86.113-94—Fuel specifications.

(a) Gasoline fuel. (1) Gasoline having the following specifications will be used by the Administrator in exhaust and evaporative emission testing of petroleum-fueled Otto-cycle vehicles. Gasoline having the following specification or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, shall be used by the manufacturer in exhaust and evaporative testing except that octane specifications do not apply;
Item ASTM testmethod No. Value
Octane, Research, Min D2699 93
Sensitivity, Min 7.5
Lead (organic):
g/U.S. gal. (g/liter) D3237 1 0.050 1 (0.013)
Distillation Range:
IBP:2 °F ( °C) D86 75-95(23.9-35)
10 pct. point: °F ( °C) D86 120-135(48.9-57.2)
50 pct. point: °F ( °C) D86 200-230(93.3-110)
90 pct. point: °F ( °C) D86 300-325
(148.9-162.8):
EP, max: °F ( °C) D86 415(212.8)
Sulfur, weight pct. max D1266 0.10
Phosphorus, max. g/U.S. gal. (g/liter) D3231 0.005(0.0013)
RVP, 3,4 psi (kPa) D3231 8.7-9.2(60.0-63.4)
Hydrocarbon composition:
Olefins, max. pct D1319 10
Aromatics, max. pct D1319 35
Saturates D1319 (5)
1 Maximum.
2 For testing at altitudes above 1,219 m (4,000 ft), the specified range is 75°-105 °F (23.9°-40.6 °C).
3 For testing which is unrelated to evaporative emission control, the specified range is 8.0-9.2 psi (55.2-63.4 kPa).
4 For testing at altitudes above 1,219 m (4,000 ft), the specified range is 7.6-8.0 psi (52-55 kPa).
5 Remainder.
(2) (i) Unleaded gasoline representative of commercial gasoline which will be generally available through retail outlets shall be used in service accumulation. Leaded gasoline will not be used in service accumulation.
(ii) The octane rating of the gasoline used shall be no higher than 1.0 Research octane number above the minimum recommended by the manufacturer and have a minimum sensitivity of 7.5 octane numbers, where sensitivity is defined as the Research octane number minus the Motor octane number.
(iii) The Reid Vapor Pressure of the gasoline used shall be characteristic of the motor fuel used during the season in which the service accumulation takes place.
(3) The specification range of the gasoline to be used under this paragraph (a) shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(b) Petroleum diesel test fuel. (1) The petroleum fuels employed for testing diesel vehicles shall be clean and bright, with pour and cloud points adequate for operability. The petroleum diesel fuel may contain nonmetallic additives as follows: Cetane improver, metal deactivator, antioxidant, dehazer, antirust, pour depressant, dye, dispersant and biocide. Fuels specified for emissions testing are intended to be representative of commercially available in-use fuels.
(2) Petroleum fuel for diesel vehicles meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, shall be used in exhaust emission testing. The grade of petroleum diesel fuel recommended by the engine manufacturer, commercially designated as “Type 2-D” grade diesel, shall be used:
Item ASTM test method No. Type 2-D
Cetane number D 613 40-50
Cetane index D 976 40-50
Distillation range:
IBP °F D 86 340-400
(°C) (171.1-204.4)
10 pct. point °F D 86 400-460
(°C) (204.4-237.8)
50 pct. point °F D 86 470-540
(°C) (243.3-282.2)
90 pct. point °F D 86 560-630
(°C) (293.3-332.2)
EP °F D 86 610-690
(°C) (321.1-365.6)
Gravity °API D 287 32-37
Total sulfur pct. D 2622 0.03-0.05
Hydrocarbon composition:
Code of Federal Regulations 506
Aromatics, minimum pct. D 1319 27
Paraffins, Naphthenes, Olefins D 1319 1
Flashpoint, min. °F D 93 130
(°C) (54.4)
Viscosity centistokes D 445 2.0-3.2
[1] Remainder.
(3) Petroleum fuel for diesel vehicles meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, shall be used in service accumulation. The grade of petroleum diesel fuel recommended by the engine manufacturer, commercially designated as “Type 2-D” grade diesel fuel, shall be used:
Item ASTM test method No. Type 2-D
Cetane Number D613 38-58
Cetane Index D976 min. 40
Distillation range:
90 pct. point °F D86 540-630
( °C) (282.2-343.3)
Gravity °API D287 30-39
Total sulfur pct. D2622 0.03-0.05
Flashpoint, min. °F D93 130
( °C) (54.4)
Viscosity centistokes D445 1.5-4.5
(4) Other petroleum distillate fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and
(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications is provided prior to the start of testing.
(5) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(c) Methanol fuel. (1) Methanol fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be representative of commercially available methanol fuel and shall consist of at least 50 percent methanol by volume.
(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(ii) The Administrator shall determine the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(2) Other methanol fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and
(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.
(3) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(d) Mixtures of petroleum and methanol fuels for flexible fuel vehicles. (1) Mixtures of petroleum and methanol fuels used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and service accumulation for flexible fuel vehicles shall consist of the appropriate petroleum fuels listed in either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this section and a methanol fuel representative of the fuel expected to be found in use, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, and shall be within the range of fuel mixtures for which the vehicle was designed, as reported in § 86.94-21(j) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable. The Administrator may use any fuel or fuel mixture within this range for testing.
(2) The fuel mixtures used by the manufacturers shall be sufficient to demonstrate compliance over the full design range, and shall include:
(i) For emission testing:
(A) The petroleum fuel specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section;
(B) A methanol fuel representative of the methanol fuel expected to the found in use, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section;
(C) A combination of the fuels specified in paragraphs (d)(2)(i)(A) and (d)(2)(i)(B) of this section at a composition which represents the highest Reid Vapor Pressure of in-use mixtures. This mixture shall contain between 9-13 percent methanol by volume.
(ii) For service accumulation, the fuels specified in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section or, for diesel FFVs, paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section shall be used alternately. The fuels shall be alternated at mileage intervals not to exceed 5,000 miles. The fuels shall be alternated such that the cumulative volumes of both the methanol fuel and the petroleum fuel used shall be at least 25 percent of the total fuel volume.
(iii) Or, other combinations for testing or service accumulation which demonstrate compliance with the standards over the entire design range of the vehicle, provided that written approval is obtained from the Administrator prior to the start of testing.
(3) The specification range of the fuels to be used under this paragraph shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(e) Natural gas fuel. (1) Natural gas fuel having the following specifications will be used by the Administrator for exhaust and evaporative emission testing of natural gas-fueled vehicles:
Item ASTM testmethod No. Value
Methane min. mole pct. D1945 89.0
Ethane max. mole pct. D1945 4.5
C3 and higher max. mole pct. D1945 2.3
C6 and higher max. mole pct. D1945 0.2
Oxygen max. mole pct. D1945 0.6
Inert gases:
Sum of CO2 and N2 max. mole pct. D1945 4.0
Odorant 1
1 The natural gas at ambient conditions must have a distinctive odor potent enough for its presence to be detected down to a concentration in air of not over 1/5 (one-fifth) of the lower limit of flammability.
(2) Natural gas representative of commercially available natural gas fuel which will be generally available through retail outlets shall be used in service accumulation for natural gas- fueled vehicles.
(3) Other natural gas fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information acceptable to the Administrator is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.
(4) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2) and (e)(3) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(f) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel. (1) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be commercially available liquefied petroleum gas fuel.
(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(ii) The Administrator shall determine the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(2) Other liquefied petroleum gas fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.
(3) The specification range of the fuel to be used under paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this section shall be measured in accordance with ASTM D2163-61 (Incorporated by reference; see § 86.1) and reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(g) Fuels not meeting the specifications set forth in this section may be used only with the advance approval of the Administrator.

Code of Federal Regulations

[59 FR 48506, Sept. 21, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 34342, June 30, 1995; 62 FR 47120, Sept. 5, 1997; 63 FR 24448, May 4, 1998; 64 FR 23921, May 4, 1999; 65 FR 8277, Feb. 18, 2000]