Fuel Testing Baths & Instruments — Corrosion, Oxidation, Biodiesel & Stability Testing for Petroleum Laboratories
KB Scientific Instruments supplies the complete Tamson fuel testing line, covering silver and copper corrosion, biodiesel oxidation and cold soak filtration, filter blocking tendency, phosphorus in gasoline, total sediment ageing, and middle distillate stability testing. Each bath or automated instrument is purpose-built for its governing ASTM, IP, or CEC method, with the temperature control and sample handling the method specifies. Identify the fuel property being tested below to select the correct instrument for the laboratory.
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Purpose-Built Instruments for Every Major Fuel Test Method
Fuel testing laboratories run a wide range of methods to characterize how a fuel or lubricant will perform and age in service, from corrosion tendencies to oxidation stability to cold-weather filterability. Tamson builds a dedicated bath or automated instrument for each of these methods rather than a single general-purpose unit, so the cover, sample holders, and temperature range match what the governing ASTM, IP, or CEC standard specifies. Every bath uses a stainless steel construction with a mechanical resettable safety thermostat.
The line divides into four functional groups. Corrosion testing covers silver and copper corrosion tendency using a shared TC16 bath platform with method-specific covers. Biodiesel and fuel stability testing covers oxidation of engine oils in the presence of biodiesel, cold soak filtration, and automated filter blocking tendency. Compositional testing covers phosphorus determination in gasoline. High-temperature ageing and stability testing covers total sediment in residual fuels and the relative stability of middle distillate fuels under prolonged heat exposure.
Refinery quality control laboratories, biodiesel producers, independent fuel testing labs, and gasoline additive manufacturers across the Midwest rely on this instrument line for method-compliant, repeatable results. KB Scientific Instruments configures each unit with the correct cover, glassware, and accessory set for the specific test method a laboratory runs, so the instrument arrives ready to commission.
Built for Method-Compliant, Repeatable Fuel Test Results
Purpose-Built Bath Platforms
The TC16, TC40, and TC20B bath platforms share the same stainless steel construction, 0.1° set-point resolution, and 0.01°C internal controller accuracy, but each is configured with the cover, opening size, and holder combination its target method requires. This shared platform approach keeps parts and service familiar across the line while still meeting each method's specific sample handling requirements.
Full ASTM, IP, and CEC Method Compliance
The instrument line conforms to ASTM D130, D7667, D7671, D2068, D3231, D4870, D6468, D7501, and CEC L-109-14, along with related IP, ISO, DIN, CEN, and CGSB standards. Each unit ships with the cover, glassware, and holder configuration its governing method specifies, removing the compliance risk of adapting a general-purpose bath to a method it was not built for.
Automated Instruments for Repeatable Results
The Filter Blocking Tendency tester (TFBT) automates the full D2068 and IP 387 test sequence with a graphical touch screen, constant-flow piston pump, and integrated printer, removing operator-to-operator variability from manual filtration timing. The instrument monitors fluid level, pressure, and temperature continuously during the test and calculates the FBT number automatically.
Cross-Method Bath Flexibility
The TC16 bath used for silver corrosion, copper corrosion, total sediment ageing, and D6468 stability testing can be reconfigured between these methods with the appropriate cover and holder set, and the pump can circulate bath fluid to an external application when not running a corrosion or ageing test. This flexibility lets a laboratory serve more than one test method from a smaller instrument footprint.
Integrated Cooling for Biodiesel Cold Soak Testing
The TLB50 cold soak bath includes integrated cooling that reaches -5°C without an external chiller, conditioning up to 12 biodiesel samples in 500 mL jars at 4.5°C for sixteen hours per ASTM D7501. The same bath then maintains samples at +25°C after the cold soak period, and reaches 25°C from 4.5°C within approximately 30 minutes.
RS232 and Digital Communication Across the Line
The TLB50, TC16, and TFBT include RS232 or USB connectivity for data logging, with the free TamCom software providing temperature logging and predefined set-point curves on RS232-equipped baths. The TFBT additionally provides a graphical color touch screen with an integrated USB port and optional PC database software.
ASTM METHODS
Methods Supported by This Instrument Line
Corrosiveness to Silver of Aviation Turbine Fuels or Engine Fuels
These methods determine the corrosive tendencies toward silver of aviation turbine fuel, automotive spark-ignition engine oils, or automotive gasoline, with the result classified as an integer from 0 to 4. The Silver Corrosion Bath offers six test positions as standard, with a nine-position cover available separately.
Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products
This method covers the detection of corrosiveness to copper of aviation gasoline, aviation turbine fuel, automotive gasoline, natural gasoline, or other hydrocarbons with a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 18 psi. The Copper Corrosion Bath shares the same six-position TC16 platform as the silver corrosion configuration, with test vessels or test tube holders depending on the specific method.
Oxidation Test for Engine Oils Operating in the Presence of Biodiesel Fuels
This method provides preventive protection against biodiesel-induced engine oil oxidation as more biodiesel is blended with diesel fuel. The apparatus consists of a six-position TC40 circulator bath with six complete sets of glassware, flowmeters, and tubing, delivered as a complete six-test system.
Cold Soak Filtration Test (CSFT) of Biodiesel
This method stores 300 mL of B100 biodiesel at 4.5°C for sixteen hours, allows it to warm to 25°C, then vacuum filters it through a 0.7 micron glass fiber filter at controlled vacuum levels to evaluate filterability. The TLB50 cold soak bath conditions up to 12 samples per run with integrated cooling, eliminating the need for external cooling circulators.
Filter Blocking Tendency
This method determines whether a distillate fuel, including diesel, biodiesel blends, gas oil, gas turbine fuel, or kerosene, can potentially block filters in the distribution network or during vehicle or power plant use. The automated TFBT draws fuel at a constant 20 mL/min flow and calculates the FBT number from the pumped volume or end pressure.
Phosphorus in Gasoline
This method covers the determination of phosphorus present as pentavalent phosphate esters or salts in gasoline, since phosphorus damages catalytic converters used in automotive emission control systems. The Phosphorus in Gasoline bath maintains up to eight 100 mL volumetric flasks at the 82.2°C to 87.8°C range the method requires.
geing Bath for Total Sediment in Residual Fuels
This method determines the insoluble material content of distillate and residual fuel oils through thermal ageing followed by filtration and weighing of the total sediment. The ageing bath is available on either a six-position TC16 or a fifteen-position TC40 platform, paired with a separate two-position sediment tester for the filtration and weighing steps.
High Temperature Stability of Middle Distillate Fuels
This method covers the relative stability of middle distillate fuels under high-temperature ageing conditions with limited air exposure. The TC16 bath accommodates six test tubes as standard, with a nine-position cover or an eighteen-position TC40 alternative available for higher sample volume.
Choose the Instrument for Your Test Method
The Silver Corrosion Bath is an excellent solution for tests conforming
To ASTM D7667, ASTM D7671, IP 227, ASTM D4814, and IP 611, determining the corrosive tendencies toward silver of aviation turbine fuel or engine fuels. The bath offers six test positions as standard, with a nine-position cover available separately. This bath can also be used for copper corrosion tests under ASTM D130 and related methods with the appropriate cover.
Six test positions standard, nine-position cover optional
Ambient +5°C to 250°C, stability ±0.02°C
Set point in steps of 0.1°, internal controller accuracy 0.01°C
Pump can circulate bath content to an external application when not testing
Bath volume: 16 L
Range: Ambient +5°C to 250°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Power: 1.5 kW
31T0671 (230V, 50-60Hz)
31T0861 (115V, 60Hz)
The Copper Corrosion Bath is an excellent solution for tests conforming
To ASTM D130, EN/ISO 2160, IP 154, DIN 51811, ASTM D4048, IP 112, or ASTM D7095, covering the detection of corrosiveness to copper of aviation gasoline, aviation turbine fuel, automotive gasoline, and other hydrocarbons. The cover has six openings, each with a lid and hook for suspending a copper corrosion test vessel, and openings can also accommodate optional test tubes in optional holders.
Six openings with lid and hook for copper corrosion test vessels
Ambient +5°C to 250°C, stability ±0.02°C
Nine-opening cover available separately
Pump can circulate bath content to an external application when not testing
Bath volume: 16 L
Range: Ambient +5°C to 250°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Power: 1.5 kW
31T0671 (230V, 50-60Hz)
31T0861 (115V, 60Hz)
This apparatus comes with accessories to perform tests according to CEC L-109-14
Consisting of a six-position TC40 circulator bath, six flowmeters, and six complete sets of glassware including a 500 mL flask and condenser. The cover has six openings, each with a lid and stand-rods with clamps to hold the glassware in a fixed position. Test evaluation requires two additional instruments, one for kinematic viscosity and one for oxidation level by peak height, both available from Tamson.
Six-position TC40 circulator bath with complete glassware sets
Stand-rods with clamps hold glassware in position
Built-in cooling coil for counter-cooling
Should be placed in a fume hood to avoid oil vapor spreading into the laboratory
Bath volume: 40 L
Range: Ambient +5°C to 250°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Power: 3.0 kW
00T2020 (230V, 50-60Hz)
00T2021 (115V, 60Hz)
The TLB50 ASTM D7501 cold soak bath soaks samples
According to ASTM D7501, IP PM EA, CEN N 403, and CGSB 3.0 No. 142. This large-capacity benchtop bath includes integrated cooling, eliminating the need for external cooling circulators, and conditions up to 12 biodiesel samples in 500 mL jars at 4.5°C for sixteen hours before maintaining them at +25°C after the cold soak test.
Integrated cooling, no external circulator required
Conditions up to 12 biodiesel samples in 500 mL jars
Reaches 25°C from 4.5°C within approximately 30 minutes
Delivered complete with leveling platform, rack, and bottle holders
Bath volume: 50 L
Range: -5°C to +80°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Power: nominal 0.8 kW, maximum 3 kW
00T0082 (230V, 50Hz)
00T0081 (115V, 60Hz)
00T0083 (230V, 60Hz)
The Tamson Filter Blocking Tendency tester is an automated instrument
Designed to test the Filter Blocking Tendency of distillate fuels including diesel, biodiesel, gas oil, gas turbine fuel, and kerosene, conforming to ASTM D2068 and IP 387. Fuel samples are drawn with a constant flow of 20 mL/min by a piston pump, with fluid level, pressure, and temperature continuously monitored while the sample is pumped through a specified filter.
Graphical touch screen with step-by-step guided operation
Integrated thermal printer for test records
Password-protected user and service screens
Procedures A and B both supported with standard adapter block
FBT range: 1.0 to 30 (low number is best)
Temperature accuracy: ±0.05°C
Max pressure: 1500 mBar
Power: 40 W, 85-264 Vac
00T0945
Tamson manufactures an ageing bath
For thermal ageing of samples conforming to the appendix procedure of ASTM D4870, alongside a two-position sediment tester with accessories for the total sediment test in residual fuels conforming to ASTM D4870, IP 375, and ISO 10307. A selection can be made between a six-position TC16 ageing bath or a fifteen-position TC40 ageing bath, with cover, air wells, conical flasks, condensers, and stoppers ordered as accessories.
Choice of six-position TC16 or fifteen-position TC40 ageing bath
Separate two-position sediment tester for filtration and weighing
Ambient +5°C to 250°C ageing range
Sediment tester waste collected outside the unit
Bath volume: 16 L (TC16) / 40 L (TC40)
Range: Ambient +5°C to 250°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Sediment tester: 2 test stations, max 2.5 bar operative pressure
00T0671 / 00T0861 (TC16, 230V/115V)
00T0681 / 00T0851 (TC40, 230V/115V)
31T0050 (Sediment tester)
The TC16 ASTM D6468 bath ages middle distillate fuels under high temperature
With limited air exposure for ASTM D6468 tests. The bath offers six positions as standard, with a nine-position cover optional, to insert holders with test tubes for this test method, and an eighteen-position TC40 alternative is available for higher sample volume.
Six test tube positions standard, nine optional
Ambient +5°C to 250°C, stability ±0.02°C
Integrated cooling coil for counter-cooling
TC40 alternative available for eighteen test tubes
Bath volume: 16 L
Range: Ambient +5°C to 250°C
Stability: ±0.02°C
Power: 1.6 kW
00T0671 (230V, 50-60Hz)
00T0861 (115V, 60Hz)
Specifications at a Glance
Range
Range
Range
Range
Range
From silver and copper corrosion to biodiesel cold soak and residual fuel sediment ageing, the TC16, TC40, TC20B, and TLB50 platforms cover the fuel test methods a petroleum laboratory runs most often, each configured to its governing standard.
A graphical touch screen walks the operator through every step of ASTM D2068 and IP 387 testing, with continuous monitoring of flow, pressure, and temperature removing manual timing variability from the result.
1500 mBar
Phosphorus in Gasoline Bath (TC20B)
20 L
D4870 Ageing Bath & Sediment Tester
16 L (TC16) / 40 L (TC40)
Who Uses This Instrument Line
Petroleum Refining & Terminal Operations
Refinery and terminal quality control laboratories use the corrosion baths to verify silver and copper corrosion tendency on aviation and automotive fuels before release. The D4870 ageing bath and sediment tester support residual fuel and bunker fuel quality verification. Consistent method-matched configurations keep results comparable across sampling events.
Biodiesel Production & Blending
Biodiesel producers and blenders use the CEC L-109-14 apparatus, the TLB50 cold soak bath, and the TFBT filter blocking tendency tester together to verify oxidation stability, cold-weather filterability, and distribution-network filter compatibility of B100 and blended biodiesel fuels. These three instruments address the operability concerns that come with increasing biodiesel content in the diesel pool.
Independent Fuel Testing Laboratories
Independent labs serving multiple clients across the corrosion, oxidation, and stability testing categories benefit from the shared TC16 and TC40 platform design, which lets a smaller equipment footprint serve several ASTM methods with the appropriate cover and accessory set. This flexibility supports labs that need to respond to varied client testing requests without a proportional increase in floor space.
Gasoline Additive & Specification Testing
Gasoline blending and additive laboratories use the Phosphorus in Gasoline bath to verify phosphorus content stays within limits that protect catalytic converters in automotive emission control systems. The eight-position TC20B configuration supports the sample throughput typical of routine specification testing programs.
Aviation Fuel Quality Testing
Aviation fuel testing laboratories use the Silver Corrosion Bath for ASTM D7667 and D7671 testing on aviation turbine fuel, a method distinct from the automotive-focused ASTM D130 copper corrosion test. Both methods can be run on the same TC16 platform with the appropriate cover and test vessel configuration.
Middle Distillate & Diesel Stability Testing
Diesel and middle distillate fuel producers use the D6468 stability bath to evaluate relative fuel stability under high-temperature ageing with limited air exposure, a concern for fuels held in storage or transported over long supply chains. The shared TC16 and TC40 platform lets this testing run alongside corrosion and sediment ageing work on compatible equipment.
Your Authorized Tamson Partner in the Midwest
Three things that set sourcing this instrument line through KB Scientific apart from buying direct or through a general lab equipment distributor with no fuel testing background.
Authorized Tamson Representative
As an authorized Tamson representative, KB Scientific Instruments maintains a direct line to Tamson engineering and factory support for technical questions, warranty issues, and parts availability across all eight instruments in this line. Customers get manufacturer-backed answers without navigating an overseas support channel directly.
Method-Matched Configuration Guidance
Every inquiry starts with identifying the governing ASTM, IP, or CEC method and the sample throughput a laboratory needs, since several of these instruments share a base bath platform but require different covers, holders, and glassware. KB Scientific recommends the specific configuration that matches those requirements rather than a generic catalog listing, reducing the risk of ordering equipment that arrives incomplete for the intended test.
Local Midwest Support
Being Midwest-based allows KB Scientific to support installation, commissioning, and ongoing accessory ordering without the delays of cross-country or international service scheduling. Laboratories running biodiesel or corrosion testing programs get a local point of contact for troubleshooting and replacement consumables like silver strips, copper strips, and filter media.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What refinery QC analysts, biodiesel producers, and independent lab managers ask most often about this instrument line.
Can the same TC16 bath be used for both silver and copper corrosion testing?
Yes, the TC16 bath platform is shared between the Silver Corrosion Bath and Copper Corrosion Bath configurations, and the standard six-opening cover accommodates the test vessel or holder arrangement either method requires. Switching between methods on the same physical bath is a matter of changing the cover and test vessels rather than purchasing separate instruments. The bath also supports the D6468 middle distillate stability method and the D4870 total sediment ageing method with their respective covers. This shared platform approach is why laboratories running more than one of these methods often standardize on TC16 units.
What additional instruments are needed to complete a CEC L-109-14 test?
The CEC L-109-14 oxidation apparatus itself provides the six-position TC40 bath and glassware, but full test evaluation requires two additional instruments. One instrument determines the kinematic viscosity of the sample, which Tamson also manufactures as part of its TV series viscosity bath line. A second instrument determines the oxidation level by peak height of the sample. Contact KB Scientific for guidance on pairing the correct viscosity bath and oxidation peak height instrument with the CEC L-109-14 apparatus.
Does the TLB50 cold soak bath need an external chiller?
No, the TLB50 includes integrated cooling that reaches -5°C without any external cooling circulator, which is one of its key advantages over older cold soak setups. The bath conditions biodiesel samples at 4.5°C for the sixteen hours ASTM D7501 requires, then can warm samples to 25°C within approximately 30 minutes for the post-soak hold period. The cooling system used is ozone-friendly and does not contain CFK or HCFK gas.
Is there an automated alternative to the manual ASTM D7501 filtration setup?
The TV16000 is purpose-built for ASTM D2162 primary calibration of master viscometers and viscosity oil standards, a task that demands tighter stability than routine sample testing requires. It holds temperature stability better than 0.005°C with a 0.001°C readout resolution, compared with the 0.01°C stability of the standard TV2000, TV4000, and TV7000 baths. Its 160-liter bath volume and mobile wheeled base also differ from the benchtop standard baths. Laboratories that certify reference viscometers for other facilities rely specifically on this level of precision.
How many test positions does each corrosion and ageing bath offer, and can that be increased?
The Silver Corrosion Bath, Copper Corrosion Bath, and D6468 stability bath all offer six positions as standard on the TC16 platform, with a nine-position cover available separately for the corrosion baths. For higher volume, the D4870 ageing bath and D6468 stability testing both offer an eighteen-position alternative using the larger TC40 bath instead of the TC16. The D4870 ageing bath specifically offers a choice between six positions on the TC16 or fifteen positions on the TC40 for the ageing step, with the separate sediment tester available in two, four, or six positions on request.
What sample throughput does the Phosphorus in Gasoline bath support?
The TC20B-based Phosphorus in Gasoline bath holds eight 100 mL volumetric flasks simultaneously, submerged to the mark and held at the 82.2°C to 87.8°C temperature ASTM D3231 requires throughout the sample heating period. This eight-position capacity suits routine specification testing programs without requiring multiple heating cycles for a typical daily sample batch. The bath’s leveling platform and cover keep all eight flasks at a consistent temperature throughout the test.
Other Instruments You May Need
Confirm the Right Instrument for
Your Test Method
Request a Quote or Technical Consultation
With eight instruments spanning four fuel test categories, the fastest path to the correct configuration is a short conversation about the test method, sample volume, and any related instruments already in use in the laboratory. KB Scientific Instruments will confirm the matching bath, cover, and accessory combination and provide a formal quote covering the complete configuration.