In the United States, high sulfur content (defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)) middle distillate products and diesel fuel used for off-road purposes, other than aviation turbine fuel, are required by government agencies to contain red dye. The dye concentration required to be present in high sulfur and off-road diesel products is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Internal Revenue Service, respectively.

Some fuels that are readily exchanged in the market have a color specification. The color of the base fuel is masked by the presence of the red dye. This test method provides a means of estimating the base color of Number 1 and Number 2 diesel fuel and heating oil in the presence of red dye.

The test method provides a means to indicate conformance to contractual and legal requirements.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the red dye concentration of diesel fuel and heating oil and the estimation of the ASTM color of undyed and red-dyed diesel fuel and heating oil. The test method is appropriate for use with diesel fuel and heating oil of Grades 1 and 2 described in Specifications D396, D975, D2880 and D3699. Red dye concentrations are determined at levels equivalent to 0.1 to 20 mg/L of Solvent Red 26 in samples with ASTM colors ranging from 0.5 to 5. The ASTM color of the base fuel of red-dyed samples with concentration levels equivalent to 0.1 to 20 mg/L of Solvent Red 26 is estimated for the ASTM color range from 0.5 to 5. The ASTM color of undyed samples is estimated over the ASTM color range of 0.5 to 5.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 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.