ASTM_D_4814_-_15a.pdf

Designation:D481415aStandard Specification forAutomotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4814;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope*1.1 This specification covers the establishment of require-ments of liquid automotive fuels for ground vehicles equippedwith spark-ignition engines.1.2 This specification describes various characteristics ofautomotive fuels for use over a wide range of operatingconditions.It provides for a variation of the volatility and watertolerance of automotive fuel in accordance with seasonalclimatic changes at the locality where the fuel is used.For theperiod May 1 through Sept.15,the maximum vapor pressurelimits issued by the United States(U.S.)Environmental Pro-tection Agency(EPA)are specified for each geographical areaexcept Alaska and Hawaii.Variation of the antiknock indexwith seasonal climatic changes and altitude is discussed inAppendix X1.This specification neither necessarily includesall types of fuels that are satisfactory for automotive vehicles,nor necessarily excludes fuels that can perform unsatisfactorilyunder certain operating conditions or in certain equipment.Thesignificance of each of the properties of this specification isshown in Appendix X1.1.3 The spark-ignition engine fuels covered in this specifi-cation are gasoline and its blends with oxygenates,such asalcohols and ethers.This specification does not apply to fuelsthat contain an oxygenate as the primary component,such asFuel Methanol(M85).The concentrations and types of oxy-genates are not specifically limited in this specification.However,depending on oxygenate type,as oxygenate contentincreases above some threshold level,the likelihood for vehicleproblems also increases.The composition of both unleaded andleaded fuel is limited by economic,legal,and technicalconsideration,but their properties,including volatility,aredefined by this specification.In addition,the composition ofunleaded fuel is subject to the rules,regulations,and Clean AirAct waivers of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).With regard to fuel properties,including volatility,thisspecification can be more or less restrictive than the EPA rules,regulations,and waivers.Refer to Appendix X3 for discussionsof EPA rules relating to fuel volatility,lead and phosphorouscontents,deposit control additive certification,and use ofoxygenates in blends with unleaded gasoline.Contact the EPAfor the latest versions of the rules and additional requirements.1.4 This specification does not address the emission char-acteristics of reformulated spark-ignition engine fuel.Refor-mulated spark-ignition engine fuel is required in some areas tolower emissions from automotive vehicles,and its character-istics are described in the research report on reformulatedspark-ignition engine fuel.2However,in addition to the legalrequirements found in this research report,reformulated spark-ignition engine fuel should meet the performance requirementsfound in this specification.1.5 This specification represents a description of automotivefuel as of the date of publication.The specification is undercontinuous review,which can result in revisions based onchanges in fuel,automotive requirements,or test methods,or acombination thereof.All users of this specification,therefore,should refer to the latest edition.NOTE1If there is any doubt as to the latest edition of SpecificationD4814,contact ASTM International Headquarters.1.6 Tests applicable to gasoline are not necessarily appli-cable to its blends with oxygenates.Consequently,the type offuel under consideration must first be identified in order toselect applicable tests.Test Method D4815 provides a proce-dure for determining oxygenate concentration in mass percent.Test Method D4815 also includes procedures for calculatingmass oxygen content and oxygenate concentration in volumepercent.Appendix X4 provides a procedure for calculating themass oxygen content of a fuel using measured oxygenate type,oxygenate concentration in volume percent,and measureddensity or relative density of the fuel.1.7 The following applies to all specified limits in thisstandard:For purposes of determining conformance with thesespecifications,an observed value or a calculated value shall berounded“to the nearest unit”in the right-most significant digit1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 onPetroleum Products,Liquid Fuels,and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D02.A0.01 on Gasoline and Gasoline-Oxygenate Blends.Current edition approved July 15,2015.Published August 2015.Originallyapproved in 1988.Last previous edi