FAQs

What can analyzing my diesel fuel tell me?
Distillate (diesel) fuels are organic in nature.  From the time of manufacture (refining) until they are used, diesel fuels will degrade. Testing and analyzing fuel deliveries can alert the buyer to the quality of diesel fuel...
Read more
How much diesel fuel is needed for analysis?
The amount of diesel fuel needed for analysis depends on the testing being done. Some tests require as little as an ounce of diesel fuel while others could require 1 to 5 gallons of diesel fuel. See the Test Package requirements or contact us with any...
Read more
How do I package diesel fuel samples for shipment?
If possible diesel fuel samples should be placed in a new or clean plastic or metal container. Glass should not be used to avoid breakage. Containers should be tightly sealed, lids taped and placed in a box with absorbent packing material to avoid...
Read more
What does diesel fuel analysis cost?
Cost of diesel fuel analysis depends on the Test Package that is ran. Due to the variety of tests and Test Packages available, we do not publish a price list.   Contact us for current pricing information.
Read more
Anti-Oxidant
Anti-Oxidants are fuel additives that retard the formation of fuel gums, sludges, sediment deposits and other oxidation by-products.  
Read more
API Gravity
API Gravity is used to measure fuel weight. Heavy fuel is hard to burn and has a low API. Light fuel has less heat and less performance and has a higher API.
Read more
Ash
Ash is a naturally occurring non-combustible material in diesel fuel.
Read more
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
Read more
Atomization
Atomization is the result of the breakdown of fuel into fine particles when it is injected into the combustion chamber.
Read more
BTU
BTU is the measure of a diesel fuels energy output.
Read more
Cetane
Cetane is a liquid hydrocarbon that is used in diesel fuels to increase ignition. 40 is a minimum cetane number. OEM's want a 50 cetane number.
Read more
Cetane Engine
A Cetane Engine is a laboratory test that runs fuel on an actual engine to determine a performance number.
Read more
Cetane Index
The Cetane Index is solely dependent on the quality of the diesel fuel and is not affected by the addition of cetane improver additive. It is a calculated number from the distillation tests on the fuel and its specific gravity.
Read more
Cloud Point
The Cloud Point (CP) is the temperature of the fuel when wax crystals begin to form and the appearance of the fuel begins to turn cloudy.
Read more
Crude Oil
Crude Oil is an organic fossil petroleum as it come from the ground, before it is refined.
Read more
Engine Smoking
Excessive engine exhaust smoking is the result of inefficient combustion and poor fuel burning.
Read more