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Learn about diesel fuel specifications of EN 590-compliant fuels. These fuels include road diesel and gas oil, also known as red diesel.
EN 590 governs the diesel fuels produced and supplied in the European Union member states and the UK. There are two different sets of specifications designed for both types of diesel variants, i.e.:
Let’s read these specifications for both types of diesel.
In the UK, it is compulsory for road diesel to be sold with a 7% blend of biodiesel to reduce overall emissions. EN 590 specifications for DERV are as follows:
Parameter | EN 590 ULSD | Unit |
% Vol Rec @ 250°C | 65.0 max | % v/v |
% Vol Rec @ 345°C | 85.0 min | % v/v |
95% Vol recovered | 360.0 | °C |
Appearance | Clear and bright, free from visible sediment and water. | – |
Ash Content | 0.01 max | % (m/m) |
Cetane index | 46 min | – |
Cetane number | 51 min | – |
Colour | 2.5 max | – |
Copper corrosion 3 hr @ 50°C | class I | – |
Density @ 15°C | 0.820 min – 0.835 max | kg/m³ |
Flashpoint (PMCC) | 56 min | °C |
Lubricity, Corrected water scar | 460 @ 60°C | µm |
Odour | Merchantable | – |
Oxidation stability | 2.5 max | mg/100ml |
Particulate matter | 24 max | mg/kg |
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | 11 max | % (m/m) |
Residue wt on 10% bottoms | 0.30 | % (m/m) |
Sulphur Content | 0.001 max | % (m/m) |
Viscosity CST @ 40°C | 2.0 min – 4.5 max | mm2/s |
Water Content | 200 max | mg/kg |
Winter | Cold filter plugging point | -15 max |
Summer | °C | -5 max |
Winter | °C | -5 max |
Summer | Cloud point | +3 max |
°C | ||
°C |
Gas oil is a red-dyed diesel with low tax rates. It is designed to facilitate stationary diesel engines and off-road vehicles. EN 590 specifications for red diesel are written below:
Parameter | Typical | Max | Min | Unit |
Appearance | Pass | Clear & bright, Cherry Red, Free from visible sediment. | ||
Ash content | <0.001 | 0.01 | – | % (m/m) |
Carbon | 87 | – | – | % (m/m) |
Carbon residue(Ramsbottom on 10% residue) | 0.1 | 0.3 | – | % (m/m) |
Cetane number | 48 | – | 45 | – |
Cold filter plugging point (1) Summer | -8 | -4 | – | °C |
Cold filter plugging point (1) Winter | -14 | -12 | – | °C |
Copper corrosion (3 hrs at 50°C) | 1a | 1 | – | Class |
Density at 15°C | 0.86 | – | 0.82 | kg/m³ |
Distillation recovery at 250°C | 42 | 65 | – | % (v/v) |
Distillation recovery at 350C | 92 | – | 85 | % (v/v) |
Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) | <0.1 | 7 | – | % (v/v) |
Flashpoint (PMCC) | >62 | – | 56 | °C |
Gross specific energy (MJ/kg) | 45.4 | – | – | MJ/kg |
Gross specific energy (MJ/litre) | 38.8 | – | – | MJ/litre |
Hydrogen | 12.75 | – | – | % (m/m) |
Kinematic viscosity at 40°C | 3 | 5.5 | 1.5 | mm²/s |
Lubricity (HFRR) | <460 | 460 | – | µm |
Mean specific heat capacity over 0 – 100°C | 2.05 | – | – | KJ/kg °C |
Nitrogen | 0.01 – 0.05 | – | – | % (m/m) |
Oxidation stability 0.0 – 7.0% FAME | – | 25 | – | g/m³ |
Oxidation stability 2.0 – 7.0% FAME | – | – | 20 | h |
Particulate content | <10 | 24 | – | mg/kg |
Strong acid number | nil | nil | – | mg KOH/g |
Sulphur content | <0.0015 | 0.002 | – | % (m/m) |
Volume correction factor | 0.00081 | – | – | per °C |
Water content | <100 | 200 | – | mg/kg |