Checked against the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (Ver. 1, effective 24.10.2024) on 31 October 2026. Published by MDG Services on 31 October 2026.
Diesel density limits at a glance
| Diesel | Minimum, kg/m³ at 15°C | Maximum, kg/m³ at 15°C |
|---|---|---|
| BS VI diesel (HSD), up to B7 | 810 | 845 |
| Diesel blended with biodiesel, B8 to B20 | 820 | 860 |
Both rows are from MDG 7.6. MDG does not say which range your supply falls under, so ask your oil company. HSD means diesel: see product names. A footnote to the 810–845 row says any relaxation for fuel from Assam crude may be guided by Government notifications, and MDG prints no relaxed figure MDG 7.6. See density by state and Assam. For petrol: petrol density. Both fuels: density range.
What a diesel reading means on a hot day
The limits are at 15°C, and a warm sample reads lower. Convert first, with the ASTM table or the 15°C calculator MDG 1.2(iv) MDG 1.5(vi). For example (made-up samples, worked with that calculator):
| Hydrometer reads | Sample temperature | Density at 15°C | Up to B7 (810–845) | B8–B20 (820–860) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 805.0 | 38°C | 821.3 | Inside | Inside |
| 815.0 | 15°C | 815.0 | Inside | Outside |
| 840.0 | 25°C | 846.9 | Outside | Inside |
The first row reads below 810 but is inside after conversion; the third reads 840 but converts above 845. A diesel exactly at 810 (15°C) reads about 792.0 at 40°C, and one at 845 about 827.7. The printed ASTM table decides if it differs in the last digit MDG 1.2(iv) MDG 1.5(vi). For other temperatures use the density temperature chart.
If your diesel reading is outside the limit
- Take the density and the temperature from the same sample MDG 1.2(viii) and convert to 15°C. The density checker does it. If the figure surprises you, read both again (general practice, not an MDG rule).
- For a tanker, more than 3.0 kg/m³ from the invoice is outside the limit MDG 1.2(iv).
- If you doubt the quality, MDG says to contact the supply location or the area field officer MDG 1.2(ix). That step is written for a tanker being decanted. For your own tank, ask your oil company.
The lab tests on a diesel sample cover appearance, colour, density, distillation and viscosity, whatever the density result MDG 7.4. A sample that fails on density or any other test is acted on as established adulteration, and the mobile lab suspends sales and supplies MDG 7.4. Adulteration is a critical irregularity, with termination at the first instance MDG 8.2.
Note: the hydrometer in your hand is not the lab. A higher or lower figure inside the range is not better or worse: see high or low density.
Questions dealers ask
01What is the diesel density range in India?
810–845 kg/m³ at 15°C for BS VI diesel up to B7, and 820–860 for B8–B20 blends MDG 7.6.
02What is the diesel density limit, minimum and maximum?
For diesel up to B7 the minimum is 810 and the maximum 845 kg/m³ at 15°C. For a B8–B20 blend the minimum is 820 and the maximum 860 MDG 7.6.
03What is the minimum density of diesel?
810 kg/m³ at 15°C for diesel up to B7, and 820 for B8–B20 blends MDG 7.6. A warm sample can read below that and still convert to inside.
04Diesel density should be high or low?
Neither end is better. Any figure inside the range meets the density limit MDG 7.6, and MDG ranks none above another.
05Diesel ki density kitni honi chahiye?
15°C par 810 se 845 kg/m³ (B7 tak), ya 820 se 860 kg/m³ agar diesel mein B8 se B20 biodiesel ho MDG 7.6. Reading garam ho to pehle 15°C par badaliye MDG 1.2(iv).
06What is a good density for diesel?
MDG sets a range, not a best figure MDG 7.6. For a tanker, the test is a match with the invoice within ±3.0 kg/m³ MDG 1.2(iv).
Read the official text: Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (PDF on Bharat Petroleum's website) (also published on iocl.com).
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