Australia: Fuels: Diesel and Gasoline

Australia: Fuels: Diesel and Gasoline

Overview

Diesel fuel in Australia are subject to parameters on contents that both affect the environment (such as sulfur and hydrocarbons) and that affect the operability of the engine (such as carbon residue and sediments). Gasoline is subject to similar standards with slightly different parameters. Both standard types have been in place since 2001.

Standard type
National fuel quality standards

Current Standard

Diesel: Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 (10ppm sulfur as of 1 Jan 2009)

Petrol: Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 (50ppm sulfur as of 1 Jan 2008)

History

Fuel quality in Australia is regulated by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Key regulatory instruments are the Fuel Quality Standards Act (2000) and the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations (2001).

The Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities maintains all information related to fuel quality (including diesel, petrol, autogas, and biofuel quality) on their fuel quality website.

Technical Standards

 

Diesel

Two groups of standards are applicable to diesel fuels:

  • Environmental Standards regulate fuel parameters that have a direct impact on the environment.
  • Operability Standards address those parameters of diesel that do not have a direct impact on emissions but, if not controlled, can have adverse impacts on the efficient operation of the engine.

Australia’s environmental and operability standards for diesel fuels are summarized below. Complete information is available at the Australian government’s diesel fuel quality page.

Diesel Fuel Standards
Parameter Standard Test Method Date
Environmental Standards
Sulfur, max 500 ppm ASTM 5453 31 Dec 2002
50 ppm 1 Jan 2006
10 ppm 1 Jan 2009
Cetane Index, min 46 ASTM D4737 1 Jan 2002
Density 820 – 860 kg/m3 ASTM D4052 1 Jan 2002
820 – 850 kg/m3 1 Jan 2006
Distillation T95, max 370°C ASTM D86 1 Jan 2002
360°C 1 Jan 2006
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), max 11% mass IP 391 1 Jan 2006
Ash and Suspended Solids, max 100 ppm ASTM D482 1 Jan 2002
Viscosity @ 40°C 2.0 – 4.5 cSt ASTM D445 1 Jan 2002
Operability Standards
Carbon Residue (10% distillation residue), max 0.2% mass ASTM D4530 16 Oct 2002
Water and Sediment, max 0.05% vol ASTM D2709 16 Oct 2002
Conductivity @ ambient temp, min 50 pS/m ASTM D2624 16 Oct 2002
Oxidation Stability, max 25 mg/l ASTM D2274 16 Oct 2002
Color, max 2 ASTM D1500 16 Oct 2002
Copper Corrosion (3 hrs @ 50°C), max Class 1 ASTM D130 16 Oct 2002
Flash point, min 61.5°C ASTM D93 16 Oct 2002
Filter Blocking Tendency, max 2.0 IP 387 16 Oct 2002
Lubricity, max 0.460 mm * IP 450 16 Oct 2002
* all diesel containing less than 500 ppm sulfur

3.2 Gasoline

Australia’s environmental standards for petrol fuels are summarized below. Complete information is available at the Australian government’s petrol fuel quality page.

Environmental Standards for Petrol
Parameter National standard Grade Date of effect Test method
Sulfur 500 ppm (max) ULP/LRP 1 Jan 02 ASTM D5453
150 ppm (max) PULP
150 ppm (max) All grades 1 Jan 05
50 ppm (max) PULP 1 Jan 08
Research octane number (RON) 91.0 RON (min) ULP 1 Jan 02 ASTM D2699
95.0 RON (min) PULP
96.0 RON (min) LRP
Distillation Final boiling point 210°C (max) All grades 1 Jan 05 Not specified
Olefins 18% pool average over 6 months with a cap of 20% All grades 1 Jan 04 ASTM D1319
18% max by vol All grades 1 Jan 05
Aromatics 45% pool average over 6 months with a cap of 48% All grades 1 Jan 02 ASTM D1319
42% pool average over 6 months with a cap of 45% 1 Jan 05
Benzene 1% max by vol All grades 1 Jan 06 ASTM D5580
Lead 0.005 g/L (max) All grades 1 Jan 02 ASTM D3237
Oxygen 2.7% m/m (max) All grades
(no ethanol)
1 Jan 02 ASTM D4815
3.9% m/m (max) All grades
(with ethanol)
1 Nov 07
Ethanol 10% v/v (max) All grades 1 Jul 03 ASTM D4815
Phosphorus 0.0013 g/L (max) ULP, PULP 1 Jan 02 ASTM D3231
MTBE
(Methyl tertiary butyl ether)
1% by volume (max) All grades 1 Jan 04 ASTM D4815
DIPE
(Di-isopropyl ether)
1% by volume (max) All grades 1 Jan 02 ASTM D4815
TBA
(Tertiary butyl alcohol)
0.5% by volume (max) All grades 1 Jan 02 ASTM D4815
Motor Octane Number (MON) 85.0 (min) PULP 16 Oct 02 ASTM D2700
81.0 (min) ULP 16 Oct 02
82.0 (min) LRP 16 Oct 02
Copper Corrosion
(3 hrs @ 50ºC)
Class 1 (max) All grades 16 Oct 02 ASTM D130
Existent Gum (washed) 50 mg/L (max) All grades 16 Oct 02 ASTM D381
Induction Period 360 minutes (min) All grades 16 Oct 02 ASTM D525

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