavier than a gallon of water.

Only 87 percent of a gallon of milk is water; the rest is made up of lipids, protein, carbohydrate (lactose), minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins. That’s a lot of extra bits and pieces.

In fact, 250 chemical compounds have been discovered in milk, which is a lot of extra stuff that will alter its overall weight.

What is the weight of a gallon of off-road diesel?

If you own a trucking company, you know that you rely on diesel fuel to get from point A to point B every day; you also know that weighing your vehicle is part of the job.

But do you realize how much your diesel fuel weighs and how it affects your hauling strategy? Here’s a quick Q&A about diesel weights to get you started.

A. Semi-truck fuel tanks normally hold 125 to 300 gallons of diesel fuel, which means a full tank of diesel fuel weighs between 875 and 2,100 pounds.

Yes, but barely a smidgeononononononononononononononononon (check out this calculator if you want to see how much). At 16F, a gallon of diesel weighs 7.1 pounds; at 106F, the same gallon weighs 6.8 pounds. To put it another way, even in the worst-case situation (largest tank, greatest temperature shift), the weight differential due to temperature change will never be more than 50 pounds.

A. Before stepping onto the scales, always consider the amount of fuel you’re carrying. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of overestimating your truck’s weight so you don’t get a penalty for exceeding the legal limit.

A. Single axles are limited to 20,000 pounds by federal standards, whereas axles located between 40 and 96 inches apart (tandem axles) are limited to 34,000 pounds. The maximum gross vehicle weight is 80,000 pounds.

Does diesel have a shelf life?

The shelf life of stored diesel used to be measured in years, but now it is measured in months. Diesel fuel deteriorates over time, it’s a reality. Water, oxygen, and warmth all help to speed up the natural process of good fuel going bad.