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International Lubricant Evaluation
ACEA* Lubricant Evaluation
Sulphated Ash Evaluation (ASTM D 874)
 

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  image of the sulphated ash laboratory evaluation offered at SwRI
 

SwRI offers the sulphated ash laboratory evaluation.

Sulphated ash laboratory evaluation method ASTM D 874 is offered by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to determine the sulphated ash in unused lubricating oils containing additives and from additive concentrates used in compounding.

 


ACEA 2008 Specifications

The sulphated ash evaluation is part of ACEA 2008 Specifications:
 

Gasoline and Diesel Engines Gasoline and Diesel Engines
with Aftertreatment Devices		 Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines
A1/B1-08
A3/B3-08
A3/B4-08
A5/B5-08		 C1-08
C2-08
C3-08
C4-08
 E4-08
E6-08
E7-08
E9-08


ASTM D 874 Test Parameters

These additives usually contain one or more of the following metals:

  • barium

  • calcium

  • magnesium

  • zinc

  • potassium

  • sodium

  • tin

These elements can be present in combined form:

  • sulphur

  • phosphorus

  • chlorine

 The sample is ignited and burned until only ash and carbon remain.

After cooling, the residue is treated with sulphuric acid and heated to 775°C until carbon oxidation is complete. The ash is then cooled, retreated with sulphuric acid, and heated to 775°C to constant weight. The sulphated ash can be used to indicate the concentration of known metal-containing additives in new oils. The result to the nearest 0.001 mass% for samples below 0.02 mass% and to the nearest 0.01 mass% for higher levels are reported as the sulphated ash.
 

Pass / Fail Criteria

The pass/fail criteria include maximum variation of characteristics after immersion for 7 days in fresh oil without pre-aging.

 
Gasoline and Diesel Engines
Property Limits
A1/B1-08 A3/B3-08 A3/B4-08 A5/B5-08
Sulphated Ash, % m/m ≤1.3 ≤1.5 ≤1.6 ≤1.6

 

Gasoline and Diesel Engines with Aftertreatment Devices
Property Limits
C1-08 C2-08 C2-08 C4-08
Sulphated Ash, % m/m ≤0.5 ≤0.8 ≤0.8 ≤0.5

 

Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines
Property Limits
E4-08 E6-08 E7-08 E9-08
Sulphated Ash, % m/m ≤2.0 ≤1.0 ≤2.0 ≤1.0

 

*Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles / European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

 

For more information about sulphated ash evaluation (ASTM D 874), or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Becky Grinfield at bgrinfield@swri.org or (210) 522-3652.

 

sulfatedash.swri.org

 

Contact Information

Becky Grinfield

Sulphated Ash Evaluation
(ASTM D 874)

(210) 522-3652

bgrinfield@swri.org

sulfatedash.swri.org

Related Terminology

ASTM D 874

sulphated ash test

ACEA lubricant test

ACEA 2008 specifications

lubricant analysis

concentration of additives in oils

metal-containing additives in new oils

standardized lubricant testing
 

| Petroleum Products Research Department | Fuels and Lubricants Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

June 16, 2011