The corrosive properties of gasoline and distillate fuels are evaluated through the NACE TM-
0172 test. This is one of the most used laboratory tests for the management of internal
corrosion of pipelines. In this test method, a cylindrical carbon steel specimen is immersed in
a mixture of the test fuel and distilled water. The mixture is stirred and is maintained at a
prescribed temperature for 4 hours (h). The corrosive properties of the test fuel are obtained
by evaluating the corroded area of the carbon steel specimen. An extensive study was
conducted to understand the influence of the test conditions, such as degree of agitation, the
geometry, and the position of the carbon steel specimen on the obtained results.
Based on these results, the NACE TM-0172 test was improved by modifying the equipment
characteristics and the testing apparatus. With the proposed modifications, these tests are
conducted with high reproducibility.
Keywords: gasoline, distillate fuels, corrosive properties