VLS Newsletter – April 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 103, with 3 products under investigation, 5 not compliant following investigation, 2 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 8 compliant following investigation, 1 compliant following six month review and 84 archived.
Case 010203 – Anonymous. The case is under investigation and concerns a PCEO claim against VW 504 00/507 00, ACEA C3, BMW LL-04 and MB 229.51 with an alleged non-compliant HTHS test result of 2.9 mPa.s versus the specifications minimum of 3.5 mPa.s. The product has been sourced, sampled and is subject to testing.
Case 010202 – Anonymous. The case is under investigation and concerns an ISO 32 hydraulic oil and its failing to meet the demulsification requirements of industry standards quoted on labelling and the Technical Data Sheet. The product has been sourced, sampled and is subject to testing.
Case 010201 – Aztec Oils Emprotec 10W-40 HDDO. The complaint concerned a claim against the OEM specification RLD-4 which has been withdrawn by Aztec Oils and the results of the investigation have been published. The case is subject to a six-month review in August 2024.
Case 010200 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Brake Fluid DOT-4 (3002). The complaint concerned the performance claims against the DOT 4 brake fluid specification. The product has been sourced, tested and found to fail its performance claim on three different parameters, which in the view of the TRP could lead to the brakes not being as effective in operation. VLS have written to Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland who are the distributor, concerning the issue and they have advised VLS that they have stopped selling the product, and VLS has also escalated the non-compliance as a consumer protection issue to Trading Standards.
Case 010199 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 BMW LL-04. The case concerns conflicting ACEA claims made on PCEO 5W-30. Westway amended the claims made on the product to 5W-30 BMW LL-04, and ACEA C3. A case publication notice has been issued and the product is subject to a six-month review in May 2024.
Case 010198 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 VW Audi LL3. The case concerns conflicting ACEA claims made on PCEO 5W-30. Westway revised the claims made on the product. A case publication notice has been issued at the end of the investigation and the case is subject to a six-month review in May 2024.
Case 010197 – Anonymous. The case concerns the compliance of PCEO 5W-30 against ACEA C2 C3 with its HTHS value. The case was accepted on the 20th October. The product is unable to be found on the market from the source stated by the Complainant and consequently the case has been closed.
Case 010196 – Rock Oil Truck-Guard Elite LS FE 5W-30. The case concerns HDDO 5W-30 and its compliance against stated OEM specifications. VLS has published the results of its investigation on a non-compliance basis due to the non-cooperation of Rock Oil over this case. The case is subject to a six-month review in June 2024, in line with VLS’s stated processes if found to be non-compliant at this stage, it will be reported to Trading Standards.
Case 010195 – Silverhook Supreme Plus 5W-30 API SP ACEA C2 C3. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30 and its marketing claims against several OEM specifications including VW 504 00/507 00 and other applications. The investigation has been published to the website and is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010193 – Exopro C2, C3 5W-30 LS PRO. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30 ACEA C2, C3 and its claim against VW 502 00/505 00 alongside ACEA C2 and C3. The investigation has concluded, and the case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010192 – Maxiflo 5W-30 Fully Synthetic. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30 Fully Synthetic and marketing claims against ACEA C2, C3, API SN and VW 502 00/505 00. The investigation has concluded, and the case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010191 – a case complaint enquiry has been made by a lubricant blender, the case registration form has not been completed and subsequently the case is closed.
Case 010190 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Central Hydraulic Fluid. The complaint concerns the OEM specifications claimed on a Central Hydraulic Fluid. The case is subject to a six-month review in June 2024, in line with VLS’s stated processes and if found to be non-compliant at this stage, it will be reported to Trading Standards.
Case 010189 – SAR Sarmax Hydraulic Fluids VHVI range. The case concerns hydraulic oils. VLS undertook a six-month review of the case in February and found the product to be in continued compliance and the case is closed.
Case 010188 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Multi UTTO WB 101. The case concerns Universal Tractor Transmission Oil. The VLS investigation is concluded, and the results have been published to the VLS website. The case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010187 – John Neale Coolant CS-AQ. The case concerns the performance claims made on an aluminium synthetic cutting fluid. The case investigation notice has been published to the website and the case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010184 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Fanfaro MAX 6 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil. The case concerns 75W-90 gear oil. The investigation had concluded in June and was subject to a six-month review in December 2023. The product has been re-sourced, sampled and tested and found to be non-compliant however the date of manufacture at 2018 predates the date of the VLS case. Consequently, VLS believes that no new stock is being made available on the marketplace and the investigation is closed. However, stock which is beyond its expiry date of five years and non-complaint at low temperatures is still available in the UK. VLS has written to Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland who are the UK distributor, asking that they write to their distributors to recover non-complaint and expired stock for disposal, and the matter has been escalated to VLS’s Primary Authority partner Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards as a consumer protection issue.
Case 010183 – Westway Lubricants 75W-90 Synthetic gear oil. The case concerns 75W-90 gear oil. The case was subject to a six-month review in January and was found to be non-compliant. Subsequently the product has been notified to Trading Standards.
Case 010182 – Varol Varpress 46 AW hydraulic oil. The case concerns the product’s compliance against the DIN 51524 Part 2 standard. The investigation is closed, a case investigation notice has been published to the website and the case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
Case 010181 – Aztec Torotec 5W-30 TSL. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30. The case publication notice has been published to the website and the case is subject to a six-month review in April 2024.
To view the case outcomes, visit http://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-outcomes/
The Board has agreed to allow each VLS member one desktop review in the current year at no cost, if a complaint involves product testing then this would be an additional cost. To raise a complaint with VLS, visit https://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-handling-process/
VLS can only investigate complaints made against products available on open sale in the UK. For case submission guidance visit https://ukla-vls.org.uk/publications/
Industry News
UK Government Department for Transport has issued an open consultation on Adapting the UK’s transport system to the impacts of climate change, responses required by 31 May 2024.
SMMT: March new car market sustains growth as manufacturers shore up electrified demand.
IMI: Vacancies remain stubbornly high in Automotive Aftermarket at 23,000.
PR newswire: Future of Hydrogen in Automotive Market worth 353 thousand Units by 2035.
ACEA: Average vehicle age on the rise: policy makers must do more to incentivise the switch.
The European Union Commission DG Comp. Commission approves €900 million French State aid scheme to support the production of energy and fuel from biomass and renewable hydrogen to foster the transition to a net-zero economy.
The European Commission DG Grow: What’s stopping Europe from reaching its clean hydrogen goals?
ILMA: Climate Change Amendment Issued for ISO 9001.
API: Unauthorised use of API marks. Lubechem International Industry LLC and PrinceLube (Asia) PTE Ltd have been added to them list.
API: API AMAP reports engine oil standards compliance issues, F&L March 2024.
Reuters: Auto industry must halve EV battery weight over next decade, Stellantis CEO says.
Hydrogen Central: Green Hydrogen Will Become The 21st Century Version Of Oil – Forbes.
Media Editorial
PMM Online: Interview with VLS Chair Jacquie Berryman.
Operations Engineer: The role of VLS in fighting rogue suppliers.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS receives its 100th case regarding a Heavy-Duty Diesel Oil, page 49.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 176 published at the close of the case, page 49.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 185 published at the close of the case, page 50.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 186 published at the close of the case, page 51.
Autotechnician, March 2024, Pages 38-39. VLS Chair Jacquie Berryman outlines the organisation’s role in supporting independent garages.
As a member, we would encourage you to disseminate the materials and content generated by VLS through your own communication channels.
Media Advertising
Lube magazine, April/May 2024, third page VLS advertisement, Page 51.
Aftermarket March 2024, half page advert. Page 15.
Autotechnician March 2024, half page advert. Page 34.
Events
UNITI Mineral Oil Technology Congress, Stuttgart, Germany, 16-17 April 2024.
Lubricant Expo, Stuttgart, 17-19 September 2024.
UEIL Congress, Revolutionising the Lubricants Industry. Porto, 16-18 October 2024.
Social Media
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David Wright
Company Secretary
