TM 5-3895-346-14
ENGINE OVERHAUL
FUEL AND OIL SPECIFICATIONS
FUEL AND OIL SPECIFICATIONS
DIESEL FUEL OILS
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
The quality of fuel oil used for highspeed diesel engine operation is a very important factor in obtaining
satisfactory engine performance, long engine life, and acceptable exhaust.
Fuel selected should be completely distilled material. That is the fuel should show at least 98% by volume
recovery when subjected to ASTM D-86 distillation. Fuels marketed to meet Federal Specification VV-F-800
(grades DF-1 and DF-2) and ASTM Designation D-975 (grades I-D and 2-D) meet the completely distilled
criteria. Some of the general properties of VV-F-800 and ASTM D-975 fuels are shown below. Residual fuels
and domestic furnace oils are not considered satisfactory for Detroit Diesel engines; however, some may be
acceptable. (See Detroit Diesel Fuel Oil Specifications.)
NOTE
Detroit Diesel Allison does not recommend the use of drained lubricating oil as a
diesel fuel oil. Furthermore, Detroit Diesel Allison will not be responsible for any
engine detrimental effects which it determines resulted from this practice.
All diesel fuel oil contains a certain amount of sulfur. Too high a sulfur content results in excessive cylinder
FEDERAL SPECIFICATION & ASTM
DIESEL FUEL PROPERTIES
Specification or
VV-F-
ASTM
VV-F-
ASTM
Classification Grade
800
D-975
800
D-975
DF-1
1-D
DF-2
2-D
Flash Point, min.
104
F
100
F
122
F
125
F
40
C
38
C
50
C
52
C
Carbon Residue (10%
0.15
0.15
0.20
0.35
residuum), % max.
Water & Sediment, % by
0.01
trace
0.01
0.05
vol., max.
Ash. % by wt., max.
0.005
0.01
0.005
0.01
Distillation Temperature,
90% by vol. recovery, min.
-
-
-
540
F
(282 )
C
max.
572
F
550
F
626
F
640
F
(300 )
C
(288 )
C
(330 )
C
(338 )
C
End Point, Max.
626
F
-
671
F
-
(330 )
C
(355 )
C
Viscosity 100 (38 )
F
C
Kinematic, cs, min.
1.4
1.4
2.0
2.0
Saybolt, SUS, min.
-
-
-
32.6
Kinematic, cs, max.
3.0
2.5
4.3
4.3
Saybolt, SUS, max.
-
34.4
-
40.1
Sulfur, % by wt. max.
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
Cetane No.
45
40
45
40
397
