The water and sediment content of fuel oil is significant because it can cause corrosion of equipment and problems in processing. A determination of water and sediment content is required to measure accurately net volumes of actual fuel oil in sales, taxation, exchanges, and custody transfers.

1.1 This test method describes the laboratory determination of water and sediment in fuel oils in the range from 0 to 30 % volume by means of the centrifuge procedure.

With some types of fuel oils such as residual fuel oils or distillate fuel oils containing residual components, it is difficult to obtain water or sediment contents with this test method. When this situation is encountered, Test Method D 95 (API MPMS Chapter 10.5) or Test Method D 473 (API MPMS Chapter 10.1) may be used.

API MPMS Chapter 10.6 (Test Method D 1796) along with API MPMS Chapter 10.3 (Test Method D 4007) formerly superseded API Standard 2548.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

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. For a specific precautionary statement, see .