For countries that possess cold weather climates such as Canada, the performance of biodiesel and biodiesel blends in lower temperatures is of great importance.  The pour point of a fuel is defined as the lowest temperature at which movement of the test specimen is observed under the prescribed conditions of the test.  .   A reduction in the pour point can be achieved through the use of so-called pour point enhancers to “winterize” the fuel.

Significance

ASTM method D97 is used to measure the pour point of biodiesel, and is very similar to test method D2500, which measures the cloud point.  The pour point is determined visually by subjecting a sample to decreasing temperatures in a cloud point/pour point bath every 3 degrees Celsius.  At each test point, the sample inside the test jar is removed from the bath and tilted horizontally until a temperature is reached where the sample shows no movement.  3°C is added to this temperature and is recorded as the pour point.