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Home » ISO4406:2017 standard for diesel fuel

ISO4406:2017 standard for diesel fuel

ISO4406:2017 is the internationally recognised cleanliness code for measuring the solid particulate content of fuel samples and hydraulic fluid. It is also referred to as the ISO cleanliness code. For engines designed to achieve Euro 2, 3, 4 and 5 emission standards, clean fuel is important.

For more information on how to measure the level of solid particulate content in your diesel fuel, read IPU’s Quick Guide to ISO4406:2017. Click here to request your free copy

For diesel to be recognised as ‘clean’ the fuel must contain less than 200ppm of dissolved water (as indicated by EN 590) and a particulate cleanliness level of 18/16/13 (as stated by ISO4406:2017). Some engine manufacturers using the latest in high pressure common rail system even require a fuel cleanliness rating of 12/9/6.

iso 4406

ISO4406:2017 is the internationally recognised method of quoting the solid particulate count in a fuel sample.

But what does ’18/16/13′ mean?

The cleanliness code is made up of three numbers that identify the number of particles that are present in one millilitre of fuel:

For the code quoted above:

  • The first number (18) indicates the level of contamination by particles greater than 4 micron
  • The second number (16) indicates the level of contamination by particles greater than 6 micron
  • The third number (13) indicates the level of contamination by particles greater than 14 micron

For the example given above (18/16/13) the following table shows what each of the range number translates to in terms of particle quantities:

Range Number Micron Size Particle Count Range
18 4+ 1300 – 2500
16 6+ 320 – 640
13 14+ 40 – 80

To give you an idea of scale in terms microns:

  • Bacteria is 10 micron
  • A human hair is 70 micron
  • A grain of salt is 100 micron
  • The naked eye can detect particles over 40 micron

 

ISO 4406 Cleanliness Table

The table below is an extension of the example given above. It translates what each ISO ‘range number’ means in terms of number of particles found at each micron test.

Range Number Particle Count Range
>28 2,500,001+
28 2,500,000 – 1,300,001
27 1,300,000 – 640,001
26 640,000 – 320,001
25 320,000 – 160,001
24 160,000 – 80,001
23 80,000 – 40,001
22 40,000 – 20,001
21 20,000 – 10,001
20 10,000 – 5,001
19 5,000  – 2,501
18 2,500 – 1,301
17 1,300 – 641
16 640 – 321
15 320 – 161
14 160 – 81
13 80 – 41
12 40 – 21
11 20 – 11
10 10 – 6
9 5 – 2.6
8 2.5 – 1.4
7 1.3 – 0.65
6 0.64 – 0.33
5 0.32 – 0.17
4 0.16 – 0.09
3 0.08 – 0.05
2 0.04 – 0.03
1 0.02 – 0.02
0 0.01 – 0

 

For more information on ISO4406:2017

Detailed Information on ISO4406:2017 is not available free-of-charge. It has to be purchased from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) website. The full text of the standard can be purchased from the ISO Website. For this reason, it cannot be made available for download from IPU’s web site.

Get your free handbook

  • IPU’s Quick Guide to ISO4406:2017

    Request this 2-page guide to ISO4406:2017 to make it easy to measure particulate contamination in your diesel fuel.

  • Register your interest for a fuel seminar

    Sign up to our next fuel seminar. Learn about fuel conditioning; food & accommodation included!

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