Cetane

The cetane number is an indicator of the combustion speed of diesel fuel and the compression needed for ignition. Diesel with a lower cetane number provokes ignition delays and requires more time for the combustion process to be completed. In other words, higher cetane numbers indicate a better ignition quality. Therefore, diesel with a higher cetane number is preferred by engine makers as it influences the engine’s efficiency.

There were two cetane grades found in Argentina during 2010-2022, shown in the two figures below.

The SGS Worldwide Fuel Survey (WWFS) results show that the diesel grade 2 (800 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg) cetane number was higher than the regulatory limit of 48, averaging 52 during 2022. The minimum value of 45 was found in Buenos Aires city, during 2019.

For diesel gra