ASTM D7794-12 - 15.4.2012
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice applies to the blending of automotive spark-ignition engine fuels with ethanol concentrations greater than those suitable for conventional-fuel vehicles and less than the minimum ethanol content specification limits of Specification D5798.

1.2 These mid-level ethanol fuel blends are only suitable for use in ground flexible-fuel vehicles equipped with sparkignition engines. Flexible-fuel vehicles are designed to operate on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends that meet the requirements of Specification D4814, ethanol fuel blends that meet the requirements of Specification D5798, or any combination of these. In the United States, these vehicles are certified by the U.S. EPA as emissions compliant with these types of fuels.

1.3 The mid-level ethanol fuel blend shall be blended from either:

1.3.1 Denatured fuel ethanol conforming to the requirements of Specification D4806 with a reduced limit on inorganic chloride content that will ensure no more than 1 mg/kg inorganic chloride in the finished fuel and from spark-ignition engine fuel conforming to Specification D4814 (often at a distribution terminal or bulk plant), or

1.3.2 Ethanol fuel blends conforming to Specification D5798 and from spark-ignition engine fuel conforming to Specification D4814 (often at a retail site).

1.4 This practice describes the required procedures for blending various mid-level ethanol fuel blends for flexible-fuel vehicles at the bulk distribution point or retail/commercial delivery site. These requirements may be applied at other points in the production and distribution system when provided by agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.

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

1.6 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

D4814-25a

Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 12/24/2025).

D4815-22

Standard Test Method for Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tertiary-Amyl Alcohol and C1 to C4 Alcohols in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography

D6469-24

Standard Guide for Microbial Contamination in Fuels and Fuel Systems

D7319-26

Standard Test Method for Determination of Existent and Potential Sulfate and Inorganic Chloride in Fuel Ethanol and Butanol by Direct Injection Suppressed Ion Chromatography

D7328-23

Standard Test Method for Determination of Existent and Potential Inorganic Sulfate and Total Inorganic Chloride in Fuel Ethanol by Ion Chromatography Using Aqueous Sample Injection

16 CFR

United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Part 306

40 CFR

United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 86

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D4175-24e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants (Includes all amendments and changes 11/19/2024).

D4177-22e1

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

D4806-25

Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol

D5191-22

Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Mini Method)

D5501-20(2024)e1

Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol and Methanol Content in Fuels Containing Greater than 20 % Ethanol by Gas Chromatography (Includes all amendments and changes 1/3/2025).

D5599-22

Standard Test Method for Determination of Oxygenates in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography and Oxygen Selective Flame Ionization Detection

D5798-25

Standard Specification for Ethanol Fuel Blends for Flexible-Fuel Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines

D5842-23

Standard Practice for Sampling and Handling of Fuels for Volatility Measurement

D5854-25

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