Re: a litre of which would provide more power petrol or diesel?

Dear Paul

See this reference:

About different fuels...
Diesel, has a slightly higher calorific value (about 16000 Calories per 
LB of fuel) than Petrol does. But it has a very low Octane rating, 
meaning it "self ...
www.tuning.wanadoo.co.uk/fuels.htm - 25k - Cached - Similar pages


The petrol sold at the pump to motorists gives slightly less calories per 
pound and the Diesel engine is not quite so inefficient as the petrol 
engine, partly because it uses a higher compression ratio.
With Diesel fuel you get more pounds per litre:-

Let's Talk about Diesel | Petrol and Diesel Delivering Quality ...
Like petrol, diesel is a mixture of many different hydrocarbons, but it 
is heavier ... the cetane number, cetane index, viscosity and density of 
the diesel ...
www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____10259.aspx - 40k - 

The Diesel engine has traditionally been much heavier than the petrol 
engine, and that is why it has seldom been used in racing cars. But with 
modern lighter designs and new materials we now have at least one 
aeroplane that is diesel-powered.

David