Log in | Subscribe

Fuel Regulations

Canada: Fuels: Biodiesel Fuel (archived)

This summary covers the historical Canadian biodiesel standards that are no longer in effect—they have been replaced by standards for B100 used as a blending component and by standards for blends of diesel and biodiesel up to B20.

In Canada, CAN/CGSB-3.520 establishes specifications for blends of automotive diesel fuel containing low levels of Biodiesel Esters (blends from B1 to B5), Table 1. Most of the requirements mirror those of the automotive diesel fuel specification, CAN/CGSB-3.517. The B1-B5 standard requires that the biodiesel component blended into the fuel meets either ASTM D6751 or EN 14214. A specification for blends with B6 to B20 is being developed.

Table 1
CAN/CGSB-3.517 & CAN/CGSB-3.520 biodiesel blend (B1-B5) specifications
PropertyValueTest Method
Flash point, min> 40°CD 93 or D 3828
Water and sediment, max0.05% volD 1796 (mod.) or D 2709
Distillation T90, maxType A: 290.0°C
Type B: 360.0°C
D 86
Kinematic viscosityType A: 1.30 - 3.60 mm2/s
Type B: 1.70-4.10 mm2/s
D 445
Ash, max0.010% wtD 482
Sulfur, max0.05% wtD2622 or D5453 or CAN/CGSB-3.0 No. 16.0
Cooper strip corrosion, maxNo. 1D 130
Cetane number, min40.0D 613
Electrical conductivity, min25 pS/mD 2624
Low-temperature flow, one of:
- cloud point
- wax appearance point
- LTFT
Location & season dependentD 2500 or D 5773 D 3117 CAN/CGSB-3.0 No. 140.1
Carbon residue, maxType A: 0.10% wt
Type B: 0.16% wt
D 4530
Acid number, max0.10 mg KOH/gD 974
LubricityWhen operability temp. < -20°C min. lubricity requirement must be met. Several options are available to measure lubricity.SAE952370 or SAE981363 or SAE961944 or D6079 or D6078