VLS Newsletter – February 2025

VLS Newsletter February 2025

Case Summary

Overall the number of cases stands at 123, with 6 products under investigation, 6 not compliant following investigation, 5 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 1 compliant during investigation, 1 compliant following investigation and 104 archived.

Case 010223 – Under investigation. Concerns the claims against Scania approvals for a 5W-30 and 5W-20 HDDO. The Lubricant Marketer has agreed to withdraw the term ‘approved ‘ in connection with the claims against Scania, however as at the end of January 2025 the Technical Data Sheets for both their LDF-4 and LDF-5 products making approved claims against the Scania specifications have not been amended.  Awaiting marketer response.

Case 010122 – Ravenol HLS 5W-30. Product Compliant Following Investigation. The complaint concerned a claim against Stellantis FPW9.55535/03 which has been withdrawn by the Lubricant Marketer. Six-month review due 10th June 2025.

Case 010221 – Under investigation. Concerns 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. Awaiting a CofA for the nearest batch.

Case 010220 – The case has been archived.

Case 010219 – The case has been archived.

Case 010218 – The case has been archived.

Case 010217 – The case has been archived.

Case 010216 – Compliant. Anonymous. 5W-30 PCMO ACEA C2 and ACEA C3. The case concerned a complaint that the product when tested was found to be non-compliant for Yield Stress at <70 Pa, and just within the repeatability and reproducibility of the test method for HTHS at 3.38mPa.s versus a test limit for ACEA C2 of equal to or greater than 2.9mPa.s and a test limit for ACEA C3 of equal to or greater than 3.5mPa.s. The product was found to be compliant during investigation when an independently sourced sample was tested. A notice has been published to the website and the case will be archived on the 28th March 2025.

Case 010215 – The case has been archived.

Case 010214 – Rock Oil Synthesis F 5W-30 ACEA A5/B5. The website publication notice has been issued in November at the end of the investigation.  A six-month review of the case will be undertaken in May 2025.

Case 010213 – The case has been archived.

Case 010212 – Under investigation. 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. VLS have written to the Lubricant Marketer on the 1st October concerning the issue and they have responded claiming that the sample tested is not genuine and is the subject of further investigation.

Case 010211 – Under investigation. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS on a 5W-30 ACEA E9/E7 automotive engine diesel oil. The product was unable to be found on the open market however a sample of 5W-30 ACEA E9/E7 ECO was found, sampled and tested which turned out to be non-complaint. The results were shared with the Lubricant Marketer. As the original product has been superseded and they have changed supplier, the case and investigation are closed as the original product was not available on the open market at the time of the investigation.

Case 010210 – Compliant. The case has been archived.

Case 010209 – Compliant. The case has been archived.

Case 010208 – Compliant. The case has been archived.

Case 010207 – Kerax Hyperdrive 5W-30. A website publication notice has been issued and the case is subject to a six-month review in May 2025.

Case 010206 – Under investigation. 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, details of which are being considered by the TRP. The case is on hold pending further investigation.

Case 010205 – Aztec Oils Hydratec HVI 46. Not Compliant. A website publication notice has been issued and a six-month review of the case will be carried out in April 2025.

Case 010204 – Optimoil HLP 32. Not compliant. A website publication notice has been in November 2024 and a six-month review will be undertaken in May 2025.

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. A notification has been sent to the OEM whose approval is carried by the product advising them of the non-compliance. A further HTHS test has been run on a new sample. The view of the TRP is that there is still a case to answer to.

Case 010202 – Exol Ultramax 32. The case results have been published to the website on 26th May. The case is currently undergoing a six-month review. A new sample of the product has been sourced and and tested and as found to be out of specification a dialogue is progressing with the manufacturer.

Case 010201 – The case is archived.

Case 010200 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Brake Fluid DOT-4 (3002). 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 been unable to find stock available on sale in the open market which was manufactured after the date of the complaint.

Case 010198 – The case has been archived.

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 – 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.

Case 010182 – The case is archived.

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

Department for Transport. Call for evidence outcome has closed for Non-road mobile machinery: decarbonisation options.

Department for Transport. Have issued an open call for evidence on an Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas.

Independent Garages Association urges Independent Garage Owners to Prioritise Succession Planning.

National Franchise Dealers Association. Survey 2025. Dealers urge more government support amid pessimistic market outlook.

Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure is consulting on the move to a biennial MOT testing framework for some vehicles.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Report that vehicle production dips amid EV transformation and intense market pressure.

International Industry News

ACEA: Europe’s car and van makers reiterate quick-fix CO2 2025 solutions ahead of Strategic Dialogue action plan.

EU Commission Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency: CEF Transport: €9.5 billion requested for infrastructure projects on the trans-European transport network.

EU Commission DG Comp: Commission approves €48 million French State aid measure to support Envision AESC France’s production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Euractiv: Decarbonising EU transport needs new innovation and incentives, says World Bank.

Reuters: Ferrari plans EV debut in October in Italy.

Media Editorial

Censuring slippery customers, CVW magazine, January 2025. Page 10.

Is the oil you’re buying, too good to be true? Professional Motor Mechanic magazine, January 2025, Pages 54-55.

Lubricants under pressure from short journeys warns VLS, Car Mechanics magazine, January 2025, Page 18.

Why data is essential for VLS’s processes. Professional Motor Factor online, January 2025.

Products alerts for workshops, Aftermarket magazine, January 2025, Page 20.

Workshop products alerts for technicians, January 2025 Aftermarket Online.

VLS closes Certas Lubricant Solutions case.

VLS urges workshops not to cut corners on oil quality to offset rising costs.

Lube magazine, February 2025.

  • Case bulletin VLS 010210 PCEO 5W-30 ACEA C2, Page 59.

As a member, we would encourage you to disseminate the materials and content generated by VLS through your own communication channels.

Media Advertising

Car Mechanics magazine, February 2025. Half page advert.

Commercial Vehicle Workshop magazine, February 2025. Half page advert, Page 21.

Garage and MOT magazine, February 2025. Half page advert, Page 7.

Lube magazine, February 2025, half page VLS advert on page 59.

Professional Motor Mechanic, February 2025. Half page advert, Page 27.

Events

UNITI Mineralol-technologie Forum. 8-9 April 2025, Stuttgart.

Automechanika Birmingham, June 3-5, 2025.

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.

Harald Oosting
Chairman

VLS (UK) Ltd | UKLA House | 13 Chess Business Park | Moor Road | Chesham | Bucks HP5 1SD | UK | 01442 875922 | admin@ukla-vls.org.uk