EU: Fuels: Reference Diesel Fuel
Road Vehicles
Specifications for reference (certification, homologation) fuels for both light-duty [Directive 1998/69/EC] and heavy-duty vehicles [Directive 1999/96/EC] introduced a sulfur limit of 300 ppm effective year 2000 (Euro 3) and 50 ppm from 2005 (Euro 4), Table 1.1.
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In October 2002, the sulfur specification for Euro 4 type approvals of light-duty vehicles was lowered to 10 ppm, Table 1.2 [Directive 2002/80/EC]. Since the Euro 5/6 stage, the reference fuel contains 5% FAME biodiesel, Table 1.3 [Regulation 692/2008].
Reference fuel specifications for heavy-duty diesel engines at the Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V stages are listed in Table 1.4 [Directive 2005/55/EC]. The proposed specification for Euro VI, which introduces a 7% FAME content, is summarized in Table 1.5.
Property | Unit | Specification | Test | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Min | Max | |||
Cetane Number | 52 | 54 | ISO 5165 | |
Density @15°C | kg/m3 | 833 | 837 | ISO 3675 |
Distillation (vol. % recovered) | °C | ISO 3405 | ||
- 50% point | 245 | - | ||
- 95% point | 345 | 350 | ||
- final boiling point | - | 370 | ||
Flash point | °C | 55 | - | EN 22719 |
CFPP | °C | - | -5 | EN 116 |
Viscosity @40°C | mm2/s | 2.5 | 3.5 | ISO 3104 |
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | % wt. | 3.0 | 6.0 | IP 391, EN 12916 |
Sulfur contenta | mg/kg | - | 300* | ISO/DIS 14596 |
Copper corrosion | - | Class 1 | ISO 2160 | |
Conradson carbon residue (10% DR) | % wt. | - | 0.2 | ISO 10370 |
Ash content | % wt. | - | 0.01 | ISO 6245 |
Water content | % wt. | - | 0.05 | ISO 12937 |
Neutralization (strong acid) number | mg KOH/g | - | 0.02 | ASTM D974-95 |
Oxidation stability | mg/ml | - | 0.025 | ISO 12205 |
* sulfur limit of 50 mg/kg effective 2005 (Euro 4) a - the actual sulfur content must be reported |
Nonroad Vehicles
Specifications for reference diesel fuel for the type approval and conformity testing of Stage I/II nonroad mobile diesel engines are listed in Table 2.1 [Directive 97/68/EC].
Reference fuel specifications for Stage III/IV testing are listed in Table 2.2 [Directive 2004/26/EC, Directive 2010/26/EC].
Property | Unit | Specification | Test | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Min | Max | |||
Cetane Number | 45 | 50 | ISO 5165 | |
Density @15°C | kg/m3 | 835 | 845 | ISO 3675, ASTM D4052 |
Distillation, 95% v/v recovered | °C | - | 370 | ISO 3405 |
Viscosity @40°C | mm2/s | 2.5 | 3.5 | ISO 3104 |
Sulfur | % wt. | 0.10a | 0.20b | EN 24260, ISO 8754 |
Flash Point | °C | 55 | - | IO 2719 |
CFPP | °C | - | +5°C | EN 116 |
Copper corrosion | - | Class 1 | ISO 2160 | |
Conradson carbon residue (10% DR) | % wt. | - | 0.3 | ISO 10370 |
Ash | % wt. | - | 0.01 | ISO 6245 |
Water content | % wt. | - | 0.05 | ASTM D95, D1744 |
Neutralization (strong acid) number | mg KOH/g | - | 0.20 | ASTM D974 |
Oxidation stability | mg/100 ml | - | 2.5 | ASTM D2274 |
Additivesc | Not allowed | |||
a - engines with no exhaust gas aftertreatment can be approved using 0.05% S fuel, in which case PM emissions are corrected upward by calculation. Production conformity testing must be conducted using fuel of 0.10-0.20% S level. b - higher values are permitted, in which case the sulfur level must be reported. c - fuel should be based on straight run and cracked hydrocarbon distillate. Desulfurization is allowed. Metallic or cetane improver additives are not allowed. |