VLS Newsletter – December 2025
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 145, with 12 products under investigation, 3 not compliant following investigation, 7 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 2 compliant during investigation, 3 compliant following investigation, 1 compliant following six month review and 117 archived.
Not Compliant, Escalated to Trading Standards
Case 010203 – SCT Vertriebs. Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland. 5W-30 Longlife 504/507. Complaint. Not compliant. VLS undertook a six-month review of the above case in line with its stated process. As part of our investigation into the above product and following our earlier correspondence, we procured and tested a new sample of the product (dated May 2024). The sample was tested at a laboratory which has full ISO 17025 accreditation and also is accredited for the test method. The tested sample gave a reading of 3.18 mPa.s which is consistent with our earlier test result of 3.13 mPa.s, and the complainant’s sample test result of 2.9mPa.s. In response Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland arranged testing of their own samples in Europe with SGS and committed to sending the results of the testing to VLS. The results were not received prior to publication and therefore the product is non-compliant and will be reported to Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards as part of VLS’s Primary Authority relationship. Following as change of management the Lubricant Marketer wrote to VLS outlining the steps they are taking to bring the product into compliance.
Case 010200 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Brake Fluid DOT-4 (3002). Complaint. Not compliant. Product not proven to be compliant following Investigation and has been escalated to Trading Standards. The case is currently subject to a six-month review. VLS has procured a sample of the product with a manufacturing date which followed the initial case investigation and has been tested. The results have been reviewed by the Technical Review Panel and the product found to be non-complaint. This has been communicated to Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland, reported to Thames Valley Police, the DVSA and also reported to Trading Standards and a press release has been issued. The case has been followed up with North Northamptonshire Trading Standards which is the Lubricant Marketer’s home authority, and a formal complaint lodged with the Council over lack of acknowledgement or response on the 23rd July. On the 24th July the Council responded and have committed to feeding back to Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards. Following as change of management the Lubricant Marketer wrote to VLS outlining the steps they are taking to bring the product into compliance. VLS has sourced a new sample of the product which has been sent to a laboratory for testing and the results are awaited.
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. The Lubricant Marketer is now registered with SAIL to be able to make ACEA claims.
Case 010192 – Motor Parts Direct: Maxiflow 5W-30 Fully Synthetic. Not compliant. 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. Product not compliant and case not resolved. The complaint concerns the OEM specifications claimed on a Central Hydraulic Fluid. The case has undergone a six-month review. A new sample of the product has been procured and has been tested. The test results are not meeting the specifications claimed, the case has been escalated to Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards on a non-compliant basis.
Case 010184 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Fanfaro MAX 6 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil. Product not proven to be compliant following Investigation – Escalated to Trading Standards.
Case 010183 – Westway Lubricants 75W-90 Synthetic gear oil. Product not proven to be compliant. 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.
Current Cases
Case 010245 – PCEO 0W-30. With the Technical Review Panel for an in initial assessment. The complaint concerns multiple and contrasting performance claims.
Case 010244 – PCEO 5W-30. Under investigation. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. The TRP has accepted the case and on the 24th November the Secretariat wrote to the Lubricant Marketer with details of the complaint. Under 28-day consultation period.
Case 010243 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. The complaint was received on the 20th November 2025 but the product has not yet been found on open sale in the UK, in line with VLS’s criteria, and so the matter has been referred back to the Complainant.
Case 010242 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. On the 18th November VLS wrote to the Lubricant Marketer outlining details of the complaint. On the 25th November the Lubricant Marketer’s supplier responded to the complaint providing evidence of meeting the performance claim which was passed back to the Technical Review Panel. The case is currently in the 28-day consultation period.
Case 010241 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. On the 24th November VLS accepted the case. On the 24th November VLS wrote to the Lubricant Marketer outlining details of the complaint. On the 24th November the Lubricant Marketer acknowledged receipt of the letter and stated they had referred the matter back to their parent company. The case is currently in a 28-day consultation period.
Case 010240 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. On the 24th November VLS accepted the case concerning a performance claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. On the 24th November VLS wrote to the Lubricant Marketer outlining details of the complaint. On the 24th November the Lubricant Marketer acknowledged receipt of the letter and provided evidence that they were meeting the claim through their supplier. This evidence has been passed back to the Technical Review Panel for assessment.
Case 010239 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. The marketer was contacted on the 2nd October, their supplier responded on the 3rd October and provided evidence of their justification for the performance claim by way of a letter of support from their toll blender which is with the Technical Review Panel for review.
Case 010238 – PCEO 5W-30. Anonymous, Compliant, Published and Bulletin issued. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03 for which it is claimed that market general technology to support the claim is not widely available. In response the Lubricant Marketer provided evidence by way of a letter from their technology provider supporting the claim made. VLS accepted the evidence from the Lubricant Marketer and closed the investigation and the case which will not be subject to a six-month review as there is no case to answer.
Case 010237 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. Evidence has been provided by the Lubricant Marketer and is being assessed by the Technical Review panel.
Case 010236 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. Evidence has been provided by the Lubricant Marketer and is being assessed by the Technical Review panel.
Case 010235 – PCEO 5W-30. The complaint concerns a claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. The marketer was contacted on the 2nd October, their supplier responded on the 3rd October and provided evidence of their justification for the performance claim by way of a letter of support from their toll blender which is with the Technical Review Panel for review.
Case 010234 – PCEO 5W-30. Compliant Anonymous. Published. The case concerned the claim against Stellantis FPW9.55535/03 for which it is claimed that market general technology to support the claim is not widely available. In response the Lubricant Marketer provided evidence that the product was a rebrand of a product carrying a formal approval against the July 2023 version of the Stellantis specification and therefore the claim is valid. VLS accepted the evidence from the Lubricant Marketer and closed the investigation and the case which will not be subject to a six-month review as there is no case to answer.
Case 010233 – PCEO 5W-30. Under investigation. The complaint concerns the product’s claim against the Stellantis specification FPW9.55535/03. The marketer was contacted on the 2nd October, their supplier responded on the 3rd October and provided evidence of their justification for the performance claim by way of a letter of support from their toll blender which is with the Technical Review Panel for review.
Case 010232 – The case is archived.
Case 010231 – The case is archived.
Case 010230 – The case is archived.
Case 010229 – The case is archived.
Case 010228 – 5W-30. Complaint. Anonymous. Investigation complete. Compliant. Concerns the compliance of the product against SAE J300 Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity requirements. The Lubricant Marketer has provided evidence that the product is compliant which has been accepted by the Technical Review Panel. A six-month review of the case will be undertaken in line with VLS’s stated process on 5th March 2026.
Case 010227 – Silverhook Zeta Plus FE 5W-30. Compliant. Investigation complete.
The case concerned compliance with the following market standards;
1.SAE J300 specifies that the Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity for an SAE 0W-20 grade should be < 60 000 mPa.s at -40°C and that no Yield Stress should be observed. On the sample analysed a Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity of 68400 mPa.s at -40°C was recorded and a Yield Stress <105 g was observed, which does not meet the requirements of the SAE, ACEA, API and OEM specifications claimed for the product.
2.ACEA C5 & C6 mandates a phosphorus content of between 0.07 and 0.09%, a level of 0.06% was determined on the sample analysed.
VLS accepted the case and procured a sample of the product for testing. The test results showed that the sample was compliant for Phosphorous content at 789 mg/kg or 0.0789%, but was not compliant for Yield Stress at -40 degrees centigrade measured at <105g, or Apparent Viscosity at -40 degrees centigrade measured at 74,200 m.Pa.s.
In response Silverhook stated that they had amended the formulation prior to the VLS investigation which would bring the product back into compliance and these actions had been agreed with a third party. On the basis of assurances given by the third party that the case had been closed, VLS is content to close the investigation subject to a six-month review in April 2026.
Case 010226 – Silverhook Ultra V 0W-30 PCEO. Compliant. Investigation complete.
The case concerned the compliance of the PCEO with SAE J300 which specifies that for an SAE 0W-X grade the Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity (MRV) should be a maximum of 60 000 mPa.s. with no yield stress. Upon analysis a sample of the batch named was found to be 119 000 mPa.s and a yield stress of < 210 g was observed. Consequently, the product it was alleged, did not meet the ACEA and API specifications claimed.
In response Silverhook stated that the issue had been brought to their attention previously by SAIL in their compliance monitoring programme and they had resolved the issue with SAIL to their satisfaction in line with the guidance set out in EELQMS Bulletin 11.
Silverhook did identify that following testing on some of their engine oils they identified that one did not meet MRV at -40. They subsequently spoke to their additive suppliers to correct the issue and have now amended the formulation. The investigation is closed and a six-month review of the case will be undertaken in line with VLS’s stated process, in May 2026.
Case 010225 – PCEO 5W-30. Complaint. Under investigation. Concerns the compliance of the performance claims VW 504.00/507.00, MB 229.31, 229.51, 229.52 against the HTHS test limits, the compliance of the claim against the Fiat specification 9.55535-S2 and the claim against ACEA C2. The test results have been reviewed by the Technical Review panel. The Lubricant Marketer has responded to the issues raised and revised the claims on the product, VLS is awaiting further information from them before closing the investigation.
Case 010224 – The case is archived.
Case 010223 – Mannol TS-23 UHPD 5W-30 and Mannol TS-24 UHPD 5W-20. Compliant following investigation – Case Resolved. The case concerned the claim for a formal Scania approval against the following products; Scania LDF-4 for Mannol TS-23 UHPD 5W-30, and Scania LDF-5 for Mannol TS-24 UHPD 5W-20. It is not possible to obtain a formal approval against a Scania specification as the manufacturer only provides letters of recognition and not letters of approval against which Lubricant Marketers can claim their product meets the requirements of, or is suitable for use.
Following detailed dialogue with Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland the claim for a formal approval against Scania LDF-4 for Mannol TS-23 UHPD 5W-30 was withdrawn. This product was therefore in compliance at the end of the investigation.
The claim for a formal approval against Scania LDF-5 for Mannol TS-24 UHPD 5W20 was also withdrawn subsequently and therefore the product is in compliance at the end of the investigation.
A six-month review of the case has been undertaken and the product is compliant. The case is closed.
Case 010221 – Granville Hypalube FS C3 5W-30. Complaint, Investigation concluded. The case concerned the compliance of the product against an OEM specification performance claim for both TBN and HTHS. The original product date of manufacture was in excess of twelve months old and so the Lubricant Marketer has not kept a sample of the batch after twelve months in line with their quality management policy. The CofA has been received and the marketer has been asked to check with their technology provider about the latest specification and to amend the formulation to resolve the issue. In response Granville Oil & Chemical stated that they had already removed the claim against VW 502 00 on current stock, and the sample tested was in excess of two years old. They also stated that they check for consistency in HTHS properties by testing the development blend pre-production and also checking every 3 to 4 blends post production. A case notice has been published to the website and a six-month review of the case is ongoing, a second sample has been sourced and submitted for testing.
Case 010212 – GM Genuine Oil 5W-30. Not Compliant. The complaint 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 on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The Technical Review Panel has determined that the product is not complaint against the OEM performance claim based on its TBN and Sulphated Ash test result. The case has been escalated to the toll blender of the OEM branded lubricant who responded agreeing to withdraw the claim against VW 502 00 due to revised specification limits imposed by the VW. A notice has been published to the website and a six-month review will be undertaken in December 2025.
Case 010206 – Compliant. Under investigation. The case concerns the product’s compliance for Phosphorous and HTHS against an ACEA C3-16 claim, HTHS 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. A sample of the product has been sourced, tested, and found to be non-compliant by the Technical Review Panel. VLS has written to the Lubricant Marketer setting out the non-compliance issues, who responded. The Lubricant Marketer is disputing the test results and findings of VLS. A new sample of the product is being retested for HTHS and Noack through accredited laboratories. A sample of the product has been sourced and was sent to the test house on the 16th May and mislaid, a second sample has been sent on the 24th July and has arrived for testing on the 25th July. The results have been communicated to the Lubricant Marketer and their response prompted a formulation optimisation, improved QC, QA and traceability processes. It is now closed pending a six-month review in March 2026.
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
UK Industry News
UK Government Department for Transport. Next step on the UK rollout of self-driving vehicles as public, charities and businesses asked for their views.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Van market declines in November but EV demand grows.
RAC Foundation: Councils in England made a combined surplus (profit) of almost £1.1 billion from their parking activities in 2024-25.
International Industry News
BBC: Trump administration to roll back fuel economy rules set under Biden.
ACEA: New car registrations: +1.4% in October 2025 year-to-date; battery-electric 16.4% market share.
Reuters: Ford recalls nearly 109,000 vehicles, NHTSA says.
Bloomberg: Canada sends Stellantis default notice after moving Jeep production to U.S.
Media Editorial
Autotechnician, November 2025. VLS starts investigation into Stellantis claims. Page 5.
LubesNGreases November 2025. VLS starts probe into false Stellantis claims.
Professional Motor Factor, November 2025. VLS welcomes new Chairman Darren Frogson. Pages 34-35.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, November 2025. VLS launches investigation and issues warning about Stellantis specifications. Page 7.
Aftermarket magazine, November 2025, Ensuring confidence in the lubricants marketplace. Page 15.
Autotechnician, November 2025. VLS mentioned in Oil & Lubricants feature now posted online.
Professional Motor Mechanic Online 26th October 2025. VLS clears up oil specification confusion.
Professional Motor Factor, October 2025. Why oil still matters and why you should care, and email newsletter 22nd October.
Garage Talk Online, 16th October 2025. VLS launches investigation and issues warning about oils making claims against Stellantis specs.
Lubes N Greases October 2025, VLS starts probe into false Stellantis specifications. October 2025.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop Online, 8th October 2025. VLS investigates Stellantis specifications.
Professional Motor Mechanic Online, 8th October 2025. VLS investigates Stellantis specifications.
Garage Talk Online, 3rd October 2025. VLS welcomes new chairman Darren Frogson.
Autotechnician, October 2025. VLS mentioned in Oil and Lubes feature, Page 38-41.
Professional Motor Mechanic, October 2025, Page 13. Confused about oil specifications, VLS can help.
As a member, we would encourage you to disseminate the materials and content generated by VLS through your own communication channels.
Media Advertising
Professional Motor Mechanic, November 2025. Half page VLS advert, Page 59.
Aftermarket, November 2025. Half page VLS advert, page 13.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, November 2025 half page VLS advert, page 19.
Events
Argus Base Oils conference, London February 2026.
ICIS Base Oils conference, London February 2026.
The CV show, NEC Birmingham UK, April 2026.
Automechanika, NEC Birmingham, June 2027.
Social Media
X (was Twitter)
To follow VLS on X click here.
You need to be logged into Twitter, or X, now to read tweets.
LinkedIn
To follow VLS on LinkedIn click here.
Stay Up To Date
If your media team would like access to VLS press releases, newsfeeds and notifications from our social media accounts, please email admin@ukla-vls.org.uk, and we will add your name to our list of contacts.
Darren Frogson
Chairman
