ASTM D6074-08

Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The consistent performance of hydrocarbon lubricant base oils is a critical factor in a wide variety of applications such as engine oils, industrial lubricants, and metalworking fluids. In addition, in many of these applications humans are exposed to the base oils as a component of a formulated product such that health or safety considerations may need to be addressed. This guide suggests a compilation of properties and potential contaminants that are understood by those knowledgeable in the manufacture and use of hydrocarbon lubricants to be of significance in some or all applications. A discussion of each of the suggested properties and potential contaminants is provided in Appendix X1, with each listed alphabetically within four categories.
Potential sources of base oil variation include the raw material, manufacturing process, operating conditions, storage, transportation, and blending.
The test methods, base oil properties, and potential contaminants suggested are those that would likely be useful in many common situations, although it is recognized that there are specific applications and situations that could have different requirements. Performance testing related to the specific application should serve as the basis for acceptability.
Issues such as frequency of testing and the specifics of how the test results are to be applied are not addressed in detail. It is the responsibility of the buyer and seller to determine and agree upon the implementation of this guide. This guide serves as a basis for that discussion.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide suggests physical, chemical, and toxicological test methods for characterizing hydrocarbon lubricant base oils derived from various refining processes including re-refining used oils and refining crude oil. This guide does not purport to cover all tests which could be employed. It is the responsibility of the buyer and seller to determine and agree upon the implementation of this guide.
1.2 This guide applies only to base oils and not to finished lubricants.
1.3 This guide is relevant to base oils composed of hydrocarbons and intended for use in formulating products including automotive and industrial lubricants. These base oils would typically have a viscosity of approximately 2 to 40 mm2/s (cSt) at 100°C (50 to 3740 SUS at 100°F).
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Oct-2008
• ICS: 75.100 - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.P0 - Recycled Products

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D6074 − 08
StandardGuide for
1
Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6074; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This guide was generated in response to a request from automobile manufacturers that ASTM
Committee D02 develop a standard for re-refined base oils. As the document evolved through the
consensus process, it was agreed that it would be appropriate to present this information as an
educational guide and to include base oils from various refining processes, including both re-refining
of used oils and refining of crude oils.
This guide represents the first step in better describing important parameters of lubricant base oils
affecting lubricant performance and safe handling. Tests have been identified to characterize the
composition and performance of base oils in addition to verifying their consistency. Undesirable
components have also been identified, with a range of typical levels. These are not limits.
Thisguidedoesnotintendtocoverallbaseoilviscositygrades.However,itdoescoverthemajority
of viscosities that would be used in both automotive and industrial oil formulations.
1. Scope* priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide suggests physical, chemical, and toxicologi-
cal test methods for characterizing hydrocarbon lubricant base
2. Referenced Documents
oils derived from various refining processes including re-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
refining used oils and refining crude oil. This guide does not
D91 Test Method for Precipitation Number of Lubricating
purport to cover all tests which could be employed. It is the
Oils
responsibility of the buyer and seller to determine and agree
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
upon the implementation of this guide.
Open Cup Tester
1.2 This guide applies only to base oils and not to finished
D97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products
lubricants.
D130 Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petro-
leum Products by Copper Strip Test
1.3 This guide is relevant to base oils composed of hydro-
D189 Test Method for Conradson Carbon Residue of Petro-
carbons and intended for use in formulating products including
leum Products
automotive and industrial lubricants. These base oils would
2
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
typicallyhaveaviscosityofapproximately2to40mm /s(cSt)
and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-
at 100°C (50 to 3740 SUS at 100°F).
ity)
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D524 Test Method for Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Petroleum Products
only.
D664 Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
by Potentiometric Titration
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D974 Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Indicator Titration
D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific
Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum
Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.P0 on
2
Recycled Products. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2008. Published November 2008. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D6074–99(2005). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D6074-08. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6074 − 08
Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method and Determination of Selected Elements in Base Oils by
D1401 TestMethodforWaterSeparabilityofPetroleumOils Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrom-
etry (ICP-AES)
and Synthetic Fluids
D5480 Test Method for Engine Oil Volatility by Gas Chro-
D1500 Test Method forASTM Color of Petroleum Products
matography
(ASTM Color Scale)
D7042 Test Method for Dynamic Viscosity and Density of
D1744 Test Method for Determination of Water in Liquid
Liquids by Stabinger Viscometer
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:D6074–99 (Reapproved 2005) Designation:D6074–08
Standard Guide for
1
Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6074; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This guide iswas generated in response to a request from automobile manufacturers that ASTM
Committee D02 develop a standard for re-refined base oils. As the document evolved through the
consensus process, it was agreed that it would be appropriate to present this information as an
educational guide and to include base oils from various refining processes, including both re-refining
of used oils and refining of crude oils.
This guide represents the first step in better describing important parameters of lubricant base oils
affecting lubricant performance and safe handling. Tests have been identified to characterize the
composition and performance of base oils in addition to verifying their consistency. Undesirable
components have also been identified, with a range of typical levels. These are not limits.
Thisguidedoesnotintendtocoverallbaseoilviscositygrades.However,itdoescoverthemajority
of viscosities that would be used in both automotive and industrial oil formulations.
1. Scope*
1.1 This guide suggests physical, chemical, and toxicological test methods for characterizing hydrocarbon lubricant base oils
derived from various refining processes including re-refining used oils and refining crude oil. This guide does not purport to cover
all tests which could be employed. It is the responsibility of the buyer and seller to determine and agree upon the implementation
of this guide.
1.2 This guide applies only to base oils and not to finished lubricants.
1.3 This guide is relevant to base oils composed of hydrocarbons and intended for use in formulating products including
2
automotive and industrial lubricants. These base oils would typically have a viscosity of approximately 2 to 40 mm /s (cSt) at
100°C (50 to 3740 SUS at 100°F).
1.4
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 91 Test Method for Precipitation Number of Lubricating Oils
D 92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
D 97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products
D 130 Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
D 189 Test Method for Conradson Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products
D 445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and the Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
D 524 Test Method for Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products
D 664 Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Titration
D 974 Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-Indicator Titration
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD02onPetroleumProductsandLubricantsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD02.P0onRecycled
Petroleum Products.
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published June 2005. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D6074-99.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2008. Published November 2008. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D 6074–99(2005).
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6074–08
D 1298Practice Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), orAPI Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid
Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
D 1401 Test
...