ASTM D6985-04 - 1.4.2004
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers one grade of 100 % middle distillate fuel oil (no residual contamination), Grade No. 2-LTD, for use in off-road applications requiring long-term storage stability. This grade of middle distillate fuel is similar to Specification D 975, Grade No. 2-D but with additional properties specified to provide storage stability, as well as other properties required by specific end use applications. This grade is intended for off-road applications such as military marine use (non-aviation gas turbine engines, compression ignition/diesel engines, and other non-automotive applications), emergency generators (military or commercial), as well as any other uses that require storage stable middle distillate fuel.

1.2 This specification, unless otherwise provided by agreement between the purchaser and the supplier, prescribes the required properties of middle distillate fuel at the time and place of delivery. Nothing in this specification shall preclude observance of federal, state, or local regulations that may be more restrictive.

1.3 During handling and use of all middle distillate fuels, the generation and dissipation of static electricity can create fire and explosion hazards. For more information on this subject see Guide D 4865.

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

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 requirements prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D482-25

Standard Test Method for Ash from Petroleum Products

D524-15(2025)e1

Standard Test Method for Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products (Includes all amendments and changes 8/11/2025).

D613-26

Standard Test Method for Cetane Number of Diesel Fuel Oil

D975-26b

Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 3/31/2026).

D976-21e1

Standard Test Method for Calculated Cetane Index of Distillate Fuels (Includes all amendments and changes 2/23/2023).

D1266-18

Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Lamp Method) (Withdrawn 2025)

D1298-24

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

D1319-25

Standard Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption

D1552-23

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

D2500-23

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

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

D3117-03

Standard Test Method for Wax Appearance Point of Distillate Fuels (Withdrawn 2010)

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

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

D4530-25

Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon Residue (Micro Method)

D4865-23

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

D5304-20

Standard Test Method for Assessing Middle Distillate Fuel Storage Stability by Oxygen Overpressure

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

D5771-21

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Optical Detection Stepped Cooling Method)

D56-22

Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester

D5772-21

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Linear Cooling Rate Method)

D5773-21

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Constant Cooling Rate Method)

D6450-16a(2021)

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

D6469-24

Standard Guide for Microbial Contamination in Fuels and Fuel Systems

40 CFR Part 80

Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives

D86-23ae2

Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure (Includes all amendments and changes 11/4/2024).

D93-26

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

D129-18

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

D130-26

Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test

D445-26

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