PIN 4B2913 - Caterpillar

Recommendations for Diesel Fuel
Diesel engines have the ability to burn a wide variety of fuels. These fuels are divided into two general groups. The two groups are called the preferred fuels and the permissible fuels.The preferred fuels provide maximum engine service life and performance. The preferred fuels are distillate fuels. These fuels are commonly called diesel fuel, furnace oil, gas oil or kerosene.The permissible fuels are crude oils or blended fuels. Use of these fuels can result in higher maintenance costs and in reduced engine service life.Diesel fuels that meet the specifications in table 1 will provide these benefits. In North America, diesel fuel that is identified as No. 1-D and No. 2-D in "ASTM D975" generally meet these specifications. This table is for diesel fuels that are distilled from crude oil. Diesel fuels from other sources could exhibit detrimental properties that are not defined or controlled by this specification.
Table 1
Caterpillar Specifications for Distillate Fuel    
Specification (Test Procedure)     Requirement    
Aromatics "ASTM D1319"     35 percent maximum    
Ash "ASTM D482"     0.02 percent maximum    
Carbon Residue on 10 percent Bottoms "ASTM D524"     maximum of 1.05 percent by weight    
Cetane Number "ASTM D613"     35 minimum cetane (PC engines)
40 minimum cetane (DI engines)    
Cloud Point     This point should be below the lowest expected temperature.    
Corrosion (Copper Strip)
"ASTM D130"     No. 3 maximum    
Distillation "ASTM D86"     10 percent at
282°C (540°F) maximum
90 percent at
360°C (680°F) maximum    
Flash Point "ASTM D93"     legal limit    
API Gravity "ASTM D287"     30 minimum
45 maximum    
Pour Point "ASTM D97"    
6°C (10°F) minimum below ambient temperature    
Sulfur "ASTM D3605" or "ASTM D1552" (1)     3 percent maximum (1)    
Kinematic Viscosity at
40°C (104°F)
"ASTM D445" (2).     1.4 cSt minimum
20.0 cSt maximum    
Water and Sediment "ASTM D1796"     0.1 percent maximum    
Water     0.1 percent maximum    
Sediment "ASTM D473"     0.05 percent maximum    
Gum and Resins "ASTM D381"     maximum of
10 mg/100 mL (5.8 grains/US gal)    
Fuel Lubricity
Scuffing Load Wear Test (SBOCLE)
or
High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR) (3)     3100 g. minimum
0.45 mm maximum at
60°C (140°F)
or
0.38 mm maximum at
25°C (77°F)    
( 1 ) Caterpillar fuel systems and engine components can operate on high sulfur fuels. However, fuel sulfur levels effect exhaust particulate emissions. High sulfur fuels increase the potential for internal component corrosion. Fuel sulfur levels above 1.0 percent may significantly shorten the oil change interval. Refer to the TBN and Fuel Sulfur topic in the lubricant's section for additional information.
( 2 ) The viscosity limits are for the fuel as the fuel is delivered to the fuel injection pump. Fuels such as JP-8, JP-5, Jet-A-1 or No. 1 diesel fuel have low viscosity. These fuels may require oil cooling in order to maintain a viscosity of 1.4 cSt at the fuel injection pump. Fuels with high viscosity or cold temperatures may require heating the fuel. Fuel heaters may be required to reduce viscosity to