VLS Bulletin – January 2024 – VLS 010176
VLS 010176 – XF Premium 0W-30 C32 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil
On 26/07/2022 the case was accepted by VLS.
The complaint concerned the performance claims against Fiat 9.55535-GS1 and Fiat 9.55535-DS1. Independent testing by the Complainant of a purchased 1L bottle confirmed the product fails Noack (ASTM D5800) testing at 12.6% v’s the Fiat spec of < 11.0%. On this basis the Complainant claimed that the product is confirmed to not meet a key performance requirement and therefore is misleading to the end consumer.
VLS procured and tested the product for Noack (ASTM D5800) against the Fiat specifications. The product returned a test result of 13.6% which does not meet the 11.0% limit detailed in the Fiat specifications and was therefore non-compliant against the Fiat specifications claimed.
Additionally VLS found the following advisories during the course of its investigation;
1. The claim against Chrysler MS-90047 has the same 11.0% volatility limit as the Fiat specifications, therefore this claim cannot be supported based on the value determined.
2. ACEA C2, PSA B71 2312 and BMW LL-12-FE specifications mandate a maximum 13% Noack volatility and these claims cannot be supported based on the value determined.
In response to the investigation, the Named Party confirmed that the product was launched to the open market November 2020. Their R&D testing documentation of the time indicated two independent Noack volatility readings of 11.2% & 11.3% respectively. Based upon the base oil and additive package cascade used to formulate the finished product and acknowledging an industry acceptable tolerance variance level regarding the Noack volatility of finished products, their action was to remove Fiat 9.55535-GS1 and Fiat 9.55535-DS1 from the “Performance Profile” of the product.
The Named Party carried out further Noack testing on the retained batches of XF Premium C2 0W-30. The results were as follows.
Batch no. 331561 Noack = 12.2%
Batch no. 331294 Noack = 12.1%
Batch no. 338935 Noack = 11.8%
The Named Party’s findings indicated that the base oil and additive raw materials used for this product remained as per the original launch formulation and therefore they concluded that the discrepancies in results are attributable to recognised variances in base oil volatility dependent on individual batch tolerances that are reliant on the quality protocol of their suppliers and therefore beyond their reasonable control.
In conclusion, they acknowledged that whilst the latest results vary from the original tests obtained at the launch of the product when their performance claims were first defined, they continued to indicate that the batches meet the requirements for ACEA C2. (Noack limit ≤13%). They did however, recognise that the results obtained in these tests were currently too high to meet the FIAT 9.55535 GS1 and DS1 and subsequent Chrysler claims and agreed to remove claims against both Fiat and Chrysler OEM specifications for this particular product.
VLS was content that the steps taken by the Named Party had brought the product into compliance and closed the investigation subject to a six-month review.
VLS conducted a six-month review of the case in line with its stated process. As part of this review VLS found that the information presented on the online shop has not been updated since the end of the investigation, and reference remained to the Fiat and Chrysler specifications which had been removed from the Millers Oils website. VLS has asked that the shop product description is updated to reflect that of the main Millers Oils website. https://www.millersoils-shop.co.uk/xf-premium-c2-0w30-engine-oil
VLS also found further clarification on references to Asian manufacturers which it is satisfied with.
Consequently, as the claims made against Chrysler and FIAT had been removed from the main Millers Oils website as well as the product’s Technical Data Sheet and packaging, VLS is content to close the investigation.
David Wright, Company Secretary of VLS said “We want to ensure we have the highest standards in Europe for lubricant manufacture, blending and marketing, and we want a ‘level playing field’ for all participants, so that we protect the interests of the consumer and other end users.
In the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (UK) Ltd, we have set our course for stronger industry self-regulation by working positively towards more open and transparent competition that benefits all lubricant organisations.”
January 2024
