Laboratory note
INTRON® cTane ASTM D613 test
An ASTM D613 test measures the ignition quality of diesel fuel in a standard engine. This note separates the reported INTRON cTane comparison from properties measured by other methods.
Field index
Reading the engine test
Purpose of the ASTM D613 test
PETRONAX tested the ignition quality of a diesel sample before and after adding INTRON cTane. The reported cetane number rose from 45 to 52, a gain of seven points in that sample. The result belongs to this blend; a different diesel batch needs its own comparison.
The reported engine comparison
The laboratory compared untreated and treated fuel in a cetane test engine. The ASTM D613 test reports a cetane number. It does not directly measure acceleration, fuel economy or exhaust emissions in a vehicle.
Other properties and test limits
Pour point and flash point are separate properties. If they matter to a purchase or storage decision, request their test methods and reported values. Neither can be calculated from the cetane-number increase.
Use the reported increase to plan a trial rather than as a universal dose recommendation. Record the starting fuel, the additive grade and the target cetane number. Then compare samples under the same conditions.
Comparing a new batch
Start with an untreated sample from the batch you intend to blend. Then prepare a treated sample from that same fuel and record the dose, including whether it is expressed by mass or volume. This makes the baseline and the result traceable.
For example, two results from different base fuels may show different responses even at the same dose. For an ASTM D613 test, ask for the original laboratory report when a decision depends on the size of the increase. It should identify the samples and the method used.
What an ASTM D613 test can establish
The engine comparison measures cetane number. Use separate methods for pour point and flash point. Likewise, an engine cetane result alone cannot establish an emissions reduction or a fuel-economy gain.