Australia Standards

The quality of automotive fuels in Australia has been regulated by a number of legal instruments, including the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2001 and the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001. The fuel quality standards are administered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Two groups of standards are applicable to diesel fuels:

  • Environmental Standards regulate fuel parameters that have a direct impact on the environment.
  • Operability Standards address those parameters of diesel that do not have a direct impact on emissions but, if not controlled, can have adverse impacts on the efficient operation of the engine.

The environmental and operability standards for diesel fuels are summarized in the Table 1.

Table 1
Diesel Fuel Standards
ParameterStandardTest MethodDate
Environmental Standards
Sulfur, max500 ppmASTM 545331-Dec-2002
50 ppm1-Jan-2006
10 ppm1-Jan-2009
Cetane Index, min46ASTM D47371-Jan-2002
Density820 - 860 kg/m3ASTM D40521-Jan-2002
820 - 850 kg/m31-Jan-2006
Distillation T95, max370°CASTM D861-Jan-2002
360°C1-Jan-2006
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), max11% massIP 3911-Jan-2006
Ash and Suspended Solids, max100 ppmASTM D4821-Jan-2002
Viscosity @ 40°C2.0 - 4.5 cStASTM D4451-Jan-2002
Operability Standards
Carbon Residue (10% distillation residue), max0.2% massASTM D453016-Oct-2002
Water and Sediment, max0.05% volASTM D270916-Oct-2002
Conductivity @ ambient temp, min50 pS/mASTM D262416-Oct-2002
Oxidation Stability, max25 mg/lASTM D227416-Oct-2002
Color, max2ASTM D150016-Oct-2002
Copper Corrosion (3 hrs @ 50°C), maxClass 1ASTM D13016-Oct-2002
Flash point, min61.5°CASTM D9316-Oct-2002
Filter Blocking Tendency, max2.0IP 38716-Oct-2002
Lubricity, max0.460 mm *IP 45016-Oct-2002
* all diesel containing less than 500 ppm sulfur