ASTM D 974 : 2001

1.1 This test method covers the determination of acidic or basic constituents (Note 1) in petroleum products and lubricants soluble or nearly soluble in mixtures of toluene and isopropyl alcohol. It is applicable for the determination of acids or bases whose dissociation constants in water are larger than 10⁹; extremely weak acids or bases whose dissociation constants are smaller than 10⁹ do not interfere. Salts react if their hydrolysis constants are larger than 10⁹.

Note 1—In new and used oils, the constituents considered to have acidic characteristics include organic and inorganic acids, esters, phenolic compounds, lactones, resins, salts of heavy metals, and addition agents such as inhibitors and detergents. Similarly, constituents considered to have basic properties include organic and inorganic bases, amino compounds, salts of weak acids (soaps), basic salts of polyacidic bases, salts of heavy metals, and addition agents such as inhibitors and detergents.

Note 2—This test method is not suitable for measuring the basic constituents of many basic additive-type lubricating oils. Test Method D 4739 can be used for this purpose.

1.2 This test method can be used to indicate relative changes that occur in an oil during use under oxidizing conditions. Although the titration is made under definite equilibrium conditions, the method does not measure an absolute acidic or basic property that can be used to predict performance of an oil under service conditions. No general relationship between bearing corrosion and acid or base numbers is known.

Note 3—Oils, such as many cutting oils, rust proofing oils, and similar compounded oils, or excessively dark-colored oils, that cannot be analyzed for acid number by this test method due to obscurity of the color-indicator end point, can be analyzed by Test Method D 664. The acid numbers obtained by this color-indicator test method need not be numerically the same as those obtained by Test Method D 664, the base numbers obtained by this color indicator test method need not be numerically the same as those obtained by Test Method D 4739, but they are generally of the same order of magnitude.

1.3 The values stated in acceptable SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.