Tag: Fuel composition

Despite the surprising prevalence of this question, standard fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel contain exactly zero protein. The query often stems from a confusion between chemical fuels and nutritional products, but the fundamental chemical difference means they have nothing in common.

A 2011 study by UCLA researchers demonstrated the feasibility of using proteins as a raw material for biofuel, but for most common fuels, the answer is a simple zero. The average driver puts no protein into their car's engine when they fill up the tank. How much protein is in fuel, and why is this the case for traditional petroleum products? The simple composition of fossil fuels and the complex nature of proteins provide a clear chemical explanation for this fundamental difference.

The average barrel of crude oil yields about 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel, a petroleum product derived through industrial refining. The nonsensical query "is diesel grass-fed" often arises from confusion between unrelated products, such as a similarly-named whey protein supplement and actual engine fuel. This article will deconstruct this common misconception, clarifying the vast differences between fossil fuels and agricultural food products.