In many cases a selection of carefully chosen tests will be sufficient to identify specification failure due contamination or misfuelling. In some cases however it is necessary to conduct full specification testing. EN590 is a standard that defines the properties that diesel fuels must meet to be sold in the EU. The corresponding test suite comprises the following tests:
- Cetane number / Derived cetane – EN ISO 5165 / IP 498
- Cetane Index – EN ISO 4264
- Density at 15ºC – EN ISO 12185
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – EN 12916
- Sulphur content – EN ISO 20846
- Flash point – EN ISO 2719
- Carbon residue on 10% residue – EN ISO 10370
- Ash – ISO6245
- Water content – EN ISO 12937
- Total contamination – EN 12662
- Copper corrosion – EN ISO 2160
- FAME content – EN 14078
- Oxidation stability – EN ISO 12205
- Oxidation stability* – EN 15751
- Lubricity – ISO 12156-1
- Kinematic viscosity at 40ºC – EN ISO 3104
- Distillation – EN ISO 3405 CFPP EN 116
- Manganese – EN 16576
- F.B.T – IP 387 procedure b
* = Required if F.A.M.E > 2.0 %