ASTM D6448-14 - 1.10.2014
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers four grades of fuel oil made in whole or in part with hydrocarbon-based used or reprocessed lubricating oil or functional fluids, such as preservative and hydraulic fluids. The four grades of fuel are intended for use in various types of fuel-oil-burning industrial equipment under various climatic and operating conditions. These fuels are not intended for use in residential heaters, small commercial boilers, combustion engines, or marine applications,

1.1.1 Grades RFO4, RFO5L, RFO5H, and RFO6 are used lubricating oil blends, with or without distillate or residual fuel oil, or both, of increasing viscosity and are intended for use in industrial burners equipped to handle these types of recycled fuels.

Note 1: For information on the significance of the terminology and test methods used in this specification, see Appendix X1.

1.2 This specification is for use in contracts for the purchase of fuel oils derived from used lubricating oil and for the guidance of consumers of such fuels. This specification does not address the frequency with which any particular test must be run.

1.3 Nothing in this specification shall preclude observance of national or local regulations, which can be more restrictive. In some jurisdictions, used oil is considered a hazardous waste and fuels from used oil are required to meet certain criteria before use as a fuel.

Note 2: For United States federal requirements imposed on used oil generators, transporters and transfer facilities, reprocessors, marketers, and burners, see 40 CFR 279.

Note 3: The generation and dissipation of static electricity can create problems in the handling of distillate burner fuel oils. For more information on the subject, see Guide D4865.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard; non-SI units, when given, are for information only.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D97-17b(2022)

Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products (Includes all amendments and changes 11/29/2022).

D129-18

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (General High Pressure Decomposition Device Method) (Withdrawn 2023)

D7094-25

Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Modified Continuously Closed Cup (MCCCFP) Tester

D3828-16a(2021)

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Cup Tester (Includes all amendments and changes 7/26/2021).

D4052-22

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

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

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).

D4294-24

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

D4377-00

Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oils by Potentiometric Karl Fischer Titration

D4865-23

Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems

D4868-25

Standard Test Method for Estimation of Net and Gross Heat of Combustion of Hydrocarbon Burner and Diesel Fuels

D4980-89

Standard Test Methods for Screening of pH in Waste

D5185-26

Standard Test Method for Multielement Determination of Used and Unused Lubricating Oils and Base Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

D5854-25

Standard Practice for Mixing and Handling of Liquid Samples of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D6304-25

Standard Test Method for Determination of Water in Petroleum Products, Lubricating Oils, and Additives by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration

D6450-16a(2021)

Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Continuously Closed Cup (CCCFP) Tester (Includes all amendments and changes 7/27/2021).

D6822-25

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

D2983-23

Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Viscosity of Automatic Transmission Fluids, Hydraulic Fluids, and Lubricants using a Rotational Viscometer

D3245-03

Standard Test Method for Pumpability of Industrial Fuel Oils (Withdrawn 2010)

D7042-25

Standard Test Method for Dynamic Viscosity and Density of Liquids by Stabinger Viscometer (and the Calculation of Kinematic Viscosity)

D1298-24

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

D1480-21

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

D1481-17

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

D1552-23

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

D1266-18

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

D1796-22

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

D2622-26

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

D2709-22

Standard Test Method for Water and Sediment in Middle Distillate Fuels by Centrifuge

D1250-25

Standard Guide for the Use of the Joint API and ASTM Adjunct for Temperature and Pressure Volume Correction Factors for Generalized Crude Oils, Refined Products, and Lubricating Oils: API MPMS Chapter 11.1

D445-26

Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)

D240-25

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

D396-26a

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

D473-22

Standard Test Method for Sediment in Crude Oils and Fuel Oils by the Extraction Method

D482-25

Standard Test Method for Ash from Petroleum Products

D1217-20

Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Liquids by Bingham Pycnometer (Withdrawn 2026)

D56-22

Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester

D93-26

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester

D95-23e1

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

D96-88(1998)

Standard Test Methods for Water and Sediment in Crude Oil by Centrifuge Method (Field Procedure) (Withdrawn 2000)