Fuel Oil

• The first energy source to be extracted by fractioning is fuel oil. This is a very low grade of crude oil and is used for large machinery in ships and power stations. Fuel oil is used as much for lubrication as for fuel. Fuel oil is characterized as being very viscous, or thick. It is also non-flammable unless it is put under pressure.
  
  

Diesel Oil

• Diesel oil is the second source of energy extracted during the processing of crude oil. It is used to power buses, heavy trucks, machinery and some cars. In some parts of the world, such as Africa, diesel oil is also commonly used as a power source for electricity generation. Diesel is less viscous than fuel oil, but still requires high pressures to ignite.
  
  

Kerosene

• Kerosene, the third fuel extracted from crude, is used as both a fuel for heat and in airplane fuel. This is the first product out of the fractioning process that is actually flammable under normal conditions. In the past, kerosene has been used to power cars. Kerosene has also been used in rocket fuel and helped power the Saturn 5 rocket.
  
  

Gasoline

• Gasoline, or petroleum, is the last liquid fuel to be produced from processing crude oil. Gasoline is very flammable is most commonly used as automobile fuel. Because a gasoline engine does not need to withstand the extreme pressures a diesel engine withstands, lighter materials can be used to make the engine. These lighter materials improve efficiency and performance.
  
  

Gases

• The last fuel out of the fractioning process is petroleum gas. Petroleum gas is bottled under pressure to create Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG. Different types of LPG are used as fuel for a variety of purposes, from camping equipment to cigarette lighters and vehicles. These gases also include the likes of propane and butane gas.