Do you want to know what color gasoline is? Gasoline, gas, in short, also known as petrol in Europe or Asia, is one of the world’s most used fuels.
Gasoline is a liquid fuel for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. The question, what color is gasoline, may have often crossed your mind. It is a mixture of octane and heptane, and when unleaded, it is translucent or colorless in appearance. But does it always stay colorless?
Regular gasoline is green or blue, whereas mid-grade one is yellow, and the top-tier premium one is pink in appearance. However, if you store your gasoline in a poor environment for more than a month, it may go wrong!
Around 390.98 million gallons are used in America every single day! Just imagine that incredible volume. But, is all used gasoline the same?
This might surprise you, but the answer is no.
If all the types were identical, all of them would have had the same color. But, that is certainly not the case.
Here in this guide, we’ll talk about what color is gasoline, the different types of this renowned fuel, how to identify them, talk a little bit about stored gas, and most importantly, why you should be aware of all these.
So, let’s delve right in!
What color is original gasoline?
What we use every day in the name of gasoline is a filtered substance originating from something bigger called crude oil. Several substances such as kerosene, diesel, lubricant oil, fuel oil come from it.
We all have this preemptive idea that crude oil is pitch black. This is massively wrong!
Crude oil is not black. It is a combination of black and dark brown. In some cases, it also appears as red or green, depending on where it is coming from.
Manufacturers boil crude oil to segregate the different substances mixed in it. In this process, it gives the byproducts and loses the original color.
Long story short, pure gasoline comes in colorless in appearance like that of water. In fact, it should be whiter or less transparent than water.
The one you put in your car is supposed to be colorless and crystal-like water. But there is a catch!
Why gasoline colors vary?
You probably noticed the gas you use is not colorless.
Why?
This is because it has many usages, variations, ratings, etc. For easier labeling and identification, manufacturers add fuel dyes.
This color addition prevents confusion and unwanted mishaps among various producers, sellers, consumers, and applications.
Since the pure form is colorless like water, testing for unwanted water contamination in the pure form of the fuel would have been virtually impossible.
What are the different types of gasoline?
According to the manufactures ratings, gas is divided into three broad categories. The rating refers to the degree of compression the fuel can resist before giving in to combustion.
Here are the three categories of gasoline:
Regular gasoline (87 Octane-Rating)
What color is regular gas? Regular gasoline has a greenish or bluish tint to it.
The rating of this category is 87. The chance of mistimed combustion is the highest with this one.
This type cannot provide the highest performance for your vehicle. However, it is the standard go-to option for anyone. If you are on a low-budget, this is the wisest option.
While your vehicle will not thrive on this fuel, it will get you from point A to point B. That’s what a fuel serves to do, right?
Midgrade gasoline (89 Octane Rating)
Also known as mid-grade gasoline, it has an octane level of 89. Mid-grade gasoline has a yellowish appearance.
This is a relatively expensive type of gasoline. The reliability of the combustion is higher.
Premium gasoline (90+ Octane Rating)
This is the best type of gasoline. Usually appearing to be pink in color, it is the best fit because this gasoline is highly efficient and produces optimal performance.
For a better outcome, you need this fuel in your vehicle.
For vehicles with turbo-chargers or high compression ratios, premium-grade gasoline or Octane 92 is the best fit.
If your engine has high compression ratios or comes with turbochargers, premium quality is the fuel you should purchase.
Color of different types of gasoline
Each grade has its characteristics and colors too!
87/regular/unleaded is usually green or greenish. Sometimes it also comes with a slight hint of blue. Meanwhile, 89 or midgrade ones are yellowish in appearance. Additionally, they can also vary from transparent to shades of yellow.
Lastly, premium qualities are pink in color. In some cases, it also gives off a pinkish hue.
Also, these are not always fixed. The colors can change depending on the manufacturer and the extent of additives in it. Different manufacturers add different degrees of additives, stabilizers, etc.
Since the original gasoline is identical in appearance, the uniqueness arises due to the additives.
What color is gasoline mixed with oil?
This is one of the most common issues that arises now and then. Now, the thing is, the assessment of the whole situation depends on your hunch. It is a matter of extreme subjectivity.
However, we can say that if the gas was mixed with oil, it would appear darker than the original gas. We cannot pinpoint what color it would appear because of the different color and composition it comes with.
We can say that the new, tempered mixture will have a darker and bolder color than the regular fuel color.
Occasionally, you’ll notice the oil-mixture has a solid blue or green color. Gas typically has light colors. The intense bold color should be enough to identify whether the gas has been mixed with oil.
Other ways to find out
There are also a few other tricks to get it done.
For example, the smell of oil-mixed gasoline is not the same as regular. Take a can of original gas and the mixture sample and compare the scent.
You can also pour both the original gas and mixture gas on a white sheet of paper. The genuine fuel would evaporate, leaving no strains. Meanwhile, the one with the oil will leave an oily outline on the paper.
Lastly, pour the mixture into a transparent container and leave it for a while. You’ll notice the oil will gradually accumulate and sink in the container.
What color is unleaded gasoline?
Nowadays, unleaded gasoline has been a hot topic in this industry. What is it? What is the color of it? Today, we will be debunking all these as well.
What is unleaded gasoline?
First of all, it does not have any lead in it. For a term that sounds fancy and frequently used, it is straightforward in real life.
In the old days, lead was added with fuel for enhancement. Later, it was found out that leaded fuel contributed to pollution, and it was banned.
Today, unleaded gas prevails everywhere. RUG – regular unleaded gas – is the commonly used gas now. It has a rating of 87 and the cheaper choice.
The color of unleaded gasoline is green/greenish/bluish hint.
Why is it important to know what color is gasoline?
Having so many colors in the big picture can often compel someone to ask, does gasoline color matter at all?
Well, it depends on where you are getting your gas from.
If you are at a gas station, then it doesn’t matter because you are getting the fresh one. This is the best quality to get for your car, and the color doesn’t play any part since it is fresh.
However, the scenario is different when it comes to storing gasoline. You need to pay close attention and regular monitoring when it comes to storing gasoline.
When you store, it is in the best interest to use it as soon as possible. Regardless of the dye used in the fuel, it will be transparent-like, initially.
As time progresses, you will notice some gradual change in the stored fuel. The difference is due to the process of oxidation. During oxidation, a substance chemically combines with oxygen.
The stored fuel will turn from the original color to yellow to a brownish hue. You will also notice that the fresh smell has also changed to a sour scent.
If you see the gasoline has turned orange, then carefully discard it. Get a new dose for your precious ride.
Why keep an eye out on the color of stored gasoline?
When you store gasoline, it slowly changes its characteristics. When you notice such features taking place, we recommend not using the stored fuel.
The reason is that it will harm your vehicle and give rise to a lot of issues. Some of the problems are:
- Vehicle-ignition problem
- Case of poor acceleration
- Possibility of engine damage
Gasoline color chart
The chart below summarizes the findings of what color should gasoline be. It should make it easier for you to understand the color differences and further facilitate your decision in choosing the friendliest fuel for your car engine.
| Sl# | Name of Fuel | Color |
| 1 | Fresh or unleaded gas | Colorless or yellow |
| 2 | Octane-87 (regular) | Green or blue |
| 3 | Octane-89 (midgrade) | Yellow |
| 4 | Octane-92 (premium) | Pink |
| 5 | Octane-100 (aviation) | Blue |
| 6 | Gasoline and oil | Bluish-green |
| 7 | Bad gas | Orange or Brownish-black |
Final words
Putting the wrong kind of gas can also harm your vehicle. Not to mention, a wrong expensive purchase can jeopardize your wallet too.
The color of gasoline tells you what category of gas you are buying. It gives you space to evaluate whether you are feeding your vehicle the appropriate fuel or not.
