Why do Americans call petrol 'gas'

Originally posted by makinit66
reply to post by 46ACE

 

I thought parafin was wax.....hmmm? spelling?

itis to the u.s. but (I ibelieve) its "kersosene" overseas.Perhaps Europeans can validate that one for me..
ne;'er mind:I satisfied myself!( I often do...)

Paraffin
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For the fuel called "paraffin" in the United Kingdom and South Africa, see Kerosene. For other uses, see Paraffin (disambiguation).

In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the liquid phase past appro

en.wikipedia.org...

Originally posted by Akragon
Heres one....

Why do brits call trucks Laurie's?

edit on 22-5-2011 by Akragon because: (no reason given)

"lorries":

You folks see this one yet?

because he said(let us confuse their language),but he did not have to do it.
we have prooved ourselves to be real experts .it is worse than picking the lotto wheel.

I call it fuel, alot.

Here is a shocker. I even call it petrol.

Is this another basher thread?

reply to post by liejunkie01


Well I hope not. I didnt take it that way I enjoy "hearing" our differences, life would be boring if we were all the same.

Not to sound like a grump
but why not just type the op's question into google verses start a thread about it? yes, as suggested, gas is short for gasoline, which is a petrolium product used to fuel cars...now seriously...such basic questions can be googled effectively...we aren't trying to recreate yahoo answers here (at least I don't think ATS is)

because we think we're special.

Originally posted by 46ACE

Originally posted by Akragon
Heres one....

Why do brits call trucks Laurie's?

edit on 22-5-2011 by Akragon because: (no reason given)

"lorries":

erm... thanks!

So why?

because he said what he said and we improoved.
that's how corruption kreeps in.(anywheher,any language).

s&f for op.question simple???not that simple!!!

reply to post by Idonthaveabeard


Well because petrol aka petroleum aka crude oil is not what you put into your car.
Gasoline is made from crude oil via distillation in a oil refinery. Various additives are added to the gas depending on what it will be used in btw.

Hence Petrol != Gasoline.

And that's why we call it gas.

What the heck is mash?

but we speak American here and you guys speak Kings English.

The english accent is oddly erotic to me....but you get an australin accent and holy smokes....

Originally posted by showintail
Lmbo! Why do you call it "petrol"?
Gas is short for gasoline? Other than that I have no clue

Because my mom called it gas?

Petrol is short for Petrolium.
Diesel is Diesel.

What do Americans call Diesel? Is it the same?

Originally posted by Chukkles

Originally posted by showintail
Lmbo! Why do you call it "petrol"?
Gas is short for gasoline? Other than that I have no clue

Because my mom called it gas?

Petrol is short for Petrolium.
Diesel is Diesel.

What do Americans call Diesel? Is it the same?

Yes, diesel is diesel, unless you meant Vin Diesel, we just call him sexy

Petrol is actualy short for Petrolium Distillate.

second

Does it matter

You guys call cigarettes fags...why is that?

Just sayin

I will say I love the way men talk from the UK. I met some Royal Navy guys at work and my god their accent and wordage was pretty hot lol but I would think for the ladies in the UK it's no big deal. It seems like they talk more proper to women than they do here. I liked it

Originally posted by FanarFanar
Petrol is actualy short for Petrolium Distillate.

second

edit on 23-5-2011 by FanarFanar because: (no reason given)

spelling police emergency
"petroleum"
( Jesus its like nails on a chalkboard around here sometimes...)

We call gas...gas...because it is the shortened terminology for gasoline....

Originally posted by Akragon

Originally posted by 46ACE

Originally posted by Akragon
Heres one....

Why do brits call trucks Laurie's?

edit on 22-5-2011 by Akragon because: (no reason given)

"lorries":

erm... thanks!

So why?

for the same reason they call a "baby carriage" a "'pram" ( I think that one is short for "perambulator")
because they created the language; they can "do what they want"(apologies to " eric cartman").....

Because a trunk is actually a built in trunk and a hood is actually a hood for the open motor and a boot and a bonnet are kept in the closet?

Answer? be cause we are right. Its that simple.