ASTM D6074-08
Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils

Standard No.

ASTM D6074-08

Release Date

2008

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D6074-15

Latest

ASTM D6074-15(2022)

Scope

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.

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.

ASTM D6074-08 Referenced Document

• ASTM D1298 Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
• ASTM D130 Standard Test Method for Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test
• ASTM D1401 Standard Test Method for Water Separability of Petroleum Oils and Synthetic Fluids
• ASTM D1500 Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
• ASTM D1744 Standard Test Method for Determination of Water in Liquid Petroleum Products by Karl Fischer Reagent
• ASTM D189 Standard Test Method for Conradson Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products
• ASTM D2007 Standard Test Method for Characteristic Groups in Rubber Extender and Processing Oils and Other Petroleum-Derived Oils by the Clay8212;Gel Absorption Chromatographic Method
• ASTM D2270 Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index From Kinematic Viscosity at 40 and 100176C
• ASTM D2622 Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
• ASTM D2887 Standard Test Method for Boiling Range Distribution of Petroleum Fractions by Gas Chromatography
• ASTM D2896 Standard Test Method for Base Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Perchloric Acid Titration
• ASTM D3120 Standard Test Method for Trace Quantities of Sulfur in Light Liquid Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Oxidative Microcoulometry
• ASTM D4052 Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
• ASTM D4057 Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
• ASTM D4059 Standard Test Method for Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Insulating Liquids by Gas Chromatography
• ASTM D4175 Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• ASTM D4291 Standard Test Method for Trace Ethylene Glycol in Used Engine Oil
• ASTM D4294 Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
• ASTM D445 Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (the Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
• ASTM D4530 Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon Residue (Micro Method)
• ASTM D4628 Standard Test Method for Analysis of Barium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc In Unused Lubricating Oils By Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
• ASTM D4629 Standard Test Method for Trace Nitrogen in Liquid Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Syringe/Inlet Oxidative Combustion and Chemiluminescence Detection
• ASTM D4739 Standard Test Method for Base Number Determination by Potentiometric Titration
• ASTM D4927 Standard Test Methods for Elemental Analysis of Lubricant and Additive Components8212;Barium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Zinc by Wavelength-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
• ASTM D4929 Standard Test Methods for Determination of Organic Chloride Content in Crude Oil
• ASTM D4951 Standard Test Method for Determination of Additive Elements in Lubricating Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
• ASTM D5185 Standard Test Method for Determination of Additive Elements, Wear Metals, and Contaminants in Used Lubricating Oils and Determination of Selected Elements in Base Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
• ASTM D524 Standard Test Method for Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products
• ASTM D5480 Standard Test Method for Engine Oil Volatility by Gas Chromatography
• ASTM D664 Standard Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Titration
• ASTM D7042 Standard Test Method for Dynamic Viscosity and Density of Liquids by Stabinger Viscometer (and the Calculation of Kinematic Viscosity)
• ASTM D91 Standard Test Method for Precipitation Number of Lubricating Oils
• ASTM D92 Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup
• ASTM D97 Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products
• ASTM D974 Standard Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-Indicator Titration
• ASTM E1687 Standard Test Method for Determining Carcinogenic Potential of Virgin Base Oils in Metalworking Fluids

ASTM D6074-08 history

• 2022 ASTM D6074-15(2022) Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• 2015 ASTM D6074-15 Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• 2008 ASTM D6074-08 Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• 1999 ASTM D6074-99(2005) Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• 1999 ASTM D6074-99 Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils