Reference Fuels
ASTM Reference Fuels—When gasolines or diesel fuels are to be encountered in service, the test shall
be conducted in one of the ASTM reference fuels (Note 2) specified in Table 3, except as indicated in
6.1.3.
NOTE: 2—The ASTM reference fuels in Table 3 have been selected to provide the maximum and
minimum swelling effects produced by commercial gasoline’s. Reference Fuel A has a mild action on
rubber vulcanizates and produces results of the same order as low swelling gasolines of the highly
paraffinic, straight run type. Reference Fuels B, C, and D simulate the swelling behavior of the
majority of commercial gasolines, with Reference Fuel C producing the highest swelling which is
typical of highly aromatic premium grades of automotive gasoline. Reference Fuel F (diesel fuel)
swells rubber vulcanizates to a lesser extent than Reference Fuel B. Reference Fuels G, H, and I are
fuel-alcohol blends (gasohol), which have a stronger swelling action than the corresponding fuel
alone, where blends with methanol are more severe than blends with ethanol. Reference Fuel K, a
methanol-rich blend, has a substantially weaker swelling action than that of the fuel used to prepare
the blend. Reference Fuels I and K are also referred to as M15 and M85, respectively.
TABLE 3 ASTM Reference Fuels.
Fuel Type Composition, Volume %
Reference Fuel A IsooctaneA, 100
Reference Fuel B IsooctaneA, 70; TolueneA, 30
Reference Fuel C IsooctaneA, 50; TolueneA, 50
Reference Fuel D IsooctaneA, 60; TolueneA, 40
Reference Fuel E TolueneA, 100
Reference Fuel F Diesel Fuel, Grade No. 2B, 100
Reference Fuel G Fuel D, 85; anhydrous denatured ethanolC, 15
Reference Fuel H Fuel C, 85; anhydrous denatured ethanolC, 15
Reference Fuel I Fuel C, 85; anhydrous methanol, 15
Reference Fuel K Fuel C, 15; anhydrous methanol, 85
B Specification D 975.