IP 226/04 ISO 2909 : 2002 D2270-93(98) BS 2000 : Part 226 2002

Petroleum products — Calculation of viscosity index from

kinematic viscosity

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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.

1 Scope referenced document (including any amendments)

applies.
This International Standard describes two
procedures for calculating the viscosity index (VI) of ISO 3104:1994, Petroleum products — Transparent
petroleum products and related materials, such as and opaque liquids — Determination of kinematic
lubricating oils, from their kinematic viscosities at viscosity and calculation of dynamic viscosity
40 EC and 100 EC.
3 Terms and definitions
Procedure A is applicable to petroleum products of
viscosity index up to and including 100. For the purposes of this document, the following
terms and definitions apply.
Procedure B is applicable to petroleum products of
viscosity index 100 or greater. 3.1
viscosity index
NOTE - The results obtained from the calculation of VI VI
from kinematic viscosities determined at 40 EC and number used to characterize the variation of the
100 EC are virtually the same as those obtained from the kinematic viscosity of a petroleum product with
former VI system using kinematic viscosities determined
temperature
at 37,78 EC and 98,89 EC.
NOTE - For products of similar kinematic viscosity, the
This International Standard does not apply to higher the viscosity index, the smaller the effect of
petroleum products with kinematic viscosities less temperature on its kinematic viscosity.
than 2,0 mm2/s at 100 EC. Table 1 applies to
petroleum products with kinematic viscosities 4 Principle
between 2 mm2/s and 70 mm2/s at 100 EC.
Equations are provided for calculating the viscosity Kinematic viscosities at 40 EC and 100 EC are
index of petroleum products having kinematic determined by a standard test method and the
viscosities above 70 mm2/s at 100 EC. viscosity index is calculated from these test data
using known correlations.
NOTE - In cases where kinematic viscosity data are not
available at temperatures of 40 EC and 100 EC, an
estimate may be made of the viscosity index by 5 Determination
calculating the kinematic viscosity at temperatures of 40
EC and 100 EC from data obtained at other temperatures. Determine the kinematic viscosity of the sample at
Such viscosity index data may be considered as suitable 40 EC and 100 EC in accordance with ISO 3104.
for information only and not for specification purposes.
6 Calculation
2 Normative references
6.1 General
The following referenced documents are
indispensable for the application of this document. Calculate the viscosity index using one of the
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. procedures given in 6.2 and 6.3.
For undated references, the latest edition of the

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Table 1 - Measured values of L and H for kinematic viscosity

Kinematic Kinematic
viscosity at viscosity at
100 EC L H 100 EC L H

mm2/s mm2/s
2,00 7,994 6,394 6,00 57,97 38,19
2,10 8,640 6,894 6,10 59,74 39,17
2,20 9,309 7,410 6,20 61,52 40,15
2,30 10,00 7,944 6,30 63,32 41,13
2,40 10,71 8,496 6,40 65,18 42,14

2,50 11,45 9,063 6,50 67,12 43,18

2,60 12,21 9,647 6,60 69,16 44,24
2,70 13,00 10,25 6,70 71,29 45,33
2,80 13,80 10,87 6,80 73,48 46,44
2,90 14,63 11,50 6,90 75,72 47,51

3,00 15,49 12,15 7,00 78,00 48,57

3,10 16,36 12,82 7,10 80,25 49,61
3,20 17,26 13,51 7,20 82,39 50,69
3,30 18,18 14,21 7,30 84,53 51,78
3,40 19,12 14,93 7,40 86,66 52,88

3,50 20,09 15,66 7,50 88,85 53,98

3,60 21,08 16,42 7,60 91,04 55,09
3,70 22,09 17,19 7,70 93,20 56,20
3,80 23,13 17,97 7,80 95,43 57,31
3,90 24,19 18,77 7,90 97,72 58,45

4,00 25,32 19,56 8,00 100,0 59,60

4,10 26,50 20,37 8,10 102,3 60,74
4,20 27,75 21,21 8,20 104,6 61,89
4,30 29,07 22,05 8,30 106,9 63,05
4,40 30,48 22,92 8,40 109,2 64,18

4,50 31,96 23,81 8,50 111,5 65,32

4,60 33,52 24,71 8,60 113,9 66,48
4,70 35,13 25,63 8,70 116,2 67,64
4,80 36,79 26,57 8,80 118,5 68,79
4,90 38,50 27,53 8,90 120,9 69,94

5,00 40,23 28,49 9,00 123,3 71,10

5,10 41,99 29,46 9,10 125,7 72,27
5,20 43,76 30,43 9,20 128,0 73,42
5,30 45,53 31,40 9,30 130,4 74,57
5,40 47,31 32,37 9,40 132,8 75,73

5,50 49,09 33,34 9,50 135,3 76,91

5,60 50,87 34,32 9,60 137,7 78,08
5,70 52,64 35,29 9,70 140,1 79,27
5,80 54,42 36,26 9,80 142,7 80,46
5,90 56,20 37,23 9,90 145,2 81,67

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Table 1 - Measured values of L and H for kinematic viscosity (continued)

Kinematic Kinematic
viscosity at viscosity at
100 EC L H 100 EC L H

mm2/s mm2/s
10,0 147,7 82,87 14,0 263,3 135,4
10,1 150,3 84,08 14,1 266,6 136,8
10,2 152,9 85,30 14,2 269,8 138,2
10,3 155,4 86,51 14,3 273,0 139,6
10,4 158,0 87,72 14,4 276,3 141,0

10,5 160,6 88,95 14,5 279,6 142,4

10,6 163,2 90,19 14,6 283,0 143,9
10,7 165,8 91,40 14,7 286,4 145,3
10,8 168,5 92,65 14,8 289,7 146,8
10,9 171,2 93,92 14,9 293,0 148,2

11,0 173,9 95,19 15,0 296,5 149,7

11,1 176,6 96,45 15,1 300,0 151,2
11,2 179,4 97,71 15,2 303,4 152,6
11,3 182,1 98,97 15,3 306,9 154,1
11,4 184,9 100,2 15,4 310,3 155,6

11,5 187,6 101,5 15,5 313,9 157,0

11,6 190,4 102,8 15,6 317,5 158,6
11,7 193,3 104,1 15,7 321,1 160,1
11,8 196,2 105,4 15,8 324,6 161,6
11,9 199,0 106,7 15,9 328,3 163,1

12,0 201,9 108,0 16,0 331,9 164,6

12,1 204,8 109,4 16,1 335,5 166,1
12,2 207,8 110,7 16,2 339,2 167,7
12,3 210,7 112,0 16,3 342,9 169,2
12,4 213,6 113,3 16,4 346,6 170,7

12,5 216,6 114,7 16,5 350,3 172,3

12,6 219,6 116,0 16,6 354,1 173,8
12,7 222,6 117,4 16,7 358,0 175,4
12,8 225,7 118,7 16,8 361,7 177,0
12,9 228,8 120,1 16,9 365,6 178,6

13,0 231,9 121,5 17,0 369,4 180,2

13,1 235,0 122,9 17,1 373,3 181,7
13,2 238,1 124,2 17,2 377,1 183,3
13,3 241,2 125,6 17,3 381,0 184,9
13,4 244,3 127,0 17,4 384,9 186,5

13,5 247,4 128,4 17,5 388,9 188,1

13,6 250,6 129,8 17,6 392,7 189,7
13,7 253,8 131,2 17,7 396,7 191,3
13,8 257,0 132,6 17,8 400,7 192,9
13,9 260,1 134,0 17,9 404,6 194,6

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Table 1 - Measured values of L and H for kinematic viscosity (continued)

Kinematic Kinematic
viscosity at viscosity at
100 EC L H 100 EC L H

mm2/s mm2/s
18,0 408,6 196,2 24,0 683,9 301,8
18,1 412,6 197,8 24,2 694,5 305,6
18,2 416,7 199,4 24,4 704,8 309,4
18,3 420,7 201,0 24,6 714,9 313,2
18,4 424,9 202,6 24,8 725,7 317,0

18,5 429,0 204,3 25,0 736,5 320,9

18,6 433,2 205,9 25,2 747,2 324,9
18,7 437,3 207,6 25,4 758,2 328,8
18,8 441,5 209,3 25,6 768,8 332,7
18,9 445,7 211,0 25,8 779,7 336,7

19,0 449,9 212,7 26,0 790,4 340,5

19,1 454,2 214,4 26,2 801,6 344,4
19,2 458,4 216,1 26,4 812,8 348,4
19,3 462,7 217,7 26,6 824,1 352,3
19,4 467,0 219,4 26,8 835,5 356,4

19,5 471,3 221,1 27,0 847,0 360,5

19,6 475,7 222,8 27,2 857,5 364,6
19,7 479,7 224,5 27,4 869,0 368,3
19,8 483,9 226,2 27,6 880,6 372,3
19,9 488,6 227,8 27,8 892,3 376,4

20,0 493,2 229,5 28,0 904,1 380,6

20,2 501,9 233,0 28,2 915,8 384,6
20,4 510,8 236,4 28,4 927,6 388,8
20,6 519,9 240,1 28,6 938,6 393,0
20,8 528,8 243,5 28,8 951,2 396,6

21,0 538,4 247,1 29,0 963,4 401,1

21,2 547,5 250,7 29,2 975,4 405,3
21,4 556,7 254,2 29,4 987,1 409,5
21,6 566,4 257,8 29,6 998,9 413,5
21,8 575,6 261,5 29,8 1 011 417,6

22,0 585,2 264,9 30,0 1 024 421,7

22,2 595,0 268,6 30,5 1 055 432,4
22,4 604,3 272,3 31,0 1 086 443,2
22,6 614,2 275,8 31,5 1 119 454,0
22,8 624,1 279,6 32,0 1 151 464,9

23,0 633,6 283,3 32,5 1 184 475,9

23,2 643,4 286,8 33,0 1 217 487,0
23,4 653,8 290,5 33,5 1 251 498,1
23,6 663,3 294,4 34,0 1 286 509,6
23,8 673,7 297,9 34,5 1 321 521,1

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 VISCOSITY INDEX, IP 226

Table 1 - Measured values of L and H for kinematic viscosity (continued)

Kinematic Kinematic
viscosity at viscosity at
100 EC L H 100 EC L H

mm2/s mm2/s
35,0 1 356 532,5 55,0 3 126 1 066
35,5 1 391 544,0 55,5 3 180 1 082
36,0 1 427 555,6 56,0 3 233 1 097
36,5 1 464 567,1 56,5 3 286 1 112
37,0 1 501 579,3 57,0 3 340 1 127

37,5 1 538 591,3 57,5 3 396 1 143

38,0 1 575 603,1 58,0 3 452 1 159
38,5 1 613 615,0 58,5 3 507 1 175
39,0 1 651 627,1 59,0 3 563 1 190
39,5 1 691 639,2 59,5 3 619 1 206

40,0 1 730 651,8 60,0 3 676 1 222

40,5 1 770 664,2 60,5 3 734 1 238
41,0 1 810 676,6 61,0 3 792 1 254
41,5 1 851 689,1 61,5 3 850 1 270
42,0 1 892 701,9 62,0 3 908 1 286

42,5 1 935 714,9 62,5 3 966 1 303

43,0 1 978 728,2 63,0 4 026 1 319
43,5 2 021 741,3 63,5 4 087 1 336
44,0 2 064 754,4 64,0 4 147 1 352
44,5 2 108 767,6 64,5 4 207 1 369

45,0 2 152 780,9 65,0 4 268 1 386

45,5 2 197 794,5 65,5 4 329 1 402
46,0 2 243 808,2 66,0 4 392 1 419
46,5 2 288 821,9 66,5 4 455 1 436
47,0 2 333 835,5 67,0 4 517 1 454

47,5 2 380 849,2 67,5 4 580 1 471

48,0 2 426 863,0 68,0 4 645 1 488
48,5 2 473 876,9 68,5 4 709 1 506
49,0 2 521 890,9 69,0 4 773 1 523
49,5 2 570 905,3 69,5 4 839 1 541

50,0 2 618 919,6 70,0 4 905 1 558

50,5 2 667 933,6
51,0 2 717 948,2
51,5 2 767 962,9
52,0 2 817 977,5

52,5 2 867 992,1

53,0 2 918 1 007
53,5 2 969 1 021
54,0 3 020 1 036
54,5 3 073 1 051

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6.2 Procedure A 6.2.5 The calculation method using Table 1 is

indicated by the example shown below:
6.2.1 Use procedure A for petroleum products of
viscosity index up to and including 100 (see the Measured
note to 8.2). oil properties

6.2.2 If the kinematic viscosity of the petroleum Kinematic viscosity at 40 EC, mm2/s 73,30
product at 100 EC is in the range of 2 mm2/s to Kinematic viscosity at 100 EC, mm2/s 8,860
70 mm2/s, extract from Table 1 the corresponding
values of L and H. From Table 1 by interpolation, L = 119,94

where From Table 1 by interpolation, H= 69,48

L is the kinematic viscosity,
expressed in millimetres squared per 119,94 − 73,30
VI = x100
second, at 40 EC of a petroleum 119,94 − 69,48
product of viscosity index 0 having
the same kinematic viscosity at 100 VI = 92,43
EC as the petroleum product whose
viscosity index is to be calculated; VI = 92
H is the kinematic viscosity,
expressed in millimetres squared per 6.3 Procedure B
second, at 40 EC of a petroleum
product of viscosity index 100 6.3.1 Use procedure B for petroleum products of
having the same kinematic viscosity viscosity index 100 or greater (see the note to 8.2).
at 100 EC as the petroleum product
whose viscosity index is to be 6.3.2 If the kinematic viscosity of the petroleum
calculated. product at 100 EC is in the range 2 mm2/s to
70 mm2/s, extract the corresponding value of H
Measured values which are not listed but which are from Table 1. Measured values which are not listed,
within the range of Table 1 may be obtained by but which are within the range of Table 1, may be
linear interpolation. obtained by linear interpolation.

6.2.3 If the measured kinematic viscosity of the 6.3.3 If the measured kinematic viscosity of the
petroleum product at 100 EC is above 70 mm2/s, petroleum product at 100 EC is greater than
calculate the values of L and H using the following 70 mm2/s, calculate the value of H using equation
equations: (2) (see 6.2.3 for the definition of Y)
2 2
L = 0,835 3Y + 14,67Y ! 216 (1) H = 0,168 4Y + 11,85Y ! 97
2
H = 0,168 4Y +11,85Y ! 97 (2) 6.3.4 Calculate the viscosity index, VI, of the
petroleum product using the following equation:
where Y is the kinematic viscosity, expressed in
millimetres squared per second, at 100 EC of the
petroleum product whose viscosity index is to be VI =
(10 ) − 1 + 100
n

(4)
0,007 15
calculated.

6.2.4 Calculate the viscosity index, VI, of the where

petroleum product using the following equation: log10 H − log10 U
n=
log10 Y
L−U (3)
VI = x 100
L− H
U is the kinematic viscosity,
expressed in millimetres squared per
where U is the kinematic viscosity, expressed in
second, at 40 EC of the petroleum
millimetres squared per second, at 40 EC of the
product whose viscosity index is to
petroleum product whose viscosity index is to be
be calculated;
calculated.

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 VISCOSITY INDEX, IP 226

Y is the kinematic viscosity, 7 Expression of results

expressed in millimetres squared per
second, at 100 EC of the petroleum Report the result to the nearest whole number.
product whose viscosity index is to When the result is exactly halfway between the
be calculated. nearest two whole numbers, round it to the nearest
even number. For example, 115,5 should be
6.3.5 The method is illustrated by the example reported as 116.
shown below:
8 Precision
Measured
oil properties 8.1 The calculation of viscosity index from
100 EC is exact.
Kinematic viscosity at 40 EC, mm2/s 22,83
Kinematic viscosity at 100 EC, mm2/s 5,050 8.2 The precision of a viscosity-index value
depends on the precision of the two independent
From Table 1 by interpolation, H= 28,97 kinematic viscosity values from which it is derived.
The results of two viscosity-index calculations shall
By substitution: be considered suspect if the values of the kinematic
viscosities differ by more than the amounts quoted
log10 28,97 − log10 22,83 for repeatability or reproducibility as given in ISO
n=
log10 5,05 3104. The precision levels given in Tables 2 and 3
for a probability level of 95 % are based entirely on
= 0,147 08 the precision levels given in ISO 3104 for base and
formulated oils. They give an indication of the

VI =
(10 0,147 08
) − 1 + 100 precision of the viscosity index attributed to the
precision of kinematic viscosity given in ISO 3104.
0,007 15

VI = 156,37

VI = 156

Table 2 - Precision for procedure A

Kinematic VI = 0 VI = 100
viscosity
at 100EC Repeatability, r Reproducibility, R Repeatability, r Reproducibility, R

mm2/s Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated

4 0,98 2,31 5,77 6,75 0,73 1,73 4,32 5,05

6 0,71 1,68 4,20 4,91 0,40 0,94 2,35 2,75

8 0,57 1,35 3,38 3,95 0,30 0,70 1,75 2,05

15 0,45 1,06 2,66 3,11 0,20 0,48 1,19 1,39

30 0,39 0,92 2,29 2,68 0,14 0,33 0,82 0,96

50 0,36 0,85 2,11 2,47 0,11 0,26 0,65 0,76

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 VISCOSITY INDEX, IP 226

Table 3 - Precision for procedure B

Kinematic VI = 100 VI = 200

viscosity
at 100EC Repeatability, r Reproducibility, R Repeatability, r Reproducibility, R

mm2/s Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated Base oil Formulated

4 0,50 1,18 2,94 3,44 0,77 1,82 4,54 5,31

6 0,37 0,87 2,18 2,55 0,57 1,34 3,35 3,92

8 0,31 0,74 1,84 2,15 0,48 1,13 2,82 3,30

15 0,23 0,55 1,37 1,61 0,36 0,84 2,11 2,46

30 0,19 0,44 1,11 1,30 0,29 0,68 1,71 2,00

50 0,17 0,40 0,99 1,16 0,26 0,61 1,52 1,78

NOTE Tables 2 and 3 show the precision attributed to base oils and formulated oils given in ISO 3104, as calculated
approaching VI = 100 from VIs less than 100 by procedure A, and calculated approaching VI = 100 from VIs greater
than 100 by procedure B. The attributed precision for other VIs may be roughly estimated by interpolation within each
table.

9 Test report

The test report shall contain at least the following

information:

a) a reference to this International Standard;

b) the type and complete identification of the

product tested;

c) the result of the test (see clause 7);

d) whether procedure A or procedure B was

used;

e) any deviation, by agreement or otherwise,

from the procedure specified;

f) the date of the test.

226.8