NOTICE

This technical report does not necessarily represent final EPA decisions or 

positions. It is intended to present technical analysis of issues using data 

that are currently available. The purpose in the release of such reports is to 

facilitate the exchange of technical information and to inform the public of 

technical developments.

Assessment and Standards Division

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

U.S. Department of Energy

Coordinating Research Council

EPAct/V2/E-89: Assessing the Effect 

of Five Gasoline Properties on Exhaust 

Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles 

Certified to Tier 2 Standards

Final Report on Program Design and 

Data Collection

Appendix C

Fuel Round Robin Procedure 

for Sample Handling

EPA-420-R-13-004

April 2013
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EPAct/V2/E-89 Fuel Round Robin

Procedure* for Sampling and Handling of Gasoline Samples

1) Take samples from designated full drums only. 

2) Equipment Selection: 

a. Hand operated transfer pump. 

b. 1-quart plastic-coated, amber colored glass bottles w/Teflon lined seals. Such 

bottles are available from e.g. All-Pak, Inc. (Bridgeville, PA, Contact: Paul 

Molloy 800/413-8867). Their Stock Number is GLC-02270. 

c. 1-oz. amber colored glass bottles w/Teflon lined seals. Such bottles are 

available from e.g. All-Pak, Inc. (Bridgeville, PA, Contact: Paul Molloy 

800/413-8867). Their Stock Number is GLC-01897. 

d. Torque adapter for tightening sample bottle caps using a torque wrench. Such 

an adapter is available from All-Pak, Inc. (Bridgeville, PA, Contact: Paul 

Molloy 800/413-8867). Its Stock Number is HMS-1015C.

e. Torque wrench with 1⁄4” drive to secure bottle caps. Must cover 12 - 18 in*lbs 

range.

f. Waste or slop container for flushing. 

g. Sample labels.

3) Preparation Process:

a. Mark 80% capacity level on each sample container to be filled.

b. Pre-cool the fuel inside the drum, sampling equipment, and sample containers 

to a temperature not exceeding 50°F.

c. Insert hand pump into drum opening, with supply line inlet at mid-height of 

the drum. 

d. Flush ~ 1 quart of the fuel into slop container. 

• If the transfer pump is removed from the main drum for any reason, 

once reinserted a new flush is to be performed. 

 

* This procedure does not purport to cover any safety aspects associated with sampling of fuels. 

EPA presumes that the personnel performing sampling operations are adequately trained with 

regard to safe application of the procedures contained herein.
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4) Sampling Process:

a. Rinse each sample container with the fuel it will be filled with and allow the 

container to drain. 

b. Fill each container to 75-80% of capacity.

• Make sure that during the filling process the fuel flows gently (w/o 

splashing) into the container. Use a filling tube which reaches to the 

bottom of the container. 

c. After each filling, immediately secure the cap onto sample container and 

tighten using a torque wrench. Apply the following torques: 

• 1-qt glass bottle: 18 in*lbs. 

• 1-oz. glass bottle: 12 in*lbs. 

d. Wrap cap and neck of each sample bottle with back-off tape (Make sure the 

back-off tape is provided with the shipping kit). 

e. Attach sample label for proper identification.

• Sample labels must, at a minimum, contain the following information: 

Name of program (EPAct/V2/E89 Program) and the round robin fuel 

designation, e.g. B3. 

5) Storage Prior to Shipping: 

• Store samples at max. 75°F prior to shipping. Transfer samples to 

cool storage if shipping is delayed by more than 5 days.

6) Tracking of Fuel Shipments: 

• SWRI shall notify EPA, DOE and round robin participants via email 

about the shipment of fuel samples and request the participants, in 

turn, to notify SWRI, EPA and DOE about the receipt of the samples. 

Note: For additional guidance refer to ASTM D5842 Standard Practice for Sampling and Handling of 

Fuels for Volatility Measurements and ASTM D4057 Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of 

Petroleum and Petroleum Products.