VLS Newsletter – August 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 120, with 17 products under investigation, 3 not compliant following investigation, 5 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 1 compliant during investigation, 3 compliant following investigation, 4 compliant following six month review and 87 archived.
Case 010220 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO.
Case 010219 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO.
Case 010218 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO.
Case 010217– Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance for Sulphated Ash for an ACEA C4 claim and HTHS for ACEA C4, C3 and the OEM claims made and Noack volatility against MB 229.51 and 226.51.
Case 010216– Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Yield Stress and an advisory for HTHS against performance claims for ACEA C2 and ACEA C3.
Case 010215 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS and TBN against performance claims for ACEA C2 and ACEA C3. The product could not be found on open sale in the UK market and consequently the case has been suspended.
Case 010214 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of Phosphorous content on a 5W-30 PCMO claiming API SN.
Case 010213 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of Sulphated Ash on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO and associated OEM claims made.
Case 010212 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of TBN and Sulphated Ash against a VW 502.00/505.00 performance claim, and an advisory regarding the products HTHS and Noack Volatility.
Case 010211 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS on a 5W-30 ACEA E9 and E7 automotive diesel engine oil.
Case 010210 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Sulphated Ash on a 5W-30 ACEA C2 PCEO.
Case 010209 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO and associated OEM claims.
Case 010208 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for TBN and SA against a performance claim for VW 502.00, and the validity of a claim against VW 505.01 on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO.
Case 010207– Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for TBN against a performance claim for ACEA A1/B1-12.
Case 010206 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Phosphorous and HTHS against an ACEA C3 claim, HTHS Phosphorous and Calcium against a VW 504 00/507 00 and Porsche C30 claim, and Noack Volatility against a MB 299.51 claim on a 5W-30 PCEO.
Case 010205 – Anonymous. The case concerns the non-compliance with industry specifications of an ISO 46 hydraulic oil. The case was accepted by VLS on the 18thJune 2024. The product has been sourced, sampled and tested and the results are with the Technical Review Panel (TRP) for determination.
Case 010204 – Anonymous. The case concerns the non-compliance with industry specifications of an ISO 32 hydraulic oil. The case was accepted by VLS on the 17thJune 2024. The product has been sourced and sent to the test house for testing.
Case 010203 – Anonymous. VLS has concluded its investigation concerning the 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 tested. The HTHS value determined, did not meet the requirements for the specifications claimed VLS has written to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd April and they have replied, providing their quality certificates showing the two most recent batches meet HTHS limits, but not for the tested batch as the samples are retained for a one year period only and the batch date precedes this. On the 28th May, VLS shared the batch code from the Complainant’s tested sample, which was less than a year old with the Lubricant Marketer and asked that they test their retained sample and provide details of the test results. The test results have been provided and are with the TRP for consideration.
Case 010202 – Exol Ultramax 32. The case results have been published to the website on 26th May. The case is due for a six-month review in November 2024.
Case 010201 – Aztec Oils Emprotec 10W-40 HDDO. The case is subject to a six-month review in August 2024.
Case 010200 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Brake Fluid DOT-4 (3002). VLS has published the case details to the website and escalated the non-compliance as a consumer safety issue to Trading Standards. On 22nd May the Lubricant Marketer wrote to their distributors to quarantine the affected batch number until further notice and asked them not to resell product. The case is due for a six-month review in September 2024 and a press release has been prepared and will be issued to the trade press as a customer safety issue.
Case 010199 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 BMW LL-04. The six-month review has been completed and the results shared with the Lubricant Marketer, prior to publication. A final website publication notice and bulletin has been issued. The case will be archived on the 21st August.
Case 010198 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 VW Audi LL3. The six-month review has been completed and the results shared with the Lubricant Marketer, prior to publication.
Case 010196 – Rock Oil Truck-Guard Elite LS FE 5W-30. The case has recently completed its six-month review and the results shared with the Lubricant Marketer. A final website publication notice has been issued along with a bulletin and the case will be archived on the 15th September.
Case 010195 – Silverhook Supreme Plus 5W-30 API SP, ACEA C2 C3. The six- month review was completed on 3rd May, a bulletin has been issued and the case has been escalated to Trading Standards due to non-compliance and the non-cooperation of the Lubricant Marketer. Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards have referred the matter to the home authority of the Lubricant Marketer.
Case 010193 – Exopro C2, C3 5W-30 LS PRO. The six-month review has been completed and the results have been shared with the Lubricant Marketer. The case has concluded, a final website publication notice has been issued along with a bulletin and the case will be archived on the 2nd September 2024.
Case 010192 – Maxiflow 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 six-month review has been completed. VLS were earlier advised that the Lubricant Marketer was to remove the VW 502.00/505.00 claim as this is incompatible with the mid SAPS claims detailed on the Technical Data Sheet. The claim against VW 505.00 had been removed and a new claim against VW 505.01 is being made. The Lubricant Marketer was advised that the claim against VW 502.00 was to be removed and was still being made at the six-month review stage. Additionally, the way ACEA was referenced in relation to claims made was technically incorrect and the Lubricant Marketer was advised to correct this and also to register with SAIL to make claims against the ACEA engine oil sequences. The details of the case would be escalated to VLS’s Primary Authority partner Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards on a non-compliant basis. A bulletin has been issued and a six-month case publication notice published to the website.
Case 010190 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Central Hydraulic Fluid. The complaint concerns the OEM specifications claimed on a Central Hydraulic Fluid. The case is currently subject to a six-month review and a new sample of the product has been procured and has been tested and found to be non-compliant. Case to be escalated to Trading Standards.
Case 010188 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Multi UTTO WB 101. The results of the six-month review have been published to the website and will be archived in August.
Case 010187 – The case is archived.
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. Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland have confirmed to VLS that they do not stock the product and the product is being made available on the UK market through European internet channels. On the 23rdMay VLS wrote to SCT Vertriebs GmbH asking what steps they will be taking to withdraw old stock from their European distributors and reformulating the product as stock that is in excess of five years old is finding its way to the UK market which is beyond the shelf life of the product. A reminder was issued on the 10th June, and again on the 17th July.
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, the product was found to be non-compliant and has been escalated 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 case is currently undergoing a six-month review. A new sample of the product was sourced, sampled and tested and found to be non-compliant. However, the batch date of the sample pre-dated the investigation. VLS has sourced a further sample of the product which is at the test house for testing.
Case 010181 – Aztec Torotec 5W-30 TSL. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30. The case is currently undergoing a six-month review and the product has been sourced, sampled and tested. The test results show that the product is compliant against the specific complaint made, however the VLS has raised a question about the claim against MB 229.51/229.52 against the test result for CEC L-109-14, the response to which was considered by the Technical Review Panel to be satisfactory.
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/
VLS marketing claims guidance can be found at https://ukla-vls.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/UKLA-VLS-Specifications-and-Marketing-Claims-Guidance-4.3.24-v2.0.pdf
Industry News
UK Government Department for Transport. The Secretary of State Louise Haigh has set out five policy proprieties for transport including delivering greener transport.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders report that car production is down in the first half of the year as manufacturers invest in electric future.
The Independent Garage Association Welcomes Government’s Commitment to Economic Stability and Growth
The Institute for the Motor industry Vacancy Rate Tracker: 20,000 automotive vacancies still a big gap to fill
National Franchised Dealer Association – EU new car market rebounds to growth, capping off a fluctuating first half of the year, electric continues to falter, 18 July 2024.
International Industry News
ACEA: #FutureDriven Manifesto policy recommendation: Take a strategic view and rethink the regulatory framework.
ATIEL: EELQMS Bulletin on the use of additive packs giving performance indication only without data supporting ACEA performance claims.
EU Commission DG Grow: Commission approves €998 million Dutch State aid scheme to support renewable hydrogen production.
EU Commission DG Grow: EU and Serbia sign strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and electric vehicles.
EU Commission Mobility and Transport: EU invests record €7 billion in sustainable, safe and smart transport infrastructure.
Euractiv: Renault CEO calls for flexibility in European EV transition timeline.
Politico: No the EV isn’t dead just briefly comatose.
Reuters: BMW to set up five new assembly sites for high-voltage batteries.
Reuters: Explainer: What are e-fuels, and can they help make cars CO2-free?
Reuters: US market provides a headache for global carmakers.
API: Unauthorised use of API marks showing 38 entries.
Hydrogen Europe – Spanish government to launch new hydrogen subsidies, 23rd July.
Media Editorial
Aftermarket July/August VLS Chairman Harald Oosting explains why oil choice is so critical for working on classic car engines, page 26.
Aftermarket July/ August. Harald Oosting succeeds Jacquie Berryman as Chairman of VLS. Page 57.
Professional Motor Mechanic, July/August. Reports on a VLS case concerning Silverhook. Page 8.
Garage and MOT magazine, July. VLS swift closes case 201 after Aztec takes swift action.
Professional Motor Mechanic Online, July. Brake fluid safety warning issued by VLS, Mannol responds.
F+L Online, July. Brake fluid safety warning as VLS escalates investigation to Trading Standards.
CAT, July 2024. Safety warning as faulty Mannol brake fluid still on sale.
LubesNGreases Online. July. VLS refers Silverhook complaints.
Fleetpoint, July. Brake fluid safety warning as VLS escalates investigation.
Garage and MOT Online. Brake fluid safety warning as VLS escalates investigation to Trading Standards.
Autotechnician Online, July. VLS issues brake fluid safety warning.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, July/August. New chairman for VLS.
LubesNGreases, July. VLS names new Chairman Harald Oosting as successor to Jacquie Berryman.
Garage Talk Online, July. Brake fluid safety warning as VLS escalates investigation to Trading Standards.
Autorepair Focus, July. VLS issues warning over brake fluid.
Professional Motor Factor, July/August. VLS closes case after Aztec Oils withdraws performance claim.
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, June 2024, third page VLS advertisement, Page 51.
Aftermarket magazine June 2024, half page VLS advert, Page 9.
CVW June 2024, half page VLS advert, Page 14.
Events
VLS Annual General Meeting 10.50am, Friday 27th September 2024, Manchester Hall, 36 Bridge Street, Manchester. M3 3BT. Please note this is a members’ only event.
Lubricant Expo, Stuttgart, 17-19 September 2024.
UEIL Congress, Revolutionising the Lubricants Industry. Porto, 16-18 October 2024.
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Harald Oosting
Chairman
