Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the propensity of a diesel fuel composition to take up zinc when exposed to zinc during storage and/or transportation, the method comprising formulating a diesel fuel composition to be stored or transported in contact with zinc such that said diesel fuel composition has an aniline point greater than 80° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the propensity of a diesel fuel composition to take up zinc when exposed to zinc during storage and/or transportation, the method comprising formulating a diesel fuel composition to be stored or transported in contact with zinc such that said diesel fuel composition has an aniline point greater than 80° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a distillate fuel blend with improved seal swell properties comprising at least one highly paraffinic distillate fuel fraction having a mass swelling ratio less than 9% when measured according to ASTM D1414 or ASTM D471 at 50° C. and for 20 days when using an NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) O-ring with a hardness of 70 that has been de-plasticised; and about 0.5 volume percent to about 15 volume percent of at least one component selected from a group of aromatic ethers wherein the blend exhibits a mass swelling ratio of at least 10% when measured according to ASTM D1414 or ASTM D471 at 50° C. and for 20 days when using an NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) O-ring with a hardness of 70 that has been de-plasticised. The invention extends to the use of an aromatic ether fraction in a blend with a synthetic middle distillate fraction for the purposes of achieving seal swell characteristics more comparable with those characteristic of crude-derived middle distillate fuel product.