About

Diesel fuel expands and contracts significantly with temperature changes. A tanker loaded at 15°C will show a different volume reading when delivered at 30°C, despite the mass remaining constant. This variance often leads to inventory discrepancies and financial disputes in logistics.

This tool converts mass (kg) to volume (L) by accounting for the specific density of Summer or Winter diesel grades and the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion. Accurate conversion requires the formula V = m ÷ ρT, where density ρ is adjusted dynamically.

Formulas

The volume is calculated using the mass and the temperature-corrected density.

VLitersmkg = ρT

Where the corrected density ρT is:

ρT = ρ15 − Tactual − 15 × α

Here, α (alpha) represents the coefficient of thermal expansion for diesel fuel, typically 0.00084.

Reference Data

Diesel Grade	Density @ 15°C (kg/L)	Expansion Coeff. (per °C)	Flash Point
Summer Grade (No. 2)	0.820 − 0.845	0.00084	> 55°C
Winter Grade (No. 1)	0.800 − 0.840	0.00084	> 40°C
Biodiesel (B100)	0.860 − 0.900	0.00083	> 130°C
Marine Diesel (MDO)	0.890 − 0.920	0.00078	> 60°C
EN 590 Standard	0.820 − 0.845	0.00084	> 55°C

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquids expand when heated. 1,000 kg of diesel takes up more space (liters) at 30°C than at 10°C. Buying by volume without temperature correction causes financial loss.

Winter diesel is less dense (approx 0.800-0.840 kg/L) because it contains additives to prevent gelling. Summer diesel is denser (approx 0.820-0.845 kg/L) and provides slightly better fuel economy.

Standard diesel formulas apply, but Biodiesel (B100) is denser (approx 0.88 kg/L). Select "Biodiesel" in the settings or use the Custom Density feature for accuracy.

The international standard for measuring petroleum density is 15°C (59°F).