ASTM D873-12

1.1 This test method² covers the determination of the tendency of aviation reciprocating, turbine, and jet engine fuels to form gum and deposits under accelerated aging conditions. (Warning—This test method is not intended for determining the stability of fuel components, particularly those with a high percentage of low boiling unsaturated compounds, as these may cause explosive conditions within the apparatus.)

1.2 The accepted SI unit of pressure is the kilo pascal (kPa); the accepted SI unit of temperature is °C.

1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.

1.4 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.

5.1 The results (of these tests) can be used to indicate storage stability of these fuels. The tendency of fuels to form gum and deposits in these tests has not been correlated with field performance (and can vary markedly) with the formation of gum and deposits under different storage conditions.