Stability Measurements of Commercial Marine Fuels from a Worldwide Survey

As part of a U.S. Navy mobility fuels flexibility program, the storage stabilities of thirty-six commercial marine fuels from a worldwide survey were evaluated. The fuels were categorized into three broad categories based on physical properties: marine gas oils (most similar to current use Naval Distillate fuel - NATO 76), heavy marine gas oils and marine diesel fuels. Accelerated stability tests included 43°C and 80°C bottle tests, and ASTM D2274 tests at 95°C. The results of the accelerated tests from two separate laboratories indicate very good agreement in assigning relative storage stabilities to the fuels in each class. The results indicate that current Navy use of D2274 as a pass-fail criterion in fuel procurement specifications is justified and that this test should provide reasonable protection from instability problems encountered from possible future Navy use of commercial fuels worldwide.