ASTM D6079 - Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the High-Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR)

Significance and Use

5.1 Diesel fuel injection equipment has some reliance on lubricating properties of the diesel fuel. Shortened life of engine components, such as diesel fuel injection pumps and injectors, has sometimes been ascribed to lack of lubricity in a diesel fuel.

5.2 The trend of HFRR test results to diesel injection system pump component distress due to wear has been demonstrated in pump rig tests for some fuel/hardware combinations where boundary lubrication is believed to be a factor in the operation of the component.

5.3 The wear scar generated in the HFRR test is sensitive to contamination of the fluids and test materials, the temperature of the test fuel, and the ambient relative humidity. Lubricity evaluations are also sensitive to trace contaminants acquired during test fuel sampling and storage.

5.4 The HFRR and Scuffing Load Ball on Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (SLBOCLE, Test Method D6078) are two methods for evaluating diesel fuel lubricity. No absolute correlation has been developed between the two test methods.

5.5 The HFRR may be used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of diesel fuels for preventing wear under the prescribed test conditions. Correlation of HFRR test results with field performance of diesel fuel injection systems has not yet been determined.

5.6 This test method is designed to evaluate boundary lubrication properties. While viscosity effects on lubricity in this test method are not totally eliminated, they are minimized.

Scope

1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of the lubricity of diesel fuels using a high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR).

1.2 This test method is applicable to middle distillate fuels, such as Grades No. 1-D S15, S500, and S5000, and Grades No. 2-D S15, S500, and S5000 diesel fuels, in accordance with Specification D975; and other similar petroleum-based fuels which can be used in diesel engines. This test method is applicable to biodiesel blends. B5 was included in the round robin program that determined the precision statement.

NOTE 1—It is not known that this test method will predict the performance of all additive/fuel combinations. Additional work is under-way to establish this correlation and future revisions of this test method may be necessary once this work is complete.

Extracted, with permission, from ASTM D6079-18 - Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the High-Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR), copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ASTM International, astm.org