Product Information
FUEL-01
Fuel Sniffer Repeatability and Accuracy Application Note
Procedure
A 5% diesel fuel standard was prepared gravimetrically using an SAE 10W30 mineral oil as the
base.
The sample was left open for 20 minutes to remove the light end. The sample was then capped
for 2 minutes prior to being calibrated. Further dilutions were made of 3%, 5% 8% and a 0%
consisting of the 10W 30 mineral oil. These samples were filled to exactly the same position and
prepared identically to the 5% calibration standard.
The Fuel Sniffer was calibrated and each sample was run 10 times. The bottles were left capped
for 2 minutes to allow the fuel vapor to rebuild it’s equilibrium in the bottles headspace. The top
of each sample bottle was wiped each time it was put under the sample stand clamp to try and
prevent any contamination which could possibly carry over to the next sample. The clamp was
also wiped with a clean paper towel after each sample was run. The results are shown below.
Results
Sample run #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average %
Precision %
RSD %
Absolute Error
(Accuracy)
.
.
0% (Blank Oil) 3% Diesel Fuel 5% Diesel Fuel 8% Diesel Fuel
0
3
4.8
8.2
0
3.2
4.9
8.3
0
3
5
8
0
3.1
4.8
8
0
3.1
4.9
7.9
0
3
4.9
8.1
0
3
5.1
7.9
0.1
3.4
5.1
7.8
0.1
3.1
5.3
8.1
0
3.2
5.1
7.9
0.02
3.11
4.99
8.02
0.042
0.1287
0.1595
0.1549
----4.14%
3.20%
1.93%
0.02%
0.11%
0.01%
0.02%
Conclusion: The repeatability and accuracy of the Fuel Sniffer is good and is sufficient to
detect contamination due to fuel dilution in most instances
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