About

Logistics managers and aviation fuel planners rely on precise volume calculations for storage and tankering. Fuel is purchased by weight (metric tonnes) but stored by volume (liters or gallons). This conversion is not static. It depends heavily on the specific density of the fuel grade and the ambient temperature at the time of transfer. A variance of a few degrees can significantly alter the volume. This tool handles standard densities for common fuels like Jet A-1 and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). It incorporates a Volume Correction Factor (VCF) approximation for temperature adjustments.

Formulas

The core relationship between mass and volume depends on density ρ at a specific temperature T.

V = mρ_T

To account for thermal expansion, the density at temperature T is estimated using the standard density at 15°C and a thermal expansion coefficient α.

ρ_T ≈ ρ₁₅ × (1 − α(T − 15))

Reference Data

Fuel Type	Density @ 15°C (kg/L)	Approx. Coefficient α (/ °C)
Gasoline	0.745	0.00095
Jet A-1 (Aviation)	0.804	0.00085
Kerosene	0.820	0.00085
Diesel (Automotive)	0.832	0.00083
Marine Diesel Oil (MDO)	0.870	0.00080
Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)	0.991	0.00075
Biodiesel (B100)	0.880	0.00078
Crude Oil (Light)	0.825	0.00090
Crude Oil (Heavy)	0.920	0.00070
Ethanol	0.789	0.00110

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquids expand when heated. A metric tonne of Jet A-1 occupies more space at 30°C than it does at 15°C. Ignoring this leads to overflows in tanks or incorrect inventory audits.

The petroleum industry typically uses 15°C (59°F) as the standard reference temperature for density measurements.

The linear approximation used here is sufficient for general logistics. Custody transfer usually requires ASTM Table 54B, which involves complex polynomials rather than a simple coefficient.

No. Mixed fuels have unpredictable densities. You should measure the specific gravity of the mixture using a hydrometer before calculation.