VLS Bulletin – May 2025 – Case 010207
VLS 010207 – Certas Lubricant Solutions Kerax Hyperdrive KXR 5W-30 ACEA C1/B1-12
On 18th July 2024 the case was accepted by VLS.
VLS received a complaint concerning the product claims ACEA A1/B1-12 which alleged that the TBN when measured at 6.7mgKOH/g is not compliant with ACEA A1/B1-12. The ACEA A1/B1 2012 limit for TBN is stated as being equal to or greater than 8.0 mgKOH/g.
Additionally, the product claimed API CF which is an obsolete category and caution should be used as it is not suitable for use in most diesel-powered automotive engines built after 2009. Later “C” category oils are usually suitable or preferred for diesel automotive engines for which “CF” oils were specified. Older equipment and/or two-stroke diesel engines, especially those calling for monograde products, may however require “CF” category oil.
VLS upheld the claim based on its technical merits and procured and tested a sample of the product.
The test results were as follows:-
TBN 6.2mgKOH/g
VLS therefore found that the product was not compliant against the claim ACEA A1/B1-12. ACEA A1/B1-12 remains a valid claim if the technical specification can be met at the time the sequence category was withdrawn which it was for the ACEA 2016 engine oil sequences.
The claim against Ford M2C913B requires a TBN of greater than or equal to 7.5 mgKOH/g, and so the product is also not compliant against this performance claim.
Certas Lubricant Solutions acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and carried out an internal investigation, one of their findings was that the formulation used in the manufacture of the product did not meet the additive suppliers’ recommended treat rate for the performance levels claimed. The stock identified was a historical product no longer available in the marketplace and has since been discontinued on the takeover of the company by Certas Lubricant Solutions. The legacy product has not been blended or filled at their blending plant since November 2021, and they have confirmed that the product was withdrawn from their production portfolio in April 2022 and that all stock of labels for this product were disposed of at this time.
Certas Lubricant Solutions has also contacted their distributor of the product and stock of this product has been quarantined and disposed of.
Following the actions taken by Certas Lubricant Solutions, VLS is content to close the investigation subject to a six-month review in line with its stated process.
On 13/05/2025 VLS undertook a six-month review of the case in line with its stated process.
As part of the review, VLS looked for evidence of availability of the legacy product in the marketplace and the claims being made.
The original complaint was that the product claimed A1/B1-12. TBN at 6.7 measured is not compliant with ACEA A1/B1-12. API CF is obsolete and not suitable for use in most diesel-powered vehicles manufactured after 2009.
The product was a legacy product from the time when Kerax owned the Hyperdrive brand and it was run and managed by a different legal entity prior to being purchased by Certas.
The claims on the successor product we found are as follows:
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Hyperdrive KXR 5W-30 C3 meets the requirement of:
• ACEA: C3
• API: SN/CF
• BMW: Longlife-04
• GM: Dexos 2
• MB: 229.31
In response Certas Lubricant Solutions took exemplary steps to quarantine and withdraw the legacy product. Although Certas are no longer marketing the product and have reformulated it since this time.
On this basis VLS is therefore content to close the case.
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.”
May 2025
