ASTM D613-05 - 1.5.2005
 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method determines the rating of diesel fuel oil in terms of an arbitrary scale of cetane numbers using a standard single cylinder, four-stroke cycle, variable compression ratio, indirect injected diesel engine.

1.2 The cetane number scale covers the range from zero (0) to 100 but typical testing is in the range of 30 to 65 cetane number.

1.3 The values for operating conditions are stated in SI units and are considered standard. The values in parentheses are the historical inch-pounds units. In addition, the engine measurements continue to be in inch-pounds units because of the extensive and expensive tooling that has been created for these units.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For more specific hazard statements, see Annex A1.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D975-26c

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

D1193-24

Standard Specification for Reagent Water

D2500-23

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels

D4175-24e2

Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants (Includes all amendments and changes 6/9/2026).

D4177-22e1

Standard Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products (Includes all amendments and changes 3/24/2023).

D6299-26a

Standard Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance and Control Charting Techniques to Evaluate Analytical Measurement System Performance (Includes all amendments and changes 8/4/2026).

E456-13a(2022)e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics (Includes all amendments and changes 4/16/2024).

E542-22

Standard Practice for Gravimetric Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric Instruments

E832-81(2024)

Standard Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products