ASTM D88-07(2013) - 1.5.2013
 
Significance and Use

5.1 This test method is useful in characterizing certain petroleum products, as one element in establishing uniformity of shipments and sources of supply.

5.2 See Guide D117 for applicability to mineral oils used as electrical insulating oils.

5.3 The Saybolt Furol viscosity is approximately one tenth the Saybolt Universal viscosity, and is recommended for characterization of petroleum products such as fuel oils and other residual materials having Saybolt Universal viscosities greater than 1000 s.

5.4 Determination of the Saybolt Furol viscosity of bituminous materials at higher temperatures is covered by Test Method E102.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the empirical procedures for determining the Saybolt Universal or Saybolt Furol viscosities of petroleum products at specified temperatures between 21 and 99°C (70 and 210°F). A special procedure for waxy products is indicated.

Note 1Test Methods D445 and D2170 are preferred for the determination of kinematic viscosity. They require smaller samples and less time, and provide greater accuracy. Kinematic viscosities may be converted to Saybolt viscosities by use of the tables in Practice D2161. It is recommended that viscosity indexes be calculated from kinematic rather than Saybolt viscosities.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

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.

 
2. Referenced Documents

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).

E1-14(2025)

Standard Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers

E11-24

Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves

E102-93(1997)

Standard Test Method for Saybolt Furol Viscosity of Bituminous Materials at High Temperatures

D93-26

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

D117-22

Standard Guide for Sampling, Test Methods, and Specifications for Electrical Insulating Liquids

D140-01

Standard Practice for Sampling Bituminous Materials

D244-23

Standard Test Methods and Practices for Emulsified Asphalts

D445-24

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

D2161-20(2025)

Standard Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity

D2170-07

Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts (Bitumens)