Diesel Fuel Quality Standard
The information contained in the following pages is of a general nature only and should be read in conjunction with the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2001 and the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001. Fuel suppliers may wish to seek legal advice about their obligations under this legislation.
Discussion paper - proposed amendment of Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001
The Australian Government has released a discussion paper on the management of diesel oil burn systems with respect to the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.
The discussion paper proposes to amend the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 to allow for the use of oil burn systems in non-road vehicles.
The objectives of the discussion paper are to:
- outline the Department’s proposed approach to accommodate the use of oil burn systems under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 in certain circumstances;
- seek information from stakeholders required to implement the proposed solution in terms of further technical information about the operation of oil burn systems;
- identify suppliers of oil burn systems in Australia; and
- facilitate consultation with affected parties on the solution proposed.
The Department encourages all suppliers of oil burn systems, whether imported or produced in Australia, to participate.
The discussion paper is open for public comment until 30 May 2008.
Environmental Standards
The first suite of national fuel standards, which came into force on 1 January 2002, regulates petrol and diesel parameters that have a direct impact on the environment ('environmental standards').
The standards will have a major impact on the amount of toxic pollutants in vehicle emissions, such as benzene and particles, with studies estimating reductions of up to 50 per cent for some pollutants over 20 years. This is great news for our health, with cleaner air helping to reduce the number of serious respiratory illnesses and asthma cases, particularly in children.
Operability Standards
A second suite of national fuel standards came into force on 16 October 2002. These standards ('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.
Further operability standards are being developed that may include:
- for diesel - the parameters are appearance, acidity, cloud point and cold filter plugging point.
Summary Table
The environmental and operability standards are consolidated in the following tables. The legal instruments implementing the standards are:
| Parameter | National standard | Date of effect | Test Method |
| Biodiesel 1 | 5.0% volume by volume (max) | 1-Mar-09 | EN 14078 |
| Sulfur | 500 ppm (max) | 31-Dec-02 | ASTM D5453 |
| 50 ppm (max) | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| 10ppm (max) | 1-Jan-09 | ||
| Cetane Index | 46 (min) index | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D4737 |
| Derived Cetane Number (of diesel containing biodiesel) | 51.0 (min) | 21-Feb-09 | ASTM D6890 |
| Density | 820 (min) to 860 (max) kg/m3 | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D1298 |
| 820 (min) to 850 (max) kg/m3 | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| Distillation T95 | 370°C (max) | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D86 |
| 360°C (max) | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | 11% m/m (max) | 1-Jan-06 | IP391 |
| Ash | 100 ppm (max) | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D482 |
| Viscosity | 2.0 to 4.5 cSt @ 40°C | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D445 |
| Carbon Residue (10% distillation residue) | 0.2 mass % max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D4530 |
| Water and sediment | 0.05 vol % max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2709 |
| Water (all diesel containing biodiesel) | 200 mg/kg (max) | 21-Feb-09 | ASTM 6304 |
| Conductivity @ ambient temp | 50 pS/m (Min) @ambient temp (all diesel held by a terminal or refinery for sale or distribution) | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2624 |
| Oxidation Stability | 25 mg/L max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2274 |
| Colour | 2 max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D1500 |
| Copper Corrosion (3 hrs @ 50°C) | Class 1 max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D130 |
| Flash point | 61.5°C min | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D93 |
| Filter blocking tendency | 2.0 max | 16-Oct-02 | IP 387 |
| Lubricity | 0.460 mm (max) (all diesel containing less than 500ppm sulfur) | 16-Oct-02 | IP 450 |
1 The biodiesel component of diesel must meet the requirements of fuel quality standard for biodiesel set out in the Fuel Standard (Biodiesel) Determination 2003.