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fuel oil
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Quick Facts
Also called:
furnace oil
Related Topics:
pour point
fuel
chemical product
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fuel oil

petroleum product
Also known as: furnace oil
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

fuel oil, fuel consisting mainly of residues from crude-oil distillation. It is used primarily for steam boilers in power plants, aboard ships, and in industrial plants. Commercial fuel oils usually are blended with other petroleum fractions to produce the desired viscosity and flash point. Flash point is usually higher than that of kerosene. The term fuel oil ordinarily does not include such fuels as kerosene.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.