Read the specifications of EN 590 Gas Oil
Gas oil (red diesel) is used around the UK for a myriad of reasons, and depending on the application, you’ll need the appropriate grade of fuel that is suited to your needs. For businesses that require EN 590 Gas Oil, Nationwide Fuels can supply red diesel meeting this specification.
EN 590 Gas Oil is a 10 ppm (parts per million) sulphur content gas oil. It has a higher cetane number than A2 Class Gas Oil (another 10ppm sulphur content class of red diesel), making it better suited to internal combustion engines in off-road vehicles.
So before you order your gas oil, it’s important that you ensure that your fuel supplier can supply you with the correct grade of fuel for your needs.
Nationwide Fuels also supplies Gas Oils that meet EN 590, Class A2 or Class D, providing the highest quality gas oil for each specific application.
You can learn more about gas oil in our Guide to Gas Oil.
EN 590 Gas Oil specification table explained
The table below shows the characteristics that EN 590 Gas Oil must meet, so if you’re using this grade of red diesel for off-road use, you’ll get the most out of your fuel by ensuring you use a supplier that can provide EN 590 red diesel.
There are minimum and maximum values which the fuel must meet in order to be classed as EN 590 gas oil. The typical column lists values for these parameters, all of which lie within the specification limits and which can be expected for deliveries of this grade of fuel.
These parameters include density at 15°C (typically at this temperature it will have a density of 0.856kg/m3 with a minimum of 0.82kg/m3 required), a typical 0.1% carbon residue value (where the maximum permitted for this grade is 0.3%). The table also shows that the minimum flashpoint (the lowest temperature at which the fuel produces vapour that is an ignitable mixture in air near the surface of the liquid) is 56°C, while typically you can expect A2 Class gas oil to have a flashpoint of more than 62°C.
Other important parameters that this grade of gas oil needs to meet are the cold filter plugging point in winter and summer (the highest temperature at which point the oil will start to gel and cause filter blocking issues). Class A2 gas oil needs to stay fully mobile down to a maximum of -4°C (the typical plugging point is -8°C in summer) and -12°C in winter (typically A2 gas oil maintains full fluidity until -15°C).
| Parameter | Unit | Minimum | Maximum | Typical |
| Appearance | – | Clear & bright, Cherry Red, Free from visible sediment. | Pass | |
| Density at 15°C | kg/m³ | 0.820 | – | 0.860 |
| Kinematic viscosity at 40°C | mm²/s | 1.5 | 5.5 | 3.0 |
| Carbon residue (Ramsbottom on 10% residue) | % (m/m) | – | 0.30 | 0.10 |
| Distillation recovery at 250°C | % (v/v) | – | 65 | 42 |
| Distillation recovery at 350C | % (v/v) | 85 | – | 92 |
| Flash point (PMCC) | °C | 56 | – | >62 |
| Water content | mg/kg | – | 200 | <100 |
| Particulate content | mg/kg | – | 24 | <10 |
| Ash content | % (m/m) | – | 0.01 | <0.01 |
| Sulphur content | % (m/m) | – | 0.10 | <0.098 |
| Copper corrosion (3 hrs at 50°C) | Class | – | 1 | 1a |
| Cold filter plugging point(1) Summer | °C | – | -4 | -8 |
| Cold filter plugging point(1) Winter | °C | – | -12 | -14 |
| Cetane number | – | 45 | – | 48 |
| Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) | % (v/v) | – | 7.0 | <0.1 |
| Carbon | % (m/m) | – | – | 87 |
| Hydrogen | % (m/m) | – | – | 12.75 |
| Nitrogen | % (m/m) | – | – | 0.01 – 0.05 |
| Gross specific energy (MJ/kg) | MJ/kg | – | – | 45.4 |
| Gross specific energy (MJ/litre) | MJ/litre | – | – | 38.8 |
| Mean specific heat capacity over 0 – 100°C | KJ/kg °C | – | – | 2.05 |
| Volume correction factor | per °C | – | – | 0.00081 |
| Strong acid number | mg KOH/g | – | nil | nil |
| Lubricity (HFRR) | µm | – | 460 | <460 |
| Oxidation stability 0.0 – 7.0% FAME | g/m³ | – | 25 | – |
| Oxidation stability 2.0 – 7.0% FAME | h | 20 | – | – |
This specification is not a guarantee. We reserve the right to alter the specifications without any notice.
Download the PDF here:
EN 590 Fame-Free Gas Oil
We also supply FAME-free gas oil to companies who require fuel with no biodiesel content. Fuel containing bio (FAME) has a tendency to absorb moisture and is therefore more susceptible to microbial attack which can cause issues such as clogged filters. FAME-free gas oil is the perfect fuel for industries that store fuels for extended periods, such as data centres.
The specifications are the same EN590 and Class A2 but state a FAME content of <0.1%.
If you need any further clarifications about our A2 Grade gas oil, or you would like to request a delivery of gas oil, call Nationwide Fuels today on 0330 678 0880.
