DEAS 177 : 201 8 
ICS 75.160.20  
© EAS 2018                                                                                                                          Third  Edition 2018  
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Automotive gas oil (automotive diesel)  — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 DEAS 177: 2018  
ii © EAC  2018  – All rights reserved  
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 DEAS 177: 201 8 
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
 
Development of the East Afr ican Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African Standards Committee mandated 
to develop and issue East African Standards.   
The Committee is composed of represen tatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together 
with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East African Standards 
are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Part ner States. The comments 
received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures 
of the Community.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East  
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
EAS 177 was prepared by Technical Committee EAS/TC 068, Petroleum and petroleum products . 
This third  edition cancels an d replaces  the second edition (EAS  158:2012 ) which has  been technically revised.  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 177:2018 
 
© EAC 2012  – All rights reserved  1 
 Automotive gas oil (automotive diesel)  — Specification  
1 Scope  
This Draft East African Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for automotive 
gas oil, AGO  (automotive diesel)  as manufactured, stored, transported and marketed.  
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ASTM D86, Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure  
ASTM D93, Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky -Martens Closed Cup Tester  
ASTM D95, Standard Test Method for Water in Petroleum Products and Bituminous Materials by Distillation  
ASTM D130 , Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Produ cts by Copper Strip 
Test 
ASTM D189, Standard Test Method for Conradson Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products  
ASTM D473, Standard Test Method for Sediment in Crude Oils and Fuel Oils by the Extraction Method  
ASTM D482, Standard Test Method for Ash from Petro leum Products  
ASTM D974, Standard Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Colour -Indicator Titration  
ASTM D976, Standard Test Method for Calculated Cetane Index of Distillate Fuels  
ASTM D1298 , Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API Grav ity of Crude Petroleum and 
Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method  
ASTM D1500 , Standard Test Method for ASTM Colour  of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)  
ASTM D1552 , Standard Test Method for Sulphur  in Petroleum Products (High -Temperature Method)  
ASTM D2500 [IP 309], Standard test method for cloud point of petroleum products  
ASTM D6078, Standard Test Method for Evaluating Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the Scuffing Load Ball -on-
Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (SLBOCLE)  
EN 12916, Petroleum products — Determination of aromatic hydrocarbon types in middle distillates — High 
performance liquid chromatography method with refractive index detection  
IP 13,  Petroleum products ― Determination of carbon residue ― Conradson method   
2 © EAC  2018  – All rights reserved  
 IP 34 , Determination of flash point ― Pensky -Martens closed cup method  
IP 53 , Crude petroleum and fuel oils ― Determination of sediment ― Extraction Method  
IP 71  Sect 1 , Petroleum products ― Transparen t and opaque liquids ― Determination of kinematic viscosity 
and calculation of dynamic viscosity  
IP 74 , Petroleum products and bituminous materials ― Determination of water ― Distillation method   
IP 123, Petroleum products ― Determination of distillation c haracteristics at atmospheric pressure  
IP 154,  Petroleum products ― Corrosiveness to copper ― Copper strip test  
IP 160 , Crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products ― Laboratory determination of density ― Hydrometer 
method  
ISO 2049,  Petroleum products — Determination of colour (ASTM scale)  
ISO 2160,  Petroleum products — Corrosiveness to copper — Copper strip test  
ISO 2719,  Determination of flash point — Pensky -Martens closed cup method  
ISO 3015,  Petroleum products — Determination of cloud point  
ISO 3104,  Petroleum products — Transparent and opaque liquids — Determination of kinematic viscosity and 
calculation of dynamic viscosity  
ISO 3405,  Petroleum products — Determination of distillation characteristics at atmospheric pressure  
ISO 3675,  Crude petroleum a nd liquid petroleum products — Laboratory determination of density — 
Hydrometer method  
ISO 3733,  Petroleum products and bituminous materials — Determination of water — Distillation method  
ISO 3735,  Crude petroleum and fuel oils — Determination of sediment — Extraction method  
ISO 4259,  Petroleum products — Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test  
ISO 4264 , Petroleum products — Calculation of cetane index of middle -distillate fuels by the four -variable 
equation  
ISO 5165,  Petroleum products — Determination of the ignition quality of diesel fuels — Cetane engine method  
ISO 6245,  Petroleum products — Determination of ash  
ISO 6615,  Petroleum products — Determination of carbon residue — Conradson method  
ISO 6619,  Petroleum prod ucts and lubricants — Neutralization number — Potentiometric titration method  
ISO 7537 , Petroleum products — Determination of acid number — Semi -micro colour -indicator titration 
method  
ISO 10370,  Petroleum products — Determination of carbon residue (micro method)  
ISO 12156 -1, Diesel fuels — Assessment of lubricity by HFRR  
ISO 12185,  Crude petroleum and petroleum products — Determination of density — Oscillating U -tube 
method   
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved  3 
 ISO 12205,  Petroleum products — Determination of the oxidation stability of distill ate fuels  
ISO 12937,  Petroleum products — Determination of water — Coulometric Karl Fisher titration method  
ISO 20846,  Petroleum products — Determination of sulfur content of automotive fuels — Ultraviolet 
fluorescence method  
ISO 20847,  Petroleum products — Determination of sulfur content of automotive fuels — Energy dispersive X -
ray fluorescence spectrometry  
ISO 20884,  Petroleum products — Determination of sulfur content of automotive fuels — Wavelength -
dispersive X -ray fluorescence spectrometry  
3 Terms an d definitions  
For the purpose of this document,  the following  terms and  definitions apply.  
3.1 
automotive gas oil  (AGO)  
fuel that is used in high -speed diesel engines  
3.2 
additive  
material added to AGO usually in small amounts, to impart or enhance desirab le properties or to suppress 
undesirable properties  
3.3 
dyes  
chemicals added to fuel for visual identification  
3.4 
markers  
substances added to petroleum based products for traceability to protect them against theft or adulteration 
and also to distinguish b etween different fuels  
3.5 
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon   
total aromatic hydrocarbon content less the mono -aromatic hydrocarbon content  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
Automotive diesel fuel  shall have a n appearance that is clear , bright and free  from suspended particles on 
visual inspection . 
4.2 Specific quality requirements  
Automotive  diesel fuel shall comply  with the limits specified in Table 1,  when tested in accordance with the 
test methods specified  therein.   
4 © EAC  2018  – All rights reserved  
 Table 1 — Specific quality  requi rements for automotive diesel fuel  
Property  
 Limit  Test method a 
Minimum  Maximum  
Cetane number b 51.0 — ISO 5165  
Cetane index  48.0 — ISO 4264  
ASTM D976  
Density at 15 C c), kg/m3 
 
Density at 20 C 
 820 
 
817 870 
 
867 ISO 3675  
ISO 12185  
ASTM D1298  
IP 160 
ASTM colour  — 3.5 ISO 2049  
ASTM D1500  
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , % (v/v)  — 11 EN 12916  
Sulphur content d), mg/kg 
 — 50.0 ISO 20884  
ASTM D1552  
Flash point, C 66 
60 — 
 ISO 2719  
ASTM D93  
IP 34  
Carbon residue (on 10 % distillation residue) , 
% (m/m)  — 0.15 ISO 10370  
ISO 6615  
ASTM D189  
IP 13  
Ash content , % (m/m)  — 0.01 ISO 6245  
ASTM D482  
Water content , mg/kg  — 200 ISO 12937  
ASTM D95  
IP 74/82  
ISO 3733  
Copper strip corrosion (3 h at 50 ºC), rating  Class 1  ISO 2160  
ASTM D130  
IP 154  
Oxidat ion stability , g/m3 — 25 ISO 12205  
Lubricity, corrected wear scar diameter  
(wsd 1.4) at 60 ºC, m — 450 ISO 12156 -1  
ASTM D6078  
Viscosity at 40 ºC, mm2/s  
2.0  
5.3 ISO 3104  
ASTM D445  
IP 71   
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved  5 
  
Table 1 (continued)  
Property  
 Limit  Test method a 
Minimum  Maximum  
Cloud point , ºC  To be reported  ISO 3015  
ASTM D2500  
Cold filter plugging point (CFPP),  ºC  — 12 IP 309  
Sediment , % m/m  — 0.01 ISO 3735  
ASTM D473  
IP 53  
Neutralization value:  
Strong acid No., KOH , mg/g  
Total acid No., KOH , mg/g   
Nil  
Nil 
0.5  
ISO 6619  
ASTM  D974  
ISO 7537  
Distillation e 
 Initial boiling point , ºC 
 
 % (V/V) recovered at 250 ºC  
 % (V/V) recovered at 350 ºC 
 95% (V/V) recovered at  ºC 
 Final boiling point , ºC  
To be 
reported  
 
85 
 
  
To be 
reported  
65 
 
360 
400 ISO 3405  
ASTM D86  
IP 123  
a  See also 7.1. 
b See also 7.4. 
c See also 7.2. 
d  See also 7.3. 
e For the calculation of the cetane index the 10 %, 50 % and 90 % (V/V) recovery points are also needed.  
 
5 Dyes and markers  
The use of dyes and markers is allowed.  
The dye content shall be re ported and shall not alter any parameters of AGO  out of the specified range as 
indicated under Table 1 . 
6 Additives  
In order to improve the performance quality, the use of additives is allowed. Suitable fuel additives without 
known harmful side -effects are  recommended in the appropriate amount, to help to avoid deterioration of 
drivability and emissions control durability.   
6 © EAC  2018  – All rights reserved  
 7 Precision and dispute  
7.1 All test methods referred to in this East African Standard include a precision statement. In cases 
of disput e, the procedures for resolving the dispute and interpretation of the results based on test method 
precision, described in ISO 4259, shall be used.  
7.2 In cases of dispute concerning density, ISO 3675 shall be used.  
7.3 In cases of dispute concerning sulfu r content, ISO 20847 is unsuitable as an arbitration method.  
7.4 For the determination of cetane number alternative methods may also be used in cases of 
dispute, provided that these methods originate from a recognized method series, and have a valid precis ion 
statement, derived in accordance with ISO 4259, which demonstrates precision at least equal to that of the 
referenced method. The test result, when using an alternative method, shall also have a demonstrable 
relationship to the result obtained when usi ng the referenced method.  
8 Packing and marking  
8.1 Packing  
The condition of the containers, rail tankers and road tank vehicles shall be such as not to be detrimental to 
the quality of the fuel during normal transportation and storage. The containers shal l be acceptably sealed or 
leak proof, clean, and free from materials soluble in diesel.  
8.2 Marking  
8.2.1 The following information shall appear in legible and indelible marking on each container or in 
case of diesel fuel filled into bulk storage tanks, in  the storage and consignment documents of each road tank 
wagon or rail tank wagon.  
a) the supplier’s and receiver’s name and address;  
b) the name “AUTOMOTIVE GASOIL” or “DIESEL, or GASOIL”;  
c) .the quantity in litres  or metric ton nes;  
d) the batch/lot number ;  
e) the wo rd “FLAMMABLE MATERIAL” ; and 
f) the warning “DANGER DIESE L”. 
8.2.2 Stickers shall be used in labe lling in case of vehicles which have compartments and transport 
more than one type of fuels . 
9 Sampling  
9.1 Sampling from storage tanks  
For the purposes of this East African Standard, all sampling shall be carried out in accordance with the 
relevant sections and additionally as detailed in 9.2.  
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved  7 
 9.2 Sampling from fuel lines  
9.2.1 Sampling cans  
Two containers of 1  l each  and a ttention is drawn to the fact that sampli ng cans shall comply with the statutory 
safety requirements for the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances  for the respective 
Partner States . 
9.2.2 Preparation of cans  
A stock of cans shall be kept solely for the purpose of taking fuel samples. Before use, all cans shall be 
checked to ensure they are sound and free from leaks. A fuel -resistant sealing washer in good condition shall 
be in position in the cap.  
9.2.3 Procedure  
From the off take point, 1  l of the fuel to be tested shall  be carefully drawn into a 5-l can using a clean dry 
funnel. The screw cap shall be fully tightened and the can checked to ensure that there are no leaks.  
If more than 1  l is needed, the operation should be repeated immediately and before the pump has been  used 
for any other purpose.  
9.3 Labe lling and transport  
Full and legible information relating to the source of the sample shall be attached to the can in such a manner 
that it will not easily become detached subsequently.  
NOTE 1  If required, the sample ma y be sealed and labelled to maintain its legal integrity.  
NOTE 2  If the sample has to be sent to the laboratory by public transport, it will be necessary to comply with the 
general regulations covering transportation of flammable materials, where appropria te, and with the requirements of the 
transport authority concerned, information on the appropriate procedures and type of packaging required should be 
obtained from the releva nt  transport authority  involved.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
8 © EAC  2018  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] BS EN 590:2004,  Automotiv e fuels — Diesel — Requirements and test methods   
[2] EN 12662 , Liquid petroleum products — Determination of contamination in middle distillates  
[3] EN 14274 [IP 508],  Methods of test for petroleum and its products — Automotive fuels — Assessment 
of petrol and die sel quality — Fuel quality monitoring system (FQMS)  
[4] ISO 13759 , Petroleum products — Determination of alkyl nitrate in diesel fuels — Spectrometric 
method  
[5] ISO 17020 , General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection  
[6] SANS 342:2006,  Automotive diesel fuel  
. DEAS 177: 201 2   
 
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved