5.1 A knowledge of the water content is important in the manufacturing, purchase, sale, or transfer of petroleum products to help in predicting their quality and performance characteristics.

5.2 The presence of moisture could lead to premature corrosion and wear, an increase in the debris load resulting in diminished lubrication and premature plugging of filters, an impedance in the effect of additives, and undesirable support of deleterious bacterial growth.

1.1 This test method covers the direct determination of entrained water in petroleum products and hydrocarbons using automated instrumentation. This test method also covers the indirect analysis of water thermally removed from samples and swept with dry inert gas into the Karl Fischer titration cell. Mercaptan, sulfide (S^– or H₂S), sulfur, and other compounds are known to interfere with this test method (see Section 6). The precision statement of this method covers the nominal range of 20 mg/kg to 25 000 mg/kg for Procedure A, 30 mg/kg to 2100 mg/kg for Procedure B, and 20 mg/kg to 360 mg/kg for Procedure C.

1.2 This test method is intended for use with commercially available coulometric Karl Fischer reagents and for the determination of water in additives, lube oils, base oils, automatic transmission fluids, hydrocarbon solvents, and other petroleum products. By proper choice of the sample size, this test method may be used for the determination of water from mg/kg to percent level concentrations.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.