ASTM D4814-08a

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: D 4814 – 08a
Standard Specification for
1
Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4814; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* of EPA rules relating to fuel volatility, lead and phosphorous
contents, deposit control additive certification, and use of
1.1 This specification covers the establishment of require-
oxygenates in blends with unleaded gasoline. Contact the EPA
ments of automotive fuels for ground vehicles equipped with
for the latest versions of the rules and additional requirements.
spark-ignition engines.
1.4 This specification does not address the emission char-
1.2 This specification describes various characteristics of
acteristics of reformulated spark-ignition engine fuel. Refor-
automotive fuels for use over a wide range of operating
mulated spark-ignition engine fuel is required in some areas to
conditions.Itprovidesforavariationofthevolatilityandwater
lower emissions from automotive vehicles, and its character-
tolerance of automotive fuel in accordance with seasonal
istics are described in the research report on reformulated
climatic changes at the locality where the fuel is used. For the
2
spark-ignition engine fuel. However, in addition to the legal
period May 1 through Sept. 15, the maximum vapor pressure
requirements found in this research report, reformulated spark-
limits issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ignition engine fuel should meet the performance requirements
(EPA) are specified for each geographical area except Alaska
found in this specification.
and Hawaii. Variation of the antiknock index with seasonal
1.5 Thisspecificationrepresentsadescriptionofautomotive
climatic changes and altitude is discussed in Appendix X1.
fuel as of the date of publication. The specification is under
Thisspecificationneithernecessarilyincludesalltypesoffuels
continuous review, which can result in revisions based on
that are satisfactory for automotive vehicles, nor necessarily
changes in fuel, automotive requirements, or test methods, or a
excludes fuels that can perform unsatisfactorily under certain
combination thereof. All users of this specification, therefore,
operating conditions or in certain equipment. The significance
should refer to the latest edition.
of each of the properties of this specification is shown in
Appendix X1.
NOTE 1—If there is any doubt as to the latest edition of Specification
1.3 The spark-ignition engine fuels covered in this specifi- D 4814, contact ASTM International Headquarters.
cation are gasoline and its blends with oxygenates, such as
1.6 Tests applicable to gasoline are not necessarily appli-
alcohols and ethers. This specification does not apply to fuels
cable to its blends with oxygenates. Consequently, the type of
that contain an oxygenate as the primary component, such as
fuel under consideration must first be identified in order to
Fuel Methanol (M85). The concentrations and types of oxy-
select applicable tests. Test Method D 4815 provides a proce-
genates are not specifically limited in this specification. How-
dure for determining oxygenate concentration in mass percent.
ever, depending on oxygenate type, as oxygenate content
Test Method D 4815 also includes procedures for calculating
increasesabovesomethresholdlevel,thelikelihoodforvehicle
mass oxygen content and oxygenate concentration in volume
problemsalsoincreases.Thecompositionofbothunleadedand
percent.Appendix X4 provides a procedure for calculating the
leaded fuel is limited by economic, legal, and technical
mass oxygen content of a fuel using measured oxygenate type,
consideration, but their properties, including volatility, are
oxygenate concentration in volume percent, and measured
defined by this specification. In addition, the composition of
density or relative density of the fuel.
unleaded fuel is subject to the rules, regulations, and CleanAir
1.7 The following applies to all specified limits in this
Act waivers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
standard: For purposes of determining conformance with these
(EPA). With regard to fuel properties, including volatility, this
specifications, an observed value or a calculated value shall be
specification can be more or less restrictive than the EPArules,
rounded “to the nearest unit” in the right-most significant digit
regulations,andwaivers.RefertoAppendixX3fordiscussions
used in expressing the specification limit, in accordance with
the roun
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