ASTM D6258-98e1 - 20.4.1999
 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining the concentration of dye Solvent Red 164 in commercially available diesel and burner fuels using visible spectroscopy.

Note 1-This test method is suitable for all No.1 and No.2 grades in Specifications D396 and D975 and for grades DMA and DMB in Specification D2069.

1.2 The concentration ranges specified for the calibration standards are established in response to the Internal Revenue Service dyeing requirements which state that tax-exempt diesel fuel satisfies the dyeing requirement only if it contains the dye Solvent Red 164 (and no other dye) at a concentration spectrally equivalent to 3.9 lb of the solid dye standard Solvent Red 26 per thousand bbl (11.1 mg/L) of diesel fuel.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

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.

 
2. Referenced Documents

E169-16(2022)

Standard Practices for General Techniques of Ultraviolet-Visible Quantitative Analysis

D396-26a

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

D975-26c

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

E969-02(2024)

Standard Specification for Glass Volumetric (Transfer) Pipets

E691-23

Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

E288-10(2025)

Standard Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Flasks

E275-08(2022)

Standard Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometers

26 CFR 48.4082-1(b)

Federal Excise Tax Regulation

E131-10(2023)

Standard Terminology Relating to Molecular Spectroscopy

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D3699-25

Standard Specification for Kerosine

D2069-91(1998)

Standard Specification for Marine Fuels (Withdrawn 2003)