Diesel Fuels

In the United States, diesel fuel is controlled according the American Society for Testing
and Materials Standard D975-97. This standard descries a limited numer of !ro!erties
that diesel fuels must meet. It should e noted that the re"uirements are all !erformance-
ased. They do not mandate the com!osition of the fuel, only the s!ecific !erformance
related re"uirements demanded of a fuel for a diesel engine. The re"uirements of D975-
97 are descried elo#.
ASTM S!ecifications for Diesel $uel %ils &D975-97'
Diesel fuel is characteri(ed in the United States y the ASTM standard D 975. This
standard identifies fi)e grades of diesel fuel descried elo#.
Grade No. 1-D and Low Sulfur 1-D* A light distillate fuel for a!!lications re"uiring a
higher )olatility fuel for ra!idly fluctuating loads and s!eeds as in light truc+s and uses.
The s!ecification for this grade of diesel fuel o)erla!s #ith +erosene and ,et fuel and all
three are commonly !roduced from the same ase stoc+. %ne ma,or use for -o. .-D
diesel fuel is to lend #ith -o. /-D during #inter to !ro)ide im!ro)ed cold flo#
!ro!erties. 0o# sulfur fuel is re"uired for on-high#ay use #ith sulfur le)el 1 2.253.
Grade No. 2-D and Low Sulfur 2-D* A middle distillate fuel for a!!lications that do not
re"uire a high )olatility fuel. Ty!ical a!!lications are high-s!eed engines that o!erate for
sustained !eriods at high load. 0o# sulfur fuel is re"uired for on-high#ay use #ith sulfur
le)el 1 2.253.
Grade No. 4-D* A hea)y distillate fuel that is )iscous and may re"uire fuel heating for
!ro!er atomi(ation of the fuel. It is used !rimarily in lo# and medium s!eed engines.
ASTM D975 s!ecifies the !ro!erty )alues sho#n in Tale / for these grades of diesel
fuel. The sur!rising as!ect aout ASTM D 975 is ho# fe# re"uirements are actually
included. The standard says nothing aout the com!osition of the fuel or its source. It
only defines some of the !ro!erty )alues needed to !ro)ide acce!tale engine o!eration
and safe storage and trans!ortation.
Requirements for Diesel Fuel Oils (AS! D "#$-"#%
4rade 4rade 4rade 4rade 4rade
5ro!erty 0S 6. 0S 6/ -o. .-D -o. /-D -o. 7-D
$lash !oint 8, min 9: 5/ 9: 5/ 55
;ater and sediment, 3
)ol, ma<.

2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.52
Distillation tem!., 8,
923

Min. -- /:/ -- /:/ --
Ma<. /:: 99: /:: 99: --
=inematic >iscosity,
mm
/
?s at 728
Min. ..9 ..9 ..9 ..9 5.5
Ma<. /.7 7.. /.7 7.. /7.2
@amsottom caron
residue,

on .23, 3mass, ma<. 2..5 2.95 2..5 2.95 --
Ash, 3 mass, ma<. 2.2. 2.2. 2.2. 2.2.
2..2

Sulfur, 3 mass, ma< 2.25 2.25 2.52 2.52
/.22

8o!!er stri! corrosion,
Ma< 9 hours at
528
-o. 9 -o. 9 -o. 9 -o. 9 --
8etane -umer, min. 72 72 72 72 92
%ne of the follo#ing
5ro!erties must e met*
&.' cetane inde< 72 72 -- -- --
&/' Aromaticity,
3 )ol, ma< 95 95 -- -- --