ASTM Limits for Diesel Fuel
The American Society of Testing and Materials is responsible for setting the standards by which commercial fuel quality is measured. Refineries are required to incorporate these limits into their production specifications and resellers are inspected by state and federal agencies to make sure that these specifications are maintained.
The following table documents the limits for the five categories of diesel fuel defined by ASTM.
|
ASTM D975 Requirements for Diesel Fuel |
|
Property |
Test Method |
Low Sulfur # 1-D |
# 1-D |
Low Sulfur
# 2-D |
# 2-D |
# 4-D |
|
Flash, ° F, min |
D 93 |
100 |
100 |
126 |
126 |
131 |
|
Water and sediment, % volume, max |
D 2709
D 1796
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
0.50
|
|
Distillation temp °F @ 90% recovered
min
max |
D 86
|
550
|
550
|
540
640 |
540
640 |
NR
|
|
Viscosity, 104° F, cSt
min
max |
D 445
|
1.3
2.4
|
1.3
2.4
|
1.9
4.1
|
1.9
4.1
|
5.5
24.0
|
|
Ash, % max |
D 482 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.1 |
|
Sulfur, % max |
D 2622 |
0.05 |
0.5 |
0.05 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
|
Copper Strip Corrosion, 3 hr at 122° F max |
D 130
|
No. 3
|
No. 3
|
No. 3
|
No.3
|
NR
|
|
Cetane #, min |
D 613 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
30 |
Cetane #, min or
Aromaticity, % vol, max |
D 976
D 1319 |
40
35 |
NR
|
40
35 |
NR
|
NR
|
|
Ramsbottom 10% dist. carbon residue |
D 524
|
0.15
|
0.15
|
0.35
|
0.35
|
NR
|
NR = Not Required
