This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the content of undissolved substances, referred to as total contamination, in middle distillates, in diesel fuels containing up to 30 % (V/V) fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and in neat FAME. The working range is from 12 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg and it was established in an interlaboratory study by applying EN ISO 4259 [2].
This European Standard in general applies to products having a kinematic viscosity not exceeding 8 mm2/s at 20 °C, or 5 mm2/s at 40 °C, e.g. diesel fuel as specified in EN 590 [1].
This test method may be used for diesel fuels containing more than 30 % (V/V) FAME and for petroleum products having a kinematic viscosity exceeding 8 mm2/s at 20 °C, or 5 mm2/s at 40 °C, however in such cases the precision of the test method is not defined.
NOTE 1 Excessive contamination in a fuel system can give rise to premature blocking of filters and/or hardware failure, and is therefore undesirable.
NOTE 2 For the purposes of this European Standard, the term "% (V/V)" is used to represent the volume fraction, f, of a material.
WARNING - Use of this standard may involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. 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 to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.