ABSTRACT
Diesel fuel powers diesel engines and is used throughout the world for on- and off-road uses, farming, rail transportation, and marine shipping. Diesel fuel is a mixture of thousands of hydrocarbon compounds, most with carbon numbers between 10 and 22, and the relative proportion of the paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic classes is one of the main factors that distinguish diesel fuels from others. A fuel with a high cetane number starts to burn shortly after it is injected into the cylinder and has a short ignition delay period, both of which are desirable characteristics in a diesel engine. Diesel fuel functions as a lubricant in most components of fuel injection equipment such as pumps and injectors. Diesel fuel stability is not a specification property within ASTM D975 but is presented as suggested practices in an accompanying appendix on storage and thermal stability. Biodiesel covers a variety of materials made from vegetable oils, recycled cooking greases or oils, or animal fats.
