| Acid Number (TAN)
| 664 | "This test method covers procedures for the determination of acidic constituents in petroleum products, lubricants, biodiesel, and blends of biodiesel.
The test method may be used to indicate relative changes that occur in oil during use under oxidizing conditions regardless of the color or other properties of the resulting oil. Although the titration is made under definite equilibrium conditions, the test method is not intended to measure an absolute acidic property that can be used to predict performance of oil under service conditions. No general relationship between bearing corrosion and acid number is known.
New and used petroleum products may contain acidic constituents that are present as additives or as degradation products formed during service, such as oxidation products. The relative amount of these materials can be determined by titrating with bases. The acid number is a measure of this amount of acidic substance in the oil, always under the conditions of the test. The acid number is used as a guide in the quality control of lubricating oil formulations. It is also sometimes used as a measure of lubricant degradation in service. "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Titration, ASTM D664-18, 2018.
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| Acid Number (TAN)
| 974 | "This test method covers the determination of acidic or basic constituents in petroleum products and lubricants soluble or nearly soluble in mixtures of toluene and isopropyl alcohol.
This test method can be used to indicate relative changes that occur in an oil during use under oxidizing conditions.
New and used petroleum products may contain acidic constituents that are present as additives or as degradation products formed during service, such as oxidation products. The relative amount of these materials can be determined by titrating with bases. The acid number is a measure of this amount of acidic substance in the oil, always under the conditions of the test. The acid number is used as a guide in the quality control of lubricating oil formulations. It is also sometimes used as a measure of lubricant degradation in service. "
| 30 ml | Standard Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-Indicator Titration, ASTM D974-21, 2021.
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| API Gravity
| 4052 | "Density is a fundamental physical property that can be used in conjunction with other properties to characterize both the light and heavy fractions of petroleum and petroleum products.
Determination of the density or relative density of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to volumes at the standard temperature of 15C.
This test method covers the determination of the density, relative density, and API Gravity of petroleum distillates and viscous oils that can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids at the temperature of test, utilizing either manual or automated sample injection equipment. Its application is restricted to liquids with total vapor pressures typically below 100kPa and viscosities typically below 15000 mm2/s at the temperature of test. Some examples of products that may be tested by this procedure include: gasoline and gasoline-oxygenate blends, diesel, basestocks, and lubricating oils. "
| 20 ml | Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter, ASTM D4052-18a, 2018.
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| Base Number (TBN)
| 4739M | "This test method covers a procedure for the determination of basic constituents in petroleum products and new and used lubricants. In new and used lubricants, the constituents that can be considered to have basic properties are primarily organic and inorganic bases, including amino compounds. This test method uses hydrochloric acid as the titrant.
When testing used engine lubricants, it should be recognized that certain weak bases are the result of the service rather than having been built into the oil. This test method can be used to indicate relative changes that occur in oil during use under oxidizing or other properties of the resulting oil.
Base number is sometimes used as measure of lubricant degradation in service. "
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for Base Number Determination by Potentiometric Hydrochloric Acid Titration, ASTM D4739-17, 2017.
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| Cetane Index | 4737 | The calculated Cetane Index by Four Variable Equation provides a means for estimating the ASTM cetane number of distillate fuels from density and distillation recovery temperature measurements. The value computed from the equation is termed the Calculated Cetane Index by Four Variable Equation.
| 120 ml | Standard Test Method for Calculated Cetane Index by Four Variable Equation, ASTM D4737-10, 2010.
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| Cetane Index
| 976 | This test method covers the Calculated Cetane Index formula, which represents a means for directly estimating the ASTM cetane number of distillate fuels from API gravity and mid-boiling point. The index value, as computer from the formula, is termed the Calculated Cetane Index.
| 120 ml | Standard Test Method for Calculated Cetane Index of Distillate Fuels, ASTM D976-21, 2021.
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| Cloud Point | 7689 | "This test method covers the determination of the cloud point of petroleum products, biodiesel, and biodiesel blends are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness, using an automatic instrument.
The cloud point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels in an index of the lowest temperature of their utility for certain applications. Wax crystals of sufficient quantity can plug filters used in some fuel systems.
This test method can determine the temperature of the test specimen at which wax crystals have formed sufficiently to be observed as a cloud with resolution of 0.1C. "
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Mini Method), ASTM D7689-21, 2021.
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| Cold Filter Plugging Point
| 6371M | "This test method covers the determination of the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) temperature of diesel and domestic heating fuels using either manual or automated apparatus.
The CFPP of a fuel is suitable for estimating the lowest temperature at which a fuel will give trouble-free flow in certain fuel systems. "
| 50 ml | Standard Test Method for Cold Filter Plugging Point of Diesel and Heating Fuels, ASTM D6371-17a, 2017.
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| Crackle Test
| N/A | The crackle test is a standard laboratory test to detect the presence of water in lubricating oil. A drop of oil is placed on a hotplate that has been heated to approximately 400° F. The sample then bubbles, spits, crackles, or pops when moisture is present.
| 5 ml | |
| Distillation | 86 | "This test method covers the atmospheric distillation of petroleum products and liquid fuels using a laboratory batch distillation unit to determine quantitively the boiling range characteristics of such products as light and middle distillates, automotive spark-ignition engine fuels, with or without oxygenates (see Note 1), diesel fuels, biodiesel blends up to 30% volume, marine fuels, special petroleum spirits, naphthas, white spirits, kerosines, and Grades 1 and 2 burner fuels.
The basic test method of determining the boiling range of a petroleum product by performing a simple batch distillation has been in use as long as the petroleum industry has existed. It is one of the oldest test methods under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02.
The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons have an important effect of their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives information of the composition, the properties, and the behavior of the fuel during storage and use.
Distillation limits are often included in petroleum product specifications, in commercial contract agreements, process refinery/control applications, and for compliance with regulatory rules. "
| 120 ml | Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure, ASTM D86-20b, 2020.
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| Flash Point
| 7094 | "This test method covers the determination of the flash point of fuels including diesel/biodiesel blends, lube oils, solvents, and other liquids by a continuously closed cup tester utilizing a specimen size of 2 mL, cup size of 7 mL, with a heating rate of 2.5C per minute.
This test method utilizes a closed but unsealed cup with air injected into the test chamber and is suitable for testing samples with a flash point from 35C to 225C.
The flash point temperature is one measure of the tendency of the test specimen to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled laboratory conditions. This test method can be used to measure and describe the properties of materials in response to heat and an ignition source under controlled laboratory conditions and shall not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials under actual fire conditions.
Flash point can also indicate the possible presence of highly volatile and flammable materials in a relatively nonvolatile or nonflammable material, such as the contamination of lubricating oils by small amounts of diesel fuel or gasoline. "
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Modified Continuously Closed Cup (MCCCFP Tester), ASTM D7094-17a, 2017.
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| Glycol
| 2982 | "These test methods cover the qualitative determination of glycol-base antifreeze in used lubricating oils (mineral base) using reagents in tablet form. Principally the test methods detect ethylene glycol but will also detect other 1,2-glycols that may be present.
Glycol-based coolant leaks into crankcases may not be detected or may result in a low bias using this test method if the glycol has degraded or been thermally or otherwise oxidized. The conditions in crankcases may be such that contaminant glycols are oxidized or degraded to a degree to which the color indicator reaction does not occur or is biased enough so as to not trigger the color change.
Leakage of glycol-base antifreeze into the crankcase is serious because the coolant tends to interfere with the lubricant and its ability to lubricate; it also promotes sludging. Ethylene glycol present in the coolant can increase varnish deposit formation in the crankcase as a result of glycol oxidation and the interaction between glycol and lubricant. Lubricant displacement, sludging, and deposit formation all lead to engine malfunction and possible seizure."
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for Detecting Glycol-Base Antifreeze in Used Lubricating Oils, ASTM D2982-07 (Reapproved 2019), 2019.
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| Karl Fischer
| 6304 | "This test method covers the direct determination of entrained water in petroleum products and hydrocarbons using automated instrumentation. This test method also covers the indirect analysis of water thermally removed from samples and swept with dry inert gas into the Karl Fischer titration cell.
This test method is intended for use with commercially available coulometric Karl Fischer reagents and for the determination of water in additives, lube oils, base oils, automatic transmission fluids, hydrocarbon solvents, and other petroleum products.
A knowledge of the water content is important in the manufacturing, purchase, sale, or transfer of petroleum products to help in predicting their quality and performance characteristics.
The presence of moisture could lead to premature corrosion and wear, an increase in the debris load resulting in diminished lubrication and premature plugging of filters, an impedance in the effect of additives, and undesirable support of deleterious bacterial growth."
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Determination of Water in Petroleum Products, Lubricating Oils, and Additives by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration, ASTM D6304-20, 2020.
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| Nitration
| 7624 | "This test method covers monitoring nitration in gasoline and natural gas engine oils as well as in other types of lubricants where nitration by-products may form due to the combustion process or other routes of formation of nitration compounds.
This test method uses FT-IR spectroscopy for monitoring build-up of nitration by-products in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants as a result of normal machinery operation. Nitration levels in gasoline and natural gas engine oils rise as combustion by-products react with the oil as a result of exhaust gas recirculation or a blow-by. This test method is designed as a fast, simple spectroscopic check for monitoring of nitration to help diagnose the operational condition of the machine based on measuring the level of nitration in the oil.
This method is for petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants and is not applicable for ester-based oils, including polyol esters or phosphate esters.
There is a wide variety of nitration compounds that may be produced and accumulate when oils react with gaseous nitrates formed during the engine combustion process. These nitration products may increase the viscosity, acidity and insoluble in the oil, which may lead to ring sticking and filter plugging. "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Condition Monitoring of Nitration in In-Service Petroleum and Hydrocarbon-Based Lubricants by Trend Analysis Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrometry, ASTM D7624-22, 2022.
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| Oxidation | 7414 | "This test method covers monitoring oxidation in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants such as in diesel crankcase, motor, hydraulic, gear and compressor oils, as well as other types of lubricants that are prone to oxidation.
This test method uses Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry for monitoring build-up of oxidation products in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants as a result of normal machinery operation. Petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants react with oxygen in the air to form a number of different chemical species, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, and carboxylic acids. This test method is designed as a fast, simple check for monitoring of oxidation in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants with the objective of helping diagnose the operational condition of the machine based on measuring the level of oxidation in the oil.
This method is for petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants and is not applicable for ester-based oils, including polyol esters or phosphate esters.
Oxidation products may lead to increased viscosity (causing oil thickening problems), acidity (causing acidic corrosion), and formation of sludge and varnish (leading to filter plugging, fouling of critical oil clearances and valve friction). "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Condition Monitoring of Oxidation in In-Service Petroleum and Hydrocarbon-Based Lubricants by Trend Analysis Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrometry, ASTM D7414-22, 2022.
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| Particle Counting
| 7647 | "This test method covers the determination of particle concentration and particle size distribution in new and in-service oils used for lubrication and hydraulic purposes.
Particles considered are in the range from 4 um(c) to 100 um(c).
Lubricants that can be analyzed by this test method are categorized as petroleum products or synthetic based products. Samples containing visible particles may not be suitable for analysis using this test method. Samples that are opaque after dilution are not suitable for analysis using this test method.
High levels of contaminants can cause filter blockages and hard particles can have a serious impact on the life of pumps, pistons, gears, bearings, and other moving parts by accelerating wear and erosion. Hard particles in the oil originate from a variety of sources including generation from within an operating fluid system or contamination, which may occur during the storage and handling of new oils or via ingress into an operating fluid system.
Particle count results can be used to aid in assessing the capability of the filtration system responsible for cleaning the fluid, determining if off-line recirculating filtration is needed to clean up the fluid system, or aiding in the decision of whether or not a fluid change is required.
This method includes a process by which a water-masking diluent is used to eliminate counting water droplets as particles. The diluent also eliminates some “soft particles” such as additives. "
| 30 ml | Standard Test Method for Automatic Particle Counting of Lubricating and Hydraulic Fluids Using Dilution Techniques to Eliminate the Contribution of Water and Interfering Soft Particles by Light Extinction, ASTM D7647-10 (Reapproved 2018), 2018.
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| Pour Point
| 7346 | "This test method covers the determination of the no flow point and pour point of petroleum products, liquid fuels, biodiesel, and biodiesel blends using an automatic instrument.
The measuring range of the apparatus is -95C to 45C.
The no flow point of a petroleum product is an index of the lowest temperature of its utility for some applications. Flow characteristics, such as no flow point, can be critical for the proper operation of lubricating systems, fuel systems, and pipeline operations."
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for No Flow Point and Pour Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels, ASTM D7346-15 (Reapproved, 2021), 2021.
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| Soot | 7844 | "This test method pertains to field-based monitoring soot in diesel crankcase engine oils as well as in other types of engine oils where soot may contaminate the lubricant as a result of blow-by due to incomplete combustion of in-service fuels.
This test method uses FT-IR spectroscopy for monitoring of soot build-up in in-service lubricants as a result of normal machinery operation. Soot levels in engine oils rise as soot particles contaminate the oil as a result of exhaust gas recirculation or a blow-by. This test method is designed as a fast, simple, check for monitoring of soot in in-service lubricants with the objective of helping diagnose the operational condition of the machine based on measuring the level of soot in the oil.
This method is for petroleum and hydrocarbon-based lubricants but is also applicable for ester-based oils, including polyol esters or phosphate esters.
An increase in soot material can lead to increased wear, filter plugging and viscosity, which is usually a consideration for diesel engines, although it may also be an indicator of carburetor or injector problems in other fuel systems. "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Condition Monitoring of Soot in In-Service Lubricants by Trend Analysis Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrometry, ASTM D7844-21, 2021.
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| Spectrometal Analysis
| 6595M | "This test method covers the determination of wear metals and contaminants in used lubricating oils and used hydraulic fluids by rotating disc electrode atomic emission spectroscopy (RDE-AES).
This test method provides a quick indication for abnormal wear and the presence of contamination in new or used lubricants and hydraulic fluids.
The test method is capable of detecting and quantifying elements resulting from wear and contamination ranging from dissolved materials to particles approximately 10 um in size.
The determination of debris in used oil is a key diagnostic method practiced in machine condition monitoring programs. The presence or increase in concentration of specific wear metals can be indicative of the early stages of wear if there are baseline concentration data for comparison. A marked increase in contaminant elements can be indicative of foreign materials in the lubricants, such as antifreeze or sand, which may lead to wear or lubricant degradation. The test method identifies the metals and their concentration so that trends relative to time or distance can be established and corrective action can be taken prior to more serious or catastrophic failure. "
| 5 ml | Standard Test Method for Determination of Wear Metals and Contaminants in used Lubricating Oils or Used Hydraulic Fluids by Rotating Disc Electrode Atomic Emission Spectrometry, ASTM D6595-22, 2022.
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| Sulfur
| 2622 | "This test method covers the determination of total sulfur in petroleum and petroleum products that are single-phase and either liquid at ambient conditions, liquefiable with moderate heat, or soluble in hydrocarbon solvents. These materials can include diesel fuel, jet fuel, kerosene, other distillate oil, naphtha, residual oil, lubricating base oil, hydraulic oil, crude oil, unleaded gasoline, gasoline-ethanol blends, and biodiesel.
This test method provides rapid and precise measurement of total sulfur in petroleum and petroleum products. The quality of many petroleum products is related to the amount of sulfur present. Knowledge of sulfur concentration is necessary for processing purposes. There are also regulations promulgated in federal, state, and local agencies that restrict the amount of sulfur present in some fuels. "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, ASTM D2622-16, 2016.
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| Viscosity
| 445M | "This test method specifies a procedure for the determination of kinematic viscosity of liquid petroleum products, both transparent and opaque, by measuring the time for a volume of liquid to flow under gravity through a calibrated glass capillary viscometer.
Many petroleum products, and some non-petroleum materials, are used as lubricants, and the correct operation of the equipment depends upon the appropriate viscosity of the liquid being used. In addition, the viscosity of many petroleum fuels is important for the estimation of optimum storage, handling, and operational conditions. Thus, the accurate determination of viscosity is essential to many product specifications. "
| 10 ml | Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity), ASTM D445-21, 2021.
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| Water and Solids
| 2709M | "This test method covers the determination of the volume of free water and sediment (as a percentage of the sample) that is suspended in the bulk fuel in middle distillate fuels.
This test method is used as an indication of free water and sediment suspended as haze, cloudiness, or droplets in middle distillate fuels such as Grades No. 1 and 2 fuel oil, Grades No. 1-D and 2-D diesel fuel, and Grades No. 0-GT, 1-GT, and 2-GT gas turbine fuels, similar fuels and blendstocks used to make these fuels.
Appreciable amounts of free water and sediment in a fuel oil tend to cause fouling of fuel-handling facilities and to give trouble in the fuel system of a burner or engine. An accumulation of sediment in storage tanks and on filter screens can obstruct the flow of oil from the tank to the combustor. Free water in middle distillate fuels can cause corrosion of tanks and equipment, and if detergent is present, the water can cause emulsions or a hazy appearance. Free water can support microbiological growth at fuel-water interfaces in fuel systems. "
| 120 ml | Standard Test Method for Water and Sediment in Middle Distillate Fuels by Centrifuge, ASTM D2709-16, 2016.
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