ASTM D4868-00(2010) - 1.5.2010
 
Significance and Use

This test method is intended for use in cases where an experimental determination of heat of combustion is not available and cannot be made conveniently, and where an estimate is considered satisfactory. It is not intended as a substitute for experimental measurement of heat of combustion.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the estimation of the gross and net heat of combustion in SI units, megajoules per kilogram, of petroleum fuels from the fuel density, sulfur, water, and ash content.

Note 1—The equation for estimation of net and gross heat of combustion used in this method were originally published by the NIST Publication No. 97.

1.2 This test method is especially useful for estimating, using a minimum number of tests, the heat of combustion of burner and diesel fuels for which it is not usually critical to obtain very precise heat determinations.

Note 2—More accurate estimation methods are available for aviation fuels (Test Methods D1405, D4529,and D3338). However, those estimation methods require additional tests to those required in this test method.

1.3 This test method is purely empirical (Note 1). It is applicable only to liquid hydrocarbon fuels derived by normal refining processes from conventional crude oil that conform to the requirements of specifications for petroleum fuels as described in Note 3. This test method is valid for those fuels in the density range from 750 to 1000 kg/m3 and those that do not contain an unusually high aromatic content. High aromatic content fuels will not normally meet fuel specification criteria.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D1266-18

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Lamp Method) (Withdrawn 2025)

D975-26c

Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 7/20/2026).

D2880-23

Standard Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils

D2622-26

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

D1796-22

Standard Test Method for Water and Sediment in Fuel Oils by the Centrifuge Method (Laboratory Procedure)

D1744-13

Standard Test Method for Determination of Water in Liquid Petroleum Products by Karl Fischer Reagent (Withdrawn 2016)

D1655-26b

Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels (Includes all amendments and changes 8/10/2026).

D1552-23

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by High Temperature Combustion and Infrared (IR) Detection or Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD)

D1481-17

Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous Materials by Lipkin Bicapillary Pycnometer (Withdrawn 2023)

D1480-21

Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous Materials by Bingham Pycnometer

D1405-01

Standard Test Method for Estimation of Net Heat of Combustion of Aviation Fuels

D1298-24

Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method

D4052-22

Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter

D4294-24

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

D3699-25

Standard Specification for Kerosine

D3338-08

Standard Test Method for Estimation of Net Heat of Combustion of Aviation Fuels

D95-23e1

Standard Test Method for Water in Petroleum Products and Bituminous Materials by Distillation (Includes all amendments and changes 10/25/2024).

D482-25

Standard Test Method for Ash from Petroleum Products

D396-26a

Standard Specification for Fuel Oils (Includes all amendments and changes 4/14/2026).

D240-25

Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter

D129-18

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (General High Pressure Decomposition Device Method) (Withdrawn 2023)

D5453-25

Standard Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Spark Ignition Engine Fuel, Diesel Engine Fuel, and Engine Oil by Ultraviolet Fluorescence

D4809-25

Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter (Precision Method)

D4529-24

Standard Test Method for Estimation of Net Heat of Combustion of Aviation Fuels