Petrol or Gasoline?

[Paxo]

I've been wondering, probably because it's a bit too cold for bike riding, why petroleum spirit is known as petrol in the UK and gasoline in the US (and no doubt other countries). Was it a trade or brand name there? I know the derivation of petrol, it comes from petrology or the study of rocks, but where did the name gasoline come from? Any geologists or petroleum engineers out there?

[Phang]

Petrol or gasoline is fine for me until someone start saying “gas”

To make it worse, when someone say “the motor need more gas…”

I’ll interpret it as “an electric motor needs some kind of gas (hydrogen, oxygen… etc)

Phang

[contractor20]

Hey Phang a picture came to mind straight away of the ubiquitous self important, would be medical aid dispenser "Stand back eveyone the motor needs more air(gas)" when some one faints

[ghezzi]

I thought it was fuel, but what would I know, I just love "givin it the berries"

[StormShearon]

This one was interesting - http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/thedifferenttypes/a/gasolineorigins.htm

[roofus]

Brand names can become generic names quite easily.

In Britain loudspeakers are often called "Tannoys." In Canada, the headache medication asa is usually called "Aspirin."

Same thing with gasoline or "Gasserleen" as they call it around here (Lanark, Ontario.)

[Holt]

As everbody round here knows, "benzine" (locally written as "bensin") would be the proper word....

[appypaddy]

Gasoline originally referred to any liquid offered for sale, sold or used as the fuel for a gasoline-powered engine, but does not include diesel fuel or liquefied gas. Methanol racing fuel would have been classed as a type of gasoline.

[john zibell]

I don't care what you call it so long as it will make run what I put it into.

[Bill Hagan]

I don't care what you call it so long as it will make run what I put it into.

... and not deform and mar the tank.