M.I.

1750

DIESEL FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS

ALL EMD AND FORMER CDED ENGINES
It has been and continues to be General Motors policy to These recommendations, which are based on many years
manufacture engines that will operate satisfactorily on of operating experience, provide test limits for
good quality commercial fuels that are regularly qualifying fuels being supplied to the engine. The
provided by the petroleum industry and meet the inherently low level of maintenance required by our
requirements of this maintenance instruction. As a result, engines can best be realized if the engine fuel systems
EMD does not recommend the use of supplementary fuel are supplied with fuel which meets these
additives marketed under such designations as recommendations.
conditioners, smoke suppressants, or graphitizers.
The cleanliness, quality, and uniformity of the fuels
supplied to the engine fuel tanks are the responsibilities
RECOMMENDED LIMITS FOR FUELS
As Supplied to EMD and Former CDED Engine Fuel Systems

ASTM
Method Of Test Designation Limits

Calculated Cetane Number D-976 40 (Min.)

90% Boiling Point D-86 650° F (Max.)
Final Boiling Point D-86 100° F (Max.)
Distillation Recovery D-86 99.0% (Min.)
Total Sulfur D-1552 0. 50% (Max.) - Note 1
Corrosive Sulfur Modified D-130 No. 2 Strip Or Better
(3 hr. @212°F)
Conradson Carbon Residue D-189 0.35% (Max.)
(on 10% bottoms)
Water And Sediment D-1796 0.05% (Max.)
Cloud And Pour Point D-2500, D-97 Note 2
Flash Point D-93 Note 3
Organic Chlorides U.O.P. Method 20 ppm Total Chloride
No. 588-65 (Max.)-Note 4
Filtration Cleanliness Test EMD Standard 1.3 mg. Per Liter
(solid matter such as rust, Laboratory Practice (Max.) Of Ash Residue
cracking catalyst, and clays) No. 102 On 0.80 Micron Filter –
Note 5.
Viscosity D-445 32-45 SUS at 100° F
(1.8 - 5.8 cs)
Ash, Weight % D-482 0.02% (Max.)

*This bulletin is revised and supersedes all previous Fuel Oil Recommendation bulletins.

DE-LMPR -1- November 1978

M.I. 1750
of all who are involved in the manufacture, dewaxing agents in cold weather pipeline
transportation, and handling of the fuels. The fuel should operations, or from improper desalting of crude
be free from acid, which, when in contact with any oils at an inexperienced refinery, followed by a
metal, forms enough soap to plug the fuel filters. reaction between the olefins and salt in the
Electro-Motive will consult, upon request, with any user, distillation unit. From past experiences, most
supplier, or petroleum refiner on any question pertaining refineries in the U.S.A. are alert to prevent the
to fuels to be used in our engines. presence of chlorides in the fuel. Their precautions
are now so automatic that cases of chlorides in the
NOTES ON TEST LIMITS: fuel seldom occur, and since routine control
testing for chlorides is a time consuming
1. For maximum engine life, the fuel sulfur content procedure involving relatively large samples of
should not exceed the 0.5% recommended in this fuel, it is not considered necessary in the United
M.I. States.

As fuel sulfur content increases, engine wear and When testing for chlorides, EMD prefers the
maintenance costs will also increase. As a result, U.O.P. method No. 588-65, which employs the
the user should carefully weigh the economics of sodium biphenyl reduction procedure to obtain
less expensive high sulfur fuels against such ppm of the organic chloride.
increases in maintenance costs.
5. Until recently, "Filtration Cleanliness Tests" have
The effect of high sulfur fuels on the diesel engine not been generally employed or required in
lubricant is also one of increased severity, and connection with diesel fuel. Experience has been
demands the use of high alkaline reserve that usual foreign contaminants, rust for instance,
lubricants as well as more frequent laboratory are removed by the filtration facilities at fueling
analysis and oil change intervals to assist in stations, and by the filtration equipment normally
minimizing the effects of high sulfur fuels as well supplied with engines. The increasing use of
as insuring effective levels of engine protection. In catalytically cracked fuels, however, has produced
this regard, EMD will assist, upon request, in the instances where minute catalyst fines were
selection of a qualified lubricant formulated for accidentally introduced into the diesel fuel
such applications. Obviously, due considerations production. These cannot be removed by the
must be given to legal limits on fuel sulfur content commercial filters used at fueling stations and on
where they apply. engines. The "Filtration Cleanliness Test" has been
added to our diesel fuel recommendations to guard
2.The cloud and pour point of a fuel are measures against contaminants of this nature.
of the formation of wax crystals and fluidity at low
temperatures. To insure adequate flow through the Because an involved laboratory procedure is
fuel system filtration media during cold weather, required to distinguish the objectionable catalyst
the customer must specify the appropriate cloud particles from other impurities, EMD suggests that
and pour point requirements based on the lowest all ashable material should not exceed 1.3 mg per
fuel system temperature expected. As a general liter of fuel when filtered through an 0.80 micron
rule, the cloud point should be 10° F (6° C) below millipore paper. In those cases where
the lowest expected fuel temperature to preclude contamination from catalyst fines is suspect, a
the plugging of filtration media with wax sample of at least one gallon should be taken at the
precipitates. refinery where any significant ash content is most
likely attributable to catalyst fines.
3. Fuels normally used have minimum flash points of
150° F. Fuels with lower flash points can be used In checking the cleanliness of diesel fuel samples
without affecting engine operation, however, fuel taken from tank cars or customer fuel storage
handling and storage may require added tanks, the sample should be taken by acceptable
precautions. sampling methods. Cleanliness properties are then
evaluated using EMD Standard Laboratory
4. The use of fuel containing organic chlorides Practice No. 102 which utilizes the entire fuel
results in rapid wear of chrome plated and iron sample as a measure of the ashable solids present
surfaces in the combustion chamber. The presence in the fuel. This procedure has been appended to
of organic chlorides in fuel is rare but can occur the M.I. to assist customers who may wish to
from the use of halogenated perform their own analysis of fuel cleanliness.

DE-LMPR -2- November 1978

M.I. 1750
Although the "Filtration Cleanliness Test" will 8. Muffle furnace, capable of maintaining a
check the fuel for ashable contaminants, it does temperature of 775 ± 25° C.
not limit the amount of combustible organic
contaminants. If fuel filters plug prematurely, the 9. Porcelain crucible, wide form, glazed throughout,
fuel should be checked for bacteria or fungus 29 to 31 ml capacity, 46 to 49 mm (1.81" to 1.93")
contamination and be treated with suitable biocide, in rim diameter.
if necessary.
Reagents
EMD STANDARD LABORATORY PRACTICE NO.
102 Isopropyl Alcohol
N-Pentane (flushing fluid)
DETERMINATION OF PARTICULATE Distilled Water
CONTAMINANT IN FUEL OIL Liquid Detergent, Water Soluble
BY LABORATORY FILTRATION
Filtered Reagents
Scope
Filtered through a 0.45 pm membrane filter.
This method covers time gravimetric procedure for
determination of particulate contaminant in fuel oil by Preparation Of Apparatus
laboratory filtration. And Sample Containers
All components of the filtration apparatus, sample
Summary Of Method
containers, and their caps must be thoroughly cleaned
and rinsed thoroughly with filtered reagents.
A known volume of fuel is filtered through a preweighed
Laboratory Filtration And Total Contaminant
membrane filter and the increase in membrane weight
Determination Thoroughly clean the outside of the
determined after washing and drying.
sample container in the region of the cap by washing
with detergent and water, rinsing with tap water and
Apparatus
filtered isopropyl alcohol. Shake the sample container
vigorously for about 1/2 minute. Remove the cap and
For determining the total contaminant: (Ref. Fig. 1).
any external contaminant that may be present in the
threads of the sample container by washing with filtered
1. Analytical balance, single or double-pan, whose
flushing fluid ensuring that none of the washings enter
precision standard deviation must be 0.07 mg or
the container.
better.
Pour some of the sample,into the filter funnel. Apply
2. Oven, of the static type (without fan assisted vacuum to the flask and maintain a liquid head in the
circulation), controlling to 90 ± 5° C. funnel until completion of filtration by suitable
transference of the remainder of the sample, agitating the
3. Petri dish, approximately 125 mm in diameter with sample container before each addition. Disconnect the
removable glass supports for membrane filters. vacuum and record the volume of filtered sample.
Use 250 ml to 350 ml of filtered flushing fluid in this
4. Forceps, flat-bladed with unserrated nonpointed and succeeding paragraph. Wash the sample container
tips. with four 50 ml quantities of filtered flushing fluid to
complete the transference of the contaminant to the
5. Vacuum system. membrane filter.
Wash down the inside of the funnel and outside joint
6. Test membrane filters, plain 47 mm diameter, between the funnel and filter base with filtered flushing
nominal pore size 0.8 pm . fluid. With the vacuum applied, carefully remove the
clamp and funnel. Wash the periphery of the membrane
7. Filtration apparatus, funnel and funnel base with a filter by directing a gentle stream of flushing fluid from
filter support, such that a membrane filter can be the edge to the center, taking care not to wash any of the
clamped between the sealing surfaces of the funnel contaminant from the surface of the membrane filter.
and its base, by means of a metal clamp. Maintain vacuum after the final washing only for the
(Millipore Filter Corp. apparatus.) few seconds necessary to remove the excess flushing
fluid from the membrane filter.

DE-LMPR -3- November 1978

M.I. 1750

Fig. 1 - Millipore Filter Apparatus

Using the clean forceps, carefully remove the membrane

filter from the filter base, and place it in a clean, covered Place the membrane filter in a clean porcelain crucible
petri dish. Dry and reweigh membrane filter, taking care and soak with filtered isopropyl alcohol. Ignite the
not to disturb the contaminant on the surface of the membrane filter until it is charred. Place the crucible
membrane filter. containing the charred membrane filter in a muffle
furnace at 775 ± 25° C for 1 hour, allow to cool, and
Calculation And Report weigh.
Of Total Contaminant
Calculation And Report Of
Subtract the initial weight of the test membrane filter Non-Combustible Contaminants
from the final weight. Report the results to the nearest
0.01 mg/liter as total contaminant mg/liter and also the Divide the increase in the crucible weight by the volume
sample volume used in the test. of sample filtered and report the results to the nearest
0.01 mg/liter as, total ash mg/liter and also the volume
Determination Of Non-Combustible used in the test.
Contaminant

* * * * A Service Department Publication * * * *

Electro-Motive Division Of General Motors La Grange, Illinois 60525

DE-LMPR -4- November 1978