48162
48162
48162
Handling, Storing,
and Dispensing E85
DOE/GO-102010-3073
July 2010
Disclaimer
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government.
Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any
warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, complete-
ness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use
would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process,
or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply
its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof.
The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United
States government or any agency thereof.
Acknowledgements
This publication was prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy
national laboratory, with the assistance of Transportation Fuels Consulting, Inc.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this manual is accurate, complete, and comprehensive at the
time of publication. It is intended to be used as a guide and resource document. The authors strongly
encourage all parties with an interest in establishing E85 fueling systems to engage professional support
during installation to ensure fuel integrity and systems compatibility.
Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ethanol and E85 Properties, Specifications, and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Seasonally Adjusted Blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Hydrocarbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Materials Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Storing and Dispensing E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Using Existing Fueling Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
UL Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Dispensers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Hanging Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fill Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Pumps and Leak-Detection Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Piping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fuel Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Fittings and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Signs, Labels, and Stickers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
E85 Quality Assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Shipping Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Safety Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Health Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Fire Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Safety Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Flexible Fuel Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Benefits and Limitations of Using E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Checklist for Installing E85 Dispensing Equipment or Converting Underground Storage Tanks . . . . . . . . 22
Information Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Appendix A: Geographical Fuel-Marketing Regions (ASTM D5798) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Appendix B: Various Specifications for Fuel Ethanol, E85, and Denaturant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Appendix C: Material Safety Data Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix D: Procedures for Determining Selected Properties of Ethanol Fuel Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Appendix E: EPA Memorandum to State Air Directors Concerning Removal of Stage II Vapor
Recovery with E85 Dispensers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Appendix F: UL E85 Fuel Dispensing Certified Equipment List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Most transportation fuel sold in the United States is manufactured to ASTM specifications. ASTM
International is a voluntary consensus standards organization that creates and maintains fuel quality
specifications established by committees composed of vehicle and engine manufacturers, fuel system
equipment manufacturers, fuel producers, fuel users, and other interested parties, such as state fuel-
quality regulators. Although ASTM standards are recognized by federal and most state governments as
the primary means of ensuring fuel quality. EPA and most states have passed regulations and laws, which
require gasoline to meet all or a portion of the ASTM gasoline guidelines. Various specifications for
ethanol, E85, and denaturant are included in Appendix B. Also included are California specifications
for denatured ethanol and denaturant.
All Classes
gallon to 89,400 BTU per gallon (depending on the hydrocarbon content) compared to the typical gasoline
energy content of approximately 116,100 BTU per gallon. Thus a gallon of E85 contains approximately
72% to 77% as much energy as a gallon of gasoline.
Hydrocarbons
Although unleaded gasoline has been used to blend E85, a higher volatility component, such as natural
gasoline (a high-volatility, low-octane byproduct of natural gas production), can be used to meet ASTM
volatility requirements due to the low vapor pressure of ethanol. It is important to meet ASTM volatility
requirements to reduce the occurrence of flammable vapor regimes in vehicle fuel tanks. Due to the dif-
ferent types of hydrocarbon components that have been used in E85, the range of vapor flammability in
tanks is wider than gasoline. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory compared the fuel tank head-
space flammability of seven E85 fuel blends, two gasoline samples, and denatured ethanol.3 Headspace
vapors for the two gasoline samples became flammable when the temperature dropped to approximately
-19°C (-2°F) and -25°C (-13°F) or lower. The E85 blends, on the other hand, produced flammable vapors at
temperatures below values ranging from -2°C (28°F) to -22°C (-8°F). Denatured ethanol was found to be
flammable at room temperature and all temperatures down to approximately -6°C (22°F). Therefore, sta-
tions should not store denatured ethanol for blending E85 or other ethanol blends due to risk of explosion.
Fuel Additives
According to EPA regulations, all commercial grades of gasoline must contain specified levels of addi-
tives, detergents, and corrosion inhibitors. A corrosion inhibitor should be added to the ethanol portion
of the E85 blend according to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recommendations.4 The hydrocarbon
component of E85 should contain the EPA-specified levels of detergent additives and corrosion inhibi-
tors; however the RFA and vehicle manufacturers do not recommend the use of detergent additives in the
ethanol portion of the E85 blend. Overuse of additives with E85 may result in poor vehicle operation. RFA
has also made certain recommendations about appropriate detergent treatment of E85. Some detergents,
such as polyisobutylene amine, have performed poorly in FFV operation. At some blend levels, these
additives may precipitate out of the blend resulting in excessive fuel system deposition. Consequently,
to minimize the occurrence of additive-related problems, RFA has issued a recommendation to contact
them directly concerning additives.4
NREL and the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) collaborated to survey U.S. summer and winter
E85 against ASTM D5798 standards. A summary of the results of 123 samples each season is contained in
CRC Report No. E-85. Additional E85 CRC fuel quality survey data can be obtained from Report Nos.
E-79 and E-79-2.5
Materials Recommendations
As with all liquid motor fuels, it is important to maintain proper fuel handling and housekeeping practices
to minimize contamination. Certain materials commonly used with gasoline may be incompatible with
high-level alcohol blends. Some materials may degrade over time, potentially leading to equipment
problems. It may also contaminate the fuel, which may adversely affect vehicle fuel system operation
or cause component malfunction and lead to degraded driveability and performance. The materials and
components presented in this handbook have performed satisfactory in the field with E85.
In general, E85 can cause corrosion of some soft metals and reduce the tensile strength of some nonmetal-
lic materials. It may also cause swelling and loss of function on certain nonmetallic materials. E85 acts
like a “cleaning agent” and will initially mobilize sludge in storage tanks. Only E85-compatible materials
should be used in the storage and dispensing systems. Zinc, brass, lead, and aluminum have shown sensi-
tivity to degradation. Terne-plated steel (lead/tin/alloy coating), which has been commonly used for vehicle
fuel tanks, and lead-based solder are also incompatible with E85. Use of these metals should be avoided
due to the possibility of fuel contamination and potential impacts on vehicle operation. Unplated steel,
stainless steel, black iron, and bronze have shown acceptable resistance to E85 corrosion.
Nonmetallic materials that degrade when in contact with fuel ethanol include natural rubber, polyure-
thane, cork gasket material, leather, polyvinyl chloride, nylon 6/6, methyl-methacrylate plastics, and
certain thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. Nonmetallic materials successfully used for transferring
and storing ethanol include thermoset-reinforced fiberglass, thermoplastic piping, and thermoset-rein-
forced fiberglass tanks (as listed for this application by UL). Contact with E85 causes some elastomers
to swell.
Tanks
According to U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion (DOT) Office of Pipeline Safety compatibility
Prior to planning any fuel storage system, local
regulations,7 all USTs and aboveground storage
building and fire codes must be checked. While
tanks (ASTs) must be made of or lined with materi-
E85 falls under the same handling and storage
als that are compatible with the substance stored. requirements as gasoline within the provisions
Compatibility is defined as the ability of two or of National Fire Protection Agency Standards
more substances to maintain their respective physi- 30 and 30A, local fire provisions and regulations
cal and chemical properties upon contact with one must be considered, including the use of UL listed
another for the design life of the tank system under dispensers. Additional provisions will be added to
conditions likely to be encountered. Product piping, the codes to address the polar solvent nature of
including that within the dispensers is considered E85. For more information, see the Safety Codes
part of the UST or AST system and needs to be section of this handbook.
compatible with the substance stored and dispensed
through it. American Petroleum Institute publi-
cation 1626, “Storing and Handling Ethanol and
Gasoline Blends at Distribution Terminals and Service Stations” may be used to comply with the compat-
ibility requirements in the regulations.
Choosing the appropriate cleaning technique will depend upon the type of fuel that has been stored in the
tank, availability of the service, and state and local environmental regulations.
Underground Tanks: Double-walled, low-carbon, cold-finished steel tanks may be used, but welded tanks
are preferable and must be corrosion protected to meet EPA requirements. Plated metal tanks should not
be used. Pre-1992, single- and double-wall fiberglass tanks may be used when listed for the purpose by UL.
Aboveground Tanks: Most ASTs can be used to store E85. ASTs are usually smaller than USTs and are
typically installed in capacities of 1,000 to 2,000 gallons. Tanks may be constructed of stainless steel,
cold-finished steel, or fiberglass. The use of plated metal tanks is not recommended.
UL Listing
Many permitting and construction officials, or “authorities having jurisdiction” (AHJs), require that
fueling equipment be UL listed. In June 2010, UL completed research to assess the safety-related per-
formance of dispenser assemblies using E85. UL developed Subject 87A for testing fuel dispensers and
hanging hardware and other related equipment with E85. A complete list of UL-listed E85 equipment is
available in Appendix F.
Vapor Vent
Manhole Covers
Ground Level
Dispensers
As a general rule, E85 dispensers must use iron, unplated or stainless steel, or other suitably applied and
tested materials in the fuel path. For vane-type pumps, impellers made from soft metals (such as zinc,
brass, lead, aluminum) should be avoided. Steel or an engineering polymer with a high chemical resistance
is recommended for best results. Use of non-compatible dispenser materials may lead to leaks, premature
meter inaccuracies, and introduction of contaminants into the fuel. Table 5 shows dispensers listed for use
with E85 fuel.
As previously noted, components made from zinc, brass, lead, aluminum, or other soft metals should
be avoided. Fuel ethanol may attack such soft metals, which may cause leaks and contaminate the fuel,
leading to deposits in the vehicle fuel system and possibly impairing vehicle performance and causing
safety concerns.
Stainless steel or nickel-plated nozzles have been used successfully with E85; however, the surface plating
should be inspected periodically for signs of degradation. As with gasoline, dispenser hoses for E85 will
vary with the type of vapor recovery system that is required in your area. Stage II vapor-recovery systems
require different fueling hose systems than areas with Stage I controls. For E85, hose materials with the
highest resistance to alcohol should be used.
Fill Pipes
Fuel enters the fueling site dispensing system at the point the fuel is “dropped” from the truck through
the storage tank fill pipe. In recent years, several component manufacturers have converted many of their
gaskets, tubes, adapters, piping, and shear valves to be compatible with ethanol-blended gasoline and E85.
Anodized coatings or components made of cast-iron or stainless steel are available to use with E85.
Piping
Nonmetallic, corrosion-proof pipe is recommended for underground piping. According to UL Standard
971 (“Standard for Nonmetallic Underground Piping For Flammable Liquids”), products that have been
tested for compatibility with high-concentration alcohol blends (ethanol and methanol) should be used.
Schedule 40 black-iron pipe and galvanized pipe may be used but will require corrosion protection. Pipe
thread sealant, when needed, must be a Teflon tape or Teflon-based pipe-thread compound. If secondary
piping is needed, thermoset-reinforced fiberglass or thermoplastic double-wall piping should be used.
E85
Most states, DOTs, and AHJs require specific E85-related signage at refueling
stations. Contact the appropriate official in your area to determine the required
signage for E85. Storage tanks containing E85 must be labeled on all fillboxes
and fillbox covers with a bronze pentagon, as shown at right, and “E85” printed
in black in the middle of the pentagon.
The E85 labels should be placed on fillboxes and fillbox covers in
one of the following ways:
• Paint the decal on the top of the fillbox cover or on the
rim of the fillbox
• Attach a tag to the fillpipe adapter
• Screw a tag into the fillbox rim
• Fit a plastic or fiberglass insert into the rim of the fillbox.
Shipping Procedures
To ensure high fuel quality, periodic sampling and analysis by a gasoline or chemical analysis laboratory
is recommended. Your fuel provider may be able to recommend a laboratory in your area that can perform
this type of test. To safely ship a sample of the fuel, follow all hazardous material shipping requirements
and include the following information on the outside of the package:
• DOT Shipping Name: Alcohol n.o.s. (ethanol, gasoline)
• Identification Number: UN 1987
• Diamond Labels: Flammability 3
• Label: Flammable Liquid
• Arrow Label: This End Up
Be sure to use ethanol-compatible shipping containers specifically designed for this purpose.
Safety Procedures
Health Considerations
Fuel ethanol should be handled in the same manner as gasoline. Personal
exposure should be minimized. Like gasoline, fuel ethanol is flammable,
poisonous, and may contain additives that can be harmful even with
In case of exposure,
casual contact. Fuel ethanol is poisonous and should not be consumed. contact medical personnel
Exposure to fuel ethanol can occur by inhalation (breathing in its immediately
vapors), absorption (getting it on the skin or in the eyes), or ingestion
(swallowing it). The various symptoms of exposure to fuel ethanol are
shown in Table 7.
Safety Codes
Safety standards for handling and storing E85 are the same as those for gasoline. The National Fire
Protection Agency (NFPA) has two standards that apply to ethanol blends: NFPA 30, “Flammable and
Combustible Liquids Code” and NFPA 30A, “Automotive and Marine Service Station Code.” These codes
contain information on refueling facilities, storage, and handling requirements for all flammable and com-
bustible liquids. NFPA assigns ethanol fuels (including E95 and E85) to the same class as gasoline. Copies
of these standards can be obtained through the Office of the State Fire Marshal or the NFPA Web site.10
An example material safety data sheet for E85 is shown in Appendix C.
Emissions
In the United States, E85-capable FFVs are required to meet applicable EPA and California standards for
exhaust and evaporative emissions on E85 and gasoline. Modern passenger cars and light trucks employ
very sophisticated electronic engine and emission control systems. Since E85 FFVs are designed to meet
the same emission standards on both gasoline and E85, criteria pollutant levels of hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen are generally considered equivalent on both fuels.
Ethanol produced from corn blended as E85 can achieve a 40% reduction in fossil energy use and about a
20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline.12 Larger reductions can potentially be
achieved if the ethanol is produced from cellulose derived biomass.
CRC Project No. E80 is currently measuring exhaust and evaporative emissions on gasoline and several
ethanol blends (including E85) with results expected in 2010. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
reviewed studies that compared the emissions from vehicles fueled with E85 and gasoline, finding a wide
range of tailpipe emissions results from E85-fueled light-duty vehicles.13 Compared with gasoline-fueled
vehicles, E85-fueled vehicles tended to produce lower oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, benzene, and
1,3-butadiene emissions and higher formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions.
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DGS: Distillers Grains with Solubles Averages for Corn Based Ethanol
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NG: Natural Gas
Figure 3. Well-to-Wheels GHG Emission Changes: Fuel Ethanol Relative to Gasoline, Michael Q. Wang, Center for
Transportation Research, Argonne National Laboratory, February 2007
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Figure 4. Energy Balance of Gasoline and E85, Argonne National Laboratory Center for Transportation Research, Michael Q.
Wang
Limitations
The lower energy content of E85 reduces vehicle fuel economy and range. Due to the reduced energy
content of ethanol, E85 can be expected to reduce vehicle fuel economy in miles per gallon by 23% to 28%.
This means more frequent fills and about 25% less range on a tank of fuel. However, on a life-cycle basis
including fuel production and distribution, E85 made with ethanol from corn can reduce fossil energy use
by 40%.
E85 is not widely available: As of June 2010, there were just 2,052 U.S. stations that sold E85 compared to
the latest count of about 162,000 conventional gasoline stations. Government and industry have worked
to increase the number of E85 stations from essentially zero 10 years ago to the current number. Federal
and state incentives are now available to help stimulate E85 infrastructure development. The successful
establishment of several hundred E85 stations in Minnesota’s Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area has
demonstrated the potential for E85 infrastructure growth in major U.S. cities.
Not all vehicles can use E85: Although there are almost 8 million E85 FFVs registered in the United
States, this represents just 2% of the vehicle fleet. U.S.-based auto manufacturers continue to produce sub-
stantial numbers of FFVs.
Misfueling: As E85 becomes more widely available with attractive retail pricing, the risk that non-FFVs
will be fueled with E85 will increase. Not only is this illegal, it may result in some short- and long-term
vehicle fuel system component failures and driveability complaints. The risk of misfueling indicates the
need for prominent signage at fueling stations and a large-scale public education program to properly
inform consumers.
Underground Tanks
���� Notify your licensed installer and the state underground storage tank (UST) program of your intent
to dispense E85. Your installer should determine if the age, composition, and condition of your tank
and piping are safe for E85 use.
���� Notify your UST insurance carrier to determine if it has additional requirements for E85 fuels.
���� Obtain an amended insurance certificate showing coverage of E85 storage and dispensing. In the
case of a conversion, clean the tank of all water and sediment. Ensure no water is present to protect
the quality of your ethanol-blended fuels and your customers’ vehicles (see API Publication 2015,
Maintenance
���� Check for water regularly. Ensure that no water is contaminating your fueling system. If water
is suspected or detected, track down its source and fix the problem immediately. The best way to
guard against contamination is to properly clean and maintain the fueling system. Confirm no leaks
exist in tank fill cap and containment reservoir before beginning your E85 operation. Water-detect-
ing pastes, suitable for E85, may be available in the near future.
���� If product seems to pump slowly, check and replace filters. Persistently clogged filters could indicate
moisture or another source of contamination.
Hawaii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Table B2. ASTM D4806 Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol
for Blending with Gasoline for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
Property Specification ASTM Test Method
Ethanol, volume %, min 92.1 D5501
Methanol, volume %, max 0.5
Solvent-washed gum, mg/100 ml, max 5.0 D381
Sulfur, mass ppm, max 30 D6428, D5453, D2622
Water content, volume %, max 1.0 E203
Sulfate, mass ppm, max 4 D7318, D7319, D7328
Denaturant content, volume %, min 1.96
volume %, max 5.0
Inorganic chloride content, mass ppm (mg/L) max 40 (32) D512
Copper content, mg/kg, max 0.1 D1688
Acidity (as acetic acid CH3C00H), mass% (mg/L), max 0.007 (56) D1613
pHe 6.9–9.0 D6423
visibly free of suspended or precipitated contaminants
Appearance
(clear & bright)
Source: ASTM International Standards Worldwide, 100 Barr Harbor Dr., P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428, www.astm.org
E85 is a form of alternative transportation fuel that can be produced from a wide range of renewable feed-
stocks. As is the case with all forms of fuels, it is critical that the integrity of the fuel be maintained and
that seasonal volatility adjustments be made. The following summary describes a “field test” procedure to
determine the levels of hydrocarbon and alcohol in E85.
Note: This method is appropriate for field testing only. If you need to test ethanol content for regulatory
compliance, refer to D5501 within ASTM D5798.
Procedure
• Using the suction bulb, pipette exactly 50 mL of fuel sample into the graduated cylinder.
• Add about 48 mL of water to make the total liquid volume just less than 100 mL.
• Place the stopper in the cylinder and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
• Carefully loosen the stopper to release any accumulated pressure; do not remove the stopper.
• Close the stopper again and place the cylinder upright on a level surface. Allow the mixture to sit for
about 15 minutes.
• Record the total volume of liquid by reading the lowest part of the upper meniscus (the curved inter-
face between the liquid and air).
• Record the total volume of the alcohol/water layer by reading the lowest part of the lower meniscus
(the curved interface between the two liquid layers).
Calculation
• The hydrocarbon percent is calculated by: 2.1 + 1.94 * (total volume - alcohol/water volume)
• Assuming the sample was an ethanol/hydrocarbon mixture, the ethanol percent is 100 minus the
hydrocarbon percent.
Hydrocarbon and alcohol-resistant gloves are recommended when collecting samples and conducing tests.
Additionally, eye protection should be utilized. Testing personnel should also carry water in plastic
containers.
Appendix D continued on next page.
Procedure
Note: Fuel samples and the conductivity probe are easily contaminated. Take care not to contaminate the
sample or conductivity probe by dirt or even fingerprints. The probe should be kept clean and not
laid on a lab or work bench.
1. Add about 200 mL of fuel to beaker.
2. Insert the conductivity probe into the sample; move the probe up and down to flush out the elec-
trodes. Discard the sample and add a second 200 mL sample into the beaker.
3. Repeat step 2.
4. Wait for about 30 seconds for the reading to stabilize, then record conductivity in uS/cm. Multiply
number by 100 to give the units of uS/m.
Cover photo credits: Wieck Media Services, Will Evans, PIX04621, PIX13531