This International Standard establishes the rating of liquid spark-ignition engine fuel in terms of an arbitrary scale of octane numbers using a standard single-cylinder, four-stroke cycle, variable compression ratio, carburetted, CFR engine operated at constant speed. Research octane number (RON) provides a measure of
the knock characteristics of motor fuels in automotive engines under mild conditions of operation.
This International Standard is applicable for the entire scale range from 0 RON to 120 RON, but the working range is 40 RON to 120 RON. Typical motor fuel testing is in the range of 88 RON to 101 RON.
This International Standard can be used for oxygenate-containing fuels containing up to 4,0 % (m/m) oxygen.
Certain gases and fumes, such as halogenated refrigerants used in air-conditioning equipment, that can be present in the area where the CFR engine is located, may have a measurable effect on the RON rating.
Electrical power transient voltage or frequency surges or distortion can affect RON ratings.
NOTE 1 This International Standard specifies operating conditions in SI units but engine measurements are specified in inch-pound units because these are the units used in the manufacture of the equipment, and thus some references in this International Standard include these units in parenthesis.
NOTE 2 For the purposes of this International Standard, the expressions “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent the mass and volume fractions of a material, respectively.