Diesel: data sheet
In brief
Diesel is a middle-distillate fuel refined from crude oil for compression-ignition engines. Road diesel, also called DERV (diesel engine road vehicle), is made to the standard BS EN 590, carries full fuel duty and contains up to 7% biodiesel, which is why UK pumps label it B7. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.
| Density at 15°C | 820–845 kg/m³ (BS EN 590 limits) |
|---|---|
| Flash point | Above 55°C (BS EN 590 minimum) |
| Distillation | 95% recovered by 360°C |
| Cetane number | At least 51 |
| Sulphur | 10 mg/kg maximum |
| Biodiesel content | Up to 7% FAME (B7) |
| Colour | Clear to pale straw, undyed |
| Waste code | 13 07 01* (fuel oil and diesel) |
| Transport | UN1202 DIESEL FUEL, class 3, packing group III |
| Also called | DERV (diesel engine road vehicle), road diesel, white diesel, ULSD (ultra-low sulphur diesel), B7 |
What diesel is made of
Diesel is a mixture of thousands of hydrocarbons, most with between about 10 and 22 carbon atoms: straight and branched chains (paraffins), rings (naphthenes) and aromatics. UK road diesel also contains up to 7% FAME biodiesel and small amounts of additives that improve lubricity, combustion, cleanliness and cold-weather flow. Sulphur is capped at 10 mg/kg. Diesel has no single chemical formula because it is a mixture of thousands of compounds. For combustion calculations it is often approximated as C12H23.
How diesel is made
Crude oil is heated and separated in a distillation column, and the middle fraction boiling between roughly 180°C and 360°C is the base for diesel. Refineries make more of it by cracking heavier oils (hydrocracking and catalytic cracking), then hydrotreat every stream to remove sulphur. The blend is finished with FAME biodiesel and additives and tested against BS EN 590.
What diesel is used for
Road vehicles of every size, from cars and vans to lorries, buses and coaches. Since red diesel entitlement was cut back in April 2022, most construction plant, quarry machines and other off-road equipment in Great Britain also run on full-duty diesel.
Storing diesel
Keep diesel in a tank or container made for fuel, inside a bund that holds at least 110% of the largest container, away from drains and watercourses. The oil storage regulations in England, Wales and Scotland set these rules for most businesses, and DSEAR covers fire and explosion risk at work. Commonly quoted as 6 to 12 months in a clean, dry, sealed tank. The biodiesel in B7 attracts water and oxidises faster than mineral diesel, so stored diesel needs regular water checks.
Hazards of diesel
Typical safety data sheets class diesel as a flammable liquid that is harmful if swallowed and enters the airways, irritating to skin, suspected of causing cancer and toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Contamination in diesel
- Water in diesel
- Diesel bug in diesel
- Petrol in diesel
- AdBlue in diesel
- Oil in diesel
- Coolant in diesel
- Sediment in diesel
- Sludge in diesel tanks
- Old diesel
- Red diesel in road diesel
- Chemicals in diesel
What happens to waste diesel
Collected diesel is tested, water and sediment are settled out, and the fuel is filtered. Recovered fuel goes back into use, for example blended into industrial fuel oils, or becomes refinery feedstock; water and sludge removed along the way are treated separately.
What waste diesel is worth
Waste diesel is one of the more valuable waste fuels because most of a typical load is recoverable. Volume, water content, contamination and how easily it can be pumped decide the terms. Waste diesel can earn a rebate or carry a collection charge, depending on its volume, quality, contamination and access, and on the oil market on the day. We never publish prices, because every load and every day is different: for an actual figure, call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.
Rules for diesel
Road diesel carries full fuel duty. As waste it is hazardous waste (special waste in Scotland) and moves on a consignment note with a registered waste carrier. Storage falls under the oil storage regulations in each nation. Since April 2022 most former red diesel users in Great Britain must use full-duty diesel, so far more off-road machines now hold road diesel than before.
Questions about diesel
- What is diesel?
- What is diesel made of?
- What is the chemical formula of diesel?
- How is diesel made?
- What is diesel used for?
- What is waste diesel?
- What is contaminated diesel?
- What happens to contaminated diesel?
- What happens to waste diesel after it is collected?
- How do you dispose of waste diesel?
- Can waste diesel be recycled?
- Who buys waste diesel?
- How much is waste diesel worth?
- What affects the price of waste diesel?
- How do I sell waste diesel?
- Is waste diesel hazardous waste?
- What is the waste code for waste diesel?
- What is the UN number for diesel?
- How should diesel be stored?
- How long does diesel last?
- What happens to diesel over time?
- How do you test diesel?
- What should you do if you spill diesel?
- Is diesel flammable?
- What containers can waste diesel be collected from?
- How do I work out how much diesel I have?
- What does diesel look like?
- How is waste diesel transported?
- What are the dangers of diesel?
- What rules apply to waste diesel?
- Does City Fuel Services buy waste diesel?
- How many litres of diesel are in a tonne?
- What is the flash point of diesel?
- What is the density of diesel?
- What is the boiling range of diesel?
- How many carbon atoms are in diesel?
- How much sulphur is in diesel?
- Does diesel float on water?
- What standard does diesel meet?
All 1,877 questions about diesel
Official guidance: GOV.UK: hazardous waste.