Diesel Fuel Quality and Function 18-8-10 - US (Update Feb-2022)
Diesel Fuel Quality and Function 18-8-10 - US (Update Feb-2022)
Diesel Fuel Quality and Function 18-8-10 - US (Update Feb-2022)
1. General
This Service Bulletin applies to all Volvo Penta marine commercial diesel engines.
Volvo Penta diesel engines are developed for fuels with main properties as described in appendix 1.
Volvo Penta diesel engines with emission level IMO tier 1 to IMO tier 3, EPA tier 1 to EPA tier3, IWW stage 1 to
stage 2 and CCNR (River Rhine) stage 1 and stage 2, are certified for compliance with emission legislations with
the diesel test fuels specified by law.
These fuels correspond with diesel fuel standards EN 590, ASTM D975 and JIS K2204 and paraffinic diesel fuel
standard EN 15940 as specified below. The engine must be used as intended and serviced according to operators
manual to fulfill the exhaust emissions
Volvo Penta also approves the use of other fuels as specified below.
However emission legislation compliance or fulfillment of expected lifetime may not be fulfilled with these fuels.
For IWW stage V, only diesel fuels acc to EN 590 and EN 15940 is approved for use according to emission
regulations. The engine must be used as intended and serviced according to operators manual to fulfill the exhaust
emissions.
NOTICE! Operators must check permission for usage of these fuels according to regional, national or local
regulations.
The fuel suppliers shall always ensure that their fuels meet relevant requirements and are fit for their intended
purpose. Their responsibility includes any use of additives for proper engine performance and function. Special
requirements are placed on cold-flow properties, i.e. temperature limit values of fuel filterability during operation
in winter conditions. In this paper exhaust after-treatment systems is mentioned, that means SCR (Selected
Catalytic Reduction).
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2. Diesel fuels
Volvo Penta approves the use of diesel fuels as specified in Table 1, with corresponding appendices. Note the
restrictions and information for each fuel. Note also that diesel engines with exhaust aftertreatment systems (SCR)
has restrictions of max sulfur and max FAME limit.
Table 1 - Summary
Fuel/Emission Fuel standard Restrictions IWW stage V * IMO III* IMO I
level and more IMO II
information EPA Tier 1
Chapter/ EPA Tier 2
Appendix EPA Tier 3
EU IWW stage 1
to IIIa
CCNR stage 1
and 2
EN590 EN590 3/2 Yes Yes Yes
ASTM D975 No ASTM D975-17 3/3 No Yes Yes
2D
JIS K 2204 JIS K 2204 3/4. No Yes Yes
NATO F-54 A-A-52557/ 3/5 No Yes(If sulfur is Yes
ASTM D975 ≤ 1000 mg/kg)
Minimum - 3/6 No Yes Yes
requirements
diesel fuels
Paraffinic EN 15940 4/7 Yes Yes Yes
diesel fuels
High FAME EN 16734 5/8 No Yes Yes
diesel fuels (10
to 30% FAME) EN 16709 5/8 No No Yes
3. EN590, ASTM D975-17, JIS K 2204, NATO F-54 and other diesel fuels
EN 590 Appendix 2
ASTM D975 No 2-D Appendix 3 • Cetane number below 45 will give starting
difficulties and increased emissions.
• Density above 860 kg/m3 will give excessive
power.
• Lubricity (wsd 1.4) above 460 µm will decrease the
durability of the fuel injection equipment.
JIS K 2204 Appendix 4 Lubricity (wsd 1.4) above 460 µm will decrease the
durability of the fuel injection equipment.
NATO F-54 Appendix 5 Sulfur level may differ between different countries.
Other diesel fuels Appendix 6 Minimum requirements in countries where the above
fuels are not available
Restrictions
• For ASTM D975 the density must be max 860 kg/m3
• For JIS K 2204 the lubricity (wsd 1.4) must be max 460 µm
• For NATO F-54 and other diesel fuels the sulfur content must be max
- 1 000 mg/kg for engines with exhaust after-treatment systems
- 5 000 mg/kg for engines without exhaust after-treatment systems; however oil change intervals might be
impacted in accordance with the engine operators manual
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Paraffinic diesel fuels have higher cetane numbers and lower densities than diesel fuels. HVO (Hydro-treated
Vegetable Oil) and BTL (Bio-To-Liquid) are renewable paraffinic fuels. GTL (Gas-To-Liquid) and CTL (Coal-To-
Liquid) are fossil paraffinic fuels.
The use of all paraffinic fuels will give decreased hydrocarbon and soot emissions but also marginally higher fuel
consumption and marginally lower power compared to diesel fuels.
The use of renewable paraffinic fuels will also give a substantial decrease of fossil CO2 emissions.
Volvo Penta approves the use of paraffinic diesel fuels as specified in table 3 and appendix 7.
EN 15940 Appendix 7
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The use of high FAME diesel fuels will impair durability and power, as well as increase fuel consumption and
nitrogen oxide emissions, but will also decrease other exhaust emissions and fossil CO2 compared to diesel fuels.
Volvo Penta approves the use of high FAME diesel fuels as specified in table 4 and appendices 8-10 as long as
the below restrictions and service requirements are followed. High FAME diesel fuels (>10%) are only for
engines without exhaust aftertreatment systems (SCR). However emission legislation compliance or
fulfillment of expected lifetime may not be fulfilled with these fuels.
ASTM D7467 Appendix 9 Cetane number below 45 will give poor startability
and increased hydrocarbon emissions
Other high FAME diesel Appendix 10 Minimum requirements in countries where the
fuels above fuels are not available
Restrictions
The use of marine distillate fuels will impair durability and emissions compared to diesel fuels.
Volvo Penta approves the use of marine distillate fuels as specified in table 5 and appendix 11 as long as the
below restrictions and service requirements are followed.
In normal case, marine distillate fuels are only for engines without exhaust aftertreatment systems (SCR).
If fuel sample test show that the sulfur level is below 1000 mg/kg, the fuel can also be used in IMO3 engines.
However emission legislation compliance or fulfillment of expected lifetime may not be fulfilled with these fuels.
ISO 8217 DMX Appendix 11 • Cetane number below 45 will give poor startability
and increased hydrocarbon emissions.
ISO 8217 DMA/DFA Appendix 11
• Density above 860 kg/m3 will give excessive
power and decreased durability of the fuel
injection equipment.
• Lubricity (wsd 1.4) above 460 µm will decrease the
durability of the fuel injection equipment.
• Sulfur level above 5000 mg/kg will decrease the
lube oil life.
Restrictions
Service requirements
7. Jet fuels
Jet fuels have lower cetane number, lower viscosity, lower lubricity and higher sulfur content than diesel fuels.
The use of jet fuels will impair durability, emissions, power and fuel consumption compared to diesel fuels.
Volvo Penta approves the use of ASTM D1655 (Jet A-1) as specified in table 6 and appendix 12, as long as the
below restrictions are followed. Jet fuels are only for engines without exhaust aftertreatment systems (SCR).
However emission legislation compliance or fulfillment of expected lifetime may not be fulfilled with these fuels.
Restrictions
Lubricity additives shall be used to ensure lubricity (wsd 1.4) max 460 µ m
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Property
Cetane number
Cetane index
The cetane index is calculated from the density and distillation range of the fuel.
The cetane index does not correlate to measured cetane numbers for additized diesel fuels.
Density at 15°C
Low density (mass per volume unit) reduces the engine power and increases the fuel consumption. Excessive
density will increase the engine power above safe limits.
Viscosity at 40°C
Low viscosity reduces the engine power and increases the fuel consumption. Excessive viscosity will decrease
the durability of the fuel injection equipment.
Lubricity is measured as corrected wear scar diameter (wsd 1.4) in HFRR testing.
Insufficient luricity will decrease the durability of the fuel injection equipment.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are defined as the total aromatic hydrocarbon less the mono-aromatic
hydrocarbon content. Excessive content will impair exhaust emission content, especially hydrocarbons and
particulates.
Aromaticity
Excessive aromatic content, and particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, will impair exhaust emission
content, especially particulates.
FAME (biodiesel) is blended into diesel fuels in order to reduce fossil CO2 emissions.
An excessive FAME content or poor FAME quality will impair the engine and exhaust after-treatment functions,
power, fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Oxidation stability
Oxidation stability is a measure of the chemical stability of the fuel, which is especially important for biodiesel
blends in the 20-30% range.
Sulfur content
Sulfur is an inherent part of fossil fuels. An excessive sulfur content will impair the engine and exhaust after-
treatment functions and emissions of sulfur oxides and particulates.
Water content
Excessive water content will cause corrosion and wear of engine parts, particularly in the fuel injection system.
Water also enables microbial growth in the fuel tank, which can lead to clogging of the fuel filter.
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Total contamination
Organic contaminants (bacteria, fungi etc.) can lead to clogging of the fuel filter.
Inorganic contaminants (dust, rust, sand) can cause severe damage to the fuel injection system.
Particulate matter
The cloud point is the temperature below which wax crystals begin to form in the fuel.
The cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is the lowest temperature at which the fuel still passes through a
standardized filtration device.
The pour point is the temperature below which the fuel becomes semi solid and loses its flow characteristics.
Flash point
The flashpoint is a measure of a fuel’s flammability, without significance for engine operation.
The flashpoint is important for classification of fuels into hazard classes for transport and insurance.
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Comments
Comments
1Low ambient temp as well as operation at high altitudes may require higher cetane ratings.
2When a cloud point below -12°C is specified, as can occur during winter, it is permitted to combine Grades No
1 and No 2 to meet the low temp requirements. In that case the min flash point shall be 38°C and the min viscosity
at 40°C shall be 1.7 mm2/s.
3FAME shall meet the requirements of ASTM D6751.
4Appropriate low temperature operability properties should be agreed upon between the fuel supplier and
purchaser for the intended use and expected ambient temperatures.
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Comment
Comment
Appendix 6 - Diesel fuel - minimum requirements. To use when ordinary diesel fuels are
not available.
CFPP1 °C - EN 116
1Appropriate low temperature operability properties should be agreed upon between the fuel supplier and
purchaser for the intended use and expected ambient temperatures.
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Class A Class B
h > 20 EN 15751
Comments
EN 16734 EN 16709
Density at 15°C kg/m3 820 - 845 820 - 860 825 - 865 EN ISO 3675
Viscosity at 40°C mm2/s 2.0 - 4.5 2.0 - 4.6 2.0 - 4.7 EN ISO 3104
Comment
Comments
1 Low ambient temperatures as well as engine operation at high altitudes, may require the use of fuels with higher
cetane ratings.
2If grade No 1-D or blends of Grade No 1-D and Grade No 2-D diesel fuel are used, the minimum viscosity shall
be 1.3 mm2/s.
3 FAME shall meet the requirements of ASTM D6751.
4Appropriate low temperature operability properties should be agreed upon between the fuel supplier and
purchaser for the intended use and expected ambient temperatures.
5 If grade No 1-D or blends of Grade No 1-D and Grade No 2-D diesel fuel are used, or a cloud point below -12°C
is specified, the minimum flash point shall be 38 °C.
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Appendix 10 - High FAME diesel fuel - minimum requirements. To use when ordinary
FAME diesel fuels are not available.
h ≥ 20 EN 15751
CFPP2 °C - EN 116
Comments
Comments
Comments