India: Fuels: Diesel Fuel
Background
Indian Standard IS 1460 for diesel fuel was first published in 1959 and has seen several major revisions and many amendments. Early versions of the standard covered three grades: Grade A, Grade Special and Grade B. In 1974, this was narrowed down to two grades along with name changes: High Speed Diesel Fuel (HSD) and Light Diesel Oil (LDO).
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The 5th revision in 2005 removed LDO to a separate standard (IS 15770:2008), changed the nomenclature for HSD to Automotive Diesel, set the limits for Automotive Diesel to the BS II, defined target limits for BS III, enabled the incorporation of 5% biodiesel and through an amendment issued in 2010, defined BS IV limits.
The 6th revision in 2017 defined BS VI limits, removed BS II and BS III grades, increased the FAME limit to B7 and through a 2021 amendment, removed BS IV grades. BS VI transportation fuels are available to the whole of India as of April 2017 and apply exclusively from 1 April 2020. The 7th revision in 2025 introduced some changes to the BS VI grade that are discussed below.
IS 1460 Specifications
IS 1460:1995 Specification (2000)
India 2000 specifications for High Speed Diesel and Light Diesel Oil (corresponding to Euro 1) are listed in Table 1.
| Property | Unit | Specification | Test* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSD† | LDO‡ | |||
| Acidity, inorganic | Nil | Nil | P:2 | |
| Acidity, total, max | mg KOH/g | 0.20 | - | P:2 |
| Ash, max | % m/m | 0.01 | 0.02 | P:4 |
| Ramsbottom carbon on 10% Residue, max | % m/m | 0.30a | 1.5 | P:8 |
| Cetane number, min | 48b | - | P:9 | |
| Pour point**, max | °C | W: 3 S: 15 | W: 12 S: 21 | P:10 |
| Copper corrosion (3 h at 100°C), min | 1 | 1 | P:15 | |
| Distillation, max | °C | P:18 | ||
| - 85% vol. recovered | 350 | - | ||
| - 95% vol. recovered | 370 | - | ||
| Flash point, min | °C | |||
| - Abel | 35 | - | P:20 | |
| - Pensky-Martens | - | 66 | P:21 | |
| Kinematic viscosity @40°C | cSt | 2.0-5.0 | 2.5-15.7 | P:25 |
| Sediment, max | % m/m | 0.05 | 0.10 | P:30 |
| Density @15°C | kg/m3 | 820-860c | report | P:16, P:32 |
| Total sulfur, max | % m/m | 0.25 | 1.8 | P:33 |
| Water content, max | % v/v | 0.05 | 0.25 | P:40 |
| CFPP**, max | °C | W: 6 S: 18 | - | P:10 |
| Total sediments, max | mg/100 ml | 1.6 | - | |
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† High Speed Diesel (Automotive Diesel Fuel) ‡ Light Diesel Oil * Indian Standard IS 1448, Annex [P:] ** Winter starts on November 1, Summer starts on March 1 a - prior to cetane number improvers, if used b - 45 for fuels processed from Assam crude c - 820-870 for fuels processed from Assam crude |
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IS 1460:2005 Specification (BS II-IV)
Automotive diesel fuel specifications IS 1460:2005, including subsequent amendments, for Bharat Stages II through IV, corresponding to Euro 2-4, are summarized in Table 2. Inclusion of a maximum 5% biodiesel is accomplished by introducing an oxygen content limit.
| Property | Unit | Specification | Test* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS II | BS III | BS IV | |||
| Acidity, inorganic | Nil | Nil | Nil | P:2 | |
| Acidity, total, max | mg KOH/g | report | report | report | P:2 |
| Ash, max | % m/m | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | P:4, ISO 6245 |
| Ramsbottom carbon on 10% residue, max | % m/m | 0.30a | 0.30a | 0.30a | P:8, ISO 10370 |
| Cetane number, min | 48b,c | 51c | 51c | P:9, ISO 5165 | |
| Cetane index, min | 46b,c | 46c | 46c | ASTM D 4737, ISO 4264 | |
| Pour point**, max | °C | W: 3 S: 15 | W: 3 S: 15 | W: 3 S: 15 | P:10, ASTM D 5949, ASTM D 5950, ASTM D 5985 |
| Copper corrosion (3 h at 100°C), min | 1 | 1 | 1 | P:15, ISO 2160 | |
| Distillation, max | °C | P:18, ISO 3405 | |||
| - 85% vol. recovered | 350 | - | - | ||
| - 95% vol. recovered | 370 | 360 | 360 | ||
| Flash point, min | °C | ||||
| - Abel | 35 | 35 | 35 | P:20 | |
| - Pensky-Martens | 66 | 66 | 66 | P:21 | |
| Kinematic viscosity @40°C | cSt | 2.0-5.0 | 2.0-5.0 | 2.0-4.5 | P:25, ISO 3104 |
| Sediment, max | % m/m | 0.05 | - | - | P:30 |
| Density @15°C | kg/m3 | 820-860d | 820-845e | 820-845f | P:16, P:32, D 4052, ISO 3675, ISO 12185 |
| Total sulfur, max(g) | mg/kg | 500 | 350 | 50 | ISO 20846, ISO 20847, ISO 20884, P:83, ASTM D 5453, ASTM D 2622, ASTM D 4294, P:34 |
| Water content, max | % v/v mg/kg | 0.05 - | - 200 | - 200 | P:40, ISO 3733, ISO 6296 ISO 12937 |
| CFPP**, max | °C | W: 6 S: 18 | W: 6 S: 18 | W: 6 S: 18 | P:110, ASTM D 6371 |
| Total sediments, max | mg/100 ml | 1.5 | - | - | Annex A, ISO 11205, ASTM D 2274 |
| Oxidation stability, max | g/m3 | - | 25 | 25 | ISO 12205, ASTM D 2274 |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, max | % m/m | - | 11 | 11 | IP 391, EN 12916 |
| Lubricity (WSD 1.4) at 60°C, max | µm | 460 | 460 | 460 | ISO 12156-1/Cor 1 |
| Oxygen content, max(h) | % m/m | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | Annex B |
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* Indian Standard IS 1448, Annex [P:], ISO or ASTM ** Winter starts on November 1 in central and northern plains of India; Summer starts on March 1 a - prior to cetane number improvers, if used b - required to meet either the cetane number or cetane index limit c - relaxed by 3 units for fuels processed from Assam crude d - 820-870 for fuels processed from Assam crude e - 820-850 for fuels processed from Assam crude f - 820-855 for fuels processed from Assam crude g - for Automotive Diesel Fuel supplied to Indian Navy, the limit of sulfur shall be in agreement between the buyer and the supplier h - applicable only for Automotive Diesel Fuel blended with 5% biodiesel conforming to IS 15607 (the limit shall proportionately vary as and when the different blending percent of biodiesel is permitted). |
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