Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

40 CFR 86.113-94: -94 Fuel specifications.

(a) [Reserved]
(b) Petroleum diesel test fuel. (1) The petroleum fuels employed for testing diesel vehicles shall be clean and bright, with pour and cloud points adequate for operability. The petroleum diesel fuel may contain nonmetallic additives as follows: Cetane improver, metal deactivator, antioxidant, dehazer, antirust, pour depressant, dye, dispersant and biocide. Fuels specified for emissions testing are intended to be representative of commercially available in-use fuels.
(2) A diesel fuel designated as “Type 2-D” grade meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for exhaust emission testing:
Property Unit Type 2-D Reference procedure 1
(i) Cetane Number 40-50 ASTM D613
(ii) Cetane Index 40-50 ASTM D976
(iii) Distillation range:
(A) IBP 340-400 (171.1-204.4)
(B) 10 pct. point 400-460 (204.4-237.8)
(C) 50 pct. point °F ( °C) 470-540 (243.3-282.2) STM D86
(D) 90 pct. point 560-630 (293.3-332.2)
(E) EP 610-690 (321.1-365.6)
(iv) Gravity °API 32-37 ASTM D4052
(v) Total sulfur ppm 7-15 ASTM D2622
(vi) Hydrocarbon composition: Aromatics, minimum (Remainder shall be paraffins, naphthenes, and olefins) pct 27 ASTM D5186
(vii) Flashpoint, min °F ( °C) 130 (54.4) ASTM D93
(viii) Viscosity centistokes 2.0-3.2 ASTM D445
1 ASTM procedures are incorporated by reference in § 86.1.
(3) A diesel fuel designated as “Type 2-D” grade meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for service accumulation:
Property Unit Type 2-D Reference procedure 1
(i) Cetane Number 38-58 ASTM D613
(ii) Cetane Index, minimum 40 ASTM D976
(iii) 90 percent distillation °F 540-630 ASTM D86
(iv) Gravity °API 30-39 ASTM D4052
(v) Total sulfur Ppm 7-15 ASTM D2622
(vi) Flashpoint, minimum °F ( °C) 130 (54.4) ASTM D93
(vii) Viscosity centistokes 1.5-4.5 ASTM D445
1 ASTM procedures are incorporated by reference in § 86.1.
(4) Other petroleum distillate fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and
(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications is provided prior to the start of testing.
(5) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(c) Methanol fuel. (1) Methanol fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be representative of commercially available methanol fuel and shall consist of at least 50 percent methanol by volume.
(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(ii) The Administrator shall determine the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(2) Other methanol fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and
(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.
(3) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Natural gas. (1) A natural gas fuel meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing:
Item Value 1
Methane, CH4 Minimum, 89.0 mole percent.
Ethane, C2 H6 Maximum, 4.5 mole percent.
C3 and higher Maximum, 2.3 mole percent.
C6 and higher Maximum, 0.2 mole percent.
Oxygen Maximum, 0.6 mole percent.
Inert gases (sum of CO2 and N2) Maximum, 4.0 mole percent.
1 All parameters are based on the reference procedures in ASTM D1945 (incorporated by reference in § 86.1).
(2) The natural gas at ambient conditions must have a distinctive odor potent enough for its presence to be detected down to a concentration in air of not over one-fifth of the lower limit of flammability.
(3) Natural gas representative of commercially available natural gas fuel generally available through retail outlets shall be used in service accumulation for natural gas-fueled vehicles.
(4) A natural gas fuel meeting different specifications may be used for testing and service accumulation if all the following conditions are met:
(i) The alternate test fuel is commercially available.
(ii) Information acceptable to the Administrator is provided to show that only the designated fuel will be used in customer service.
(iii) The Administrator must provide advance written approval for the alternate test fuel.
(f) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel. (1) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be commercially available liquefied petroleum gas fuel.
(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(ii) The Administrator shall determine the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.
(2) Other liquefied petroleum gas fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:
(i) They are commercially available; and
(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and
(iii) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.
(3) The specification range of the fuel to be used under paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this section shall be measured in accordance with ASTM D2163 (incorporated by reference in § 86.1).
(g) Fuels not meeting the specifications set forth in this section may be used only with the advance approval of the Administrator.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 40—Protection of Environment
CHAPTER I—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
SUBCHAPTER C—AIR PROGRAMS
PART 86—CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM NEW AND IN-USE HIGHWAY VEHICLES AND ENGINES
Subpart B—Emission Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year New Light-Duty Vehicles and New Light-Duty Trucks and New Otto-Cycle Complete Heavy-Duty Vehicles; Test Procedures

(a) [Reserved]

(b) Petroleum diesel test fuel. (1) The petroleum fuels employed for testing diesel vehicles shall be clean and bright, with pour and cloud points adequate for operability. The petroleum diesel fuel may contain nonmetallic additives as follows: Cetane improver, metal deactivator, antioxidant, dehazer, antirust, pour depressant, dye, dispersant and biocide. Fuels specified for emissions testing are intended to be representative of commercially available in-use fuels.

(2) A diesel fuel designated as “Type 2-D” grade meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for exhaust emission testing:

Property Unit Type 2-D Reference procedure 1

(i) Cetane Number 40-50 ASTM D613

(ii) Cetane Index 40-50 ASTM D976

(iii) Distillation range:

(A) IBP 340-400 (171.1-204.4)

(B) 10 pct. point 400-460 (204.4-237.8)

(D) 90 pct. point 560-630 (293.3-332.2)

(E) EP 610-690 (321.1-365.6)

(iv) Gravity °API 32-37 ASTM D4052

(v) Total sulfur ppm 7-15 ASTM D2622

(vi) Hydrocarbon composition: Aromatics, minimum (Remainder shall be paraffins, naphthenes, and olefins) pct 27 ASTM D5186

(vii) Flashpoint, min °F ( °C) 130 (54.4) ASTM D93

(viii) Viscosity centistokes 2.0-3.2 ASTM D445

1 ASTM procedures are incorporated by reference in § 86.1.

(3) A diesel fuel designated as “Type 2-D” grade meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for service accumulation:

Property Unit Type 2-D Reference procedure 1

(i) Cetane Number 38-58 ASTM D613

(ii) Cetane Index, minimum 40 ASTM D976

(iii) 90 percent distillation °F 540-630 ASTM D86

(iv) Gravity °API 30-39 ASTM D4052

(v) Total sulfur Ppm 7-15 ASTM D2622

(vi) Flashpoint, minimum °F ( °C) 130 (54.4) ASTM D93

(vii) Viscosity centistokes 1.5-4.5 ASTM D445

1 ASTM procedures are incorporated by reference in § 86.1.

(4) Other petroleum distillate fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:

(i) They are commercially available; and

(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and

(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and

(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications is provided prior to the start of testing.

(5) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.

(c) Methanol fuel. (1) Methanol fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be representative of commercially available methanol fuel and shall consist of at least 50 percent methanol by volume.

(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.

(ii) The Administrator shall determine the methanol fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.

(2) Other methanol fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:

(i) They are commercially available; and

(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and

(iii) Use of a fuel listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section would have a detrimental effect on emissions or durability; and

(iv) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.

(3) The specification range of the fuels to be used under paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section shall be reported in accordance with § 86.094-21(b)(3) or § 86.1844-01 as applicable.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Natural gas. (1) A natural gas fuel meeting the following specifications, or substantially equivalent specifications approved by the Administrator, must be used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing:

Item Value 1

Methane, CH4 Minimum, 89.0 mole percent.

Ethane, C2 H6 Maximum, 4.5 mole percent.

C3 and higher Maximum, 2.3 mole percent.

C6 and higher Maximum, 0.2 mole percent.

Oxygen Maximum, 0.6 mole percent.

Inert gases (sum of CO2 and N2) Maximum, 4.0 mole percent.

1 All parameters are based on the reference procedures in ASTM D1945 (incorporated by reference in § 86.1).

(2) The natural gas at ambient conditions must have a distinctive odor potent enough for its presence to be detected down to a concentration in air of not over one-fifth of the lower limit of flammability.

(3) Natural gas representative of commercially available natural gas fuel generally available through retail outlets shall be used in service accumulation for natural gas-fueled vehicles.

(4) A natural gas fuel meeting different specifications may be used for testing and service accumulation if all the following conditions are met:

(i) The alternate test fuel is commercially available.

(ii) Information acceptable to the Administrator is provided to show that only the designated fuel will be used in customer service.

(iii) The Administrator must provide advance written approval for the alternate test fuel.

(f) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel. (1) Liquefied petroleum gas fuel used for exhaust and evaporative emission testing and in service accumulation shall be commercially available liquefied petroleum gas fuel.

(i) Manufacturers shall recommend the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.

(ii) The Administrator shall determine the liquefied petroleum gas fuel to be used for testing and service accumulation.

(2) Other liquefied petroleum gas fuels may be used for testing and service accumulation provided:

(i) They are commercially available; and

(ii) Information, acceptable to the Administrator, is provided to show that only the designated fuel would be used in customer service; and

(iii) Written approval from the Administrator of the fuel specifications must be provided prior to the start of testing.

(3) The specification range of the fuel to be used under paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this section shall be measured in accordance with ASTM D2163 (incorporated by reference in § 86.1).

(g) Fuels not meeting the specifications set forth in this section may be used only with the advance approval of the Administrator.

Collected 2026-08-27T02:26:04Z. Source file · JSON

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