below shows the characteristics that EN 590 Gas Oil must meet, so if you’re using this grade of red diesel for off-road use, you’ll get the most out of your fuel by ensuring you use a supplier that can provide EN 590 red diesel.
There are minimum and maximum values which the fuel must meet in order to be classed as EN 590 gas oil. The typical column lists values for these parameters, all of which lie within the specification limits and which can be expected for deliveries of this grade of fuel.
| Parameter | Unit |
| Appearance | Clear and bright, free from visible sediment and water. |
| Colour | 2.5 max |
| Odour | Merchantable |
| Density @ 15°C g/ml | 0⋅820 min – 0⋅835 max |
| Cold filter plugging point | |
| Winter °C (*) | -15 max |
| Summer °C (*) | -5 max |
| Cloud point | |
| Winter °C (*) | -5 max |
| Summer °C (*) | +3 max |
| Flash point (PMCC) °C | 56 min |
| Cetane number | 51 min |
| Cetane index | 46 min |
| Viscosity cst @ 40°C | 2.0 min – 4.5 max |
| Sulphur % Wt | 0⋅001 max |
| Copper corrosion 3 hr @ 50°C | class I |
| Micro carbon residue: | – |
| Residue wt on 10% bottoms | 0⋅30 |
| Ash % Wt | 0⋅01 max |
| Particulate matter mg/kg | 24 max |
| Water mg/kg | 200 max |
| Distillation °C | |
| % Vol Rec @ 250°C | 65⋅0 max |
| % Vol Rec @ 345°C | 85·0 min |
| 95% Vol recovered ºC | 360·0 |
| Oxidation stability mg/100ml | 2·5 max |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (%) | 11 max |
| Lubricity, Corrected water scar | 460 Diameter @ ºC |
These parameters include density at 15°C (typically at this temperature it will have a density of 0.856kg/m3 with a minimum of 0.82kg/m3 required), a typical 0.1% carbon residue value (where the maximum permitted for this grade is 0.3%). The table also shows that the minimum flashpoint (the lowest temperature at which the fuel produces vapour that is an ignitable mixture in air near the surface of the liquid) is 56°C, while typically you can expect A2 Class gas oil to have a flashpoint of more than 62°C.
