Fuel Ethanol Ed 75 - Ed 85
(otherwise referred to as "E85")
The American Society for Testing and Materials (A.S.T.M.) have established standard D 5798-98a for "A fuel blend, nominally 75 to 85% v/v denatured fuel ethanol and 25 to 15 addition % v/v hydrocarbons, for use in ground vehicles with automotive spark-ignition engines". For full details, test procedures and a review of the significance of the properties specified, reference should be made to the Standard, which is available from A.S.T.M.
Note re classes:
The vapor pressure is varied for seasonal and climatic changes, by having three
vapor-pressure classes of fuel ethanol Ed 75 - Ed 85. In most states, class 1
fuel is required in the summer months, class 2 in the spring and fall, and class
3 in the winter months. For a detailed table of classes required for each state
for each month, reference should be made to the Standard, which is available
from A.S.T.M.
|
|
Properties | Specification for classes | ||
| Class 1 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 | ||
| 1. | Ethanol
+ higher alcohols, minimum % v/v |
79 | 74 | 70 |
| 2. | Hydrocarbon/aliphatic
ether, % v/v |
17-21 | 17-26 | 17-30 |
| 3. | Vapor
pressure, (a) kPa (b) P.S.I |
38-59 5.5-8.5 |
48-65 7.0-9.5 |
66-83 9.5-12.0 |
| 4. | Lead, maximum mg/litre (p.p.m. w/v) |
2.6 | 2.6 | 3.9 |
| 5. | Phosphorus, maximum mg/litre (p.p.m w/v) |
0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 6. | Sulphur, maximum mg/kg (p.p.m w/w) |
210 | 260 | 300 |
| All Classes | ||||
| 7. | Methanol, maximum % v/v |
0.5 (5000 p.p.m v/v) | ||
| 8. | Higher
alcohols (C3 - C8), maximum % v/v |
2 (20,000 p.p.m v/v) | ||
| 9. | Acidity,
as acetic acid, maximum mg/kg (p.p.m w/w) |
50 | ||
| 10. | Solvent-washed
gum content, maximum mg/100 ml (p.p.m w/w) |
5 (50 p.p.m w/v) | ||
| 11. | Unwashed
gum content, maximum mg/100 ml |
20 (200 p.p.m w/v) | ||
| 12. | Total
chlorine as chlorides, maximum mg/kg (p.p.m w/w) |
2 | ||
| 13. | Inorganic
chloride, maximum mg/kg (p.p.m w/w) |
1 | ||
| 14. | Copper, maximum mg/litre (p.p.m w/v) |
0.07 | ||
| 15. | Water, maximum % mass |
1.0 | ||
| 16. | Appearance | This product shall be visibly free of suspended or precipitated contaminants (clear and bright). This shall be determined at ambient temperature or 21°C (70°F), whichever is higher. | ||