VLS Newsletter – July 2023
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 90, with 9 products under investigation, 1 not compliant following investigation, 4 compliant following investigation, 1 compliant following six month review and 75 archived.
Case 010190 – The TRP have accepted the case concerning a Central Hydraulic Fluid.
Case 010189 – The TRP have accepted the case concerning a range of hydraulic oils which is under consideration.
Case 010188 – The TRP have accepted the case. The product has been procured and tested, and the results and the alleged complaint have been passed to the Named Party.
Case 010187 – concerns the performance claims made on an Aluminium Synthetic Cutting Fluid and is under investigation.
Case 010186 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 Semi-Synthetic Gear Oil. The product has been sourced and tested and VLS have contacted the Named Party. The Named Party has quarantined the product and arranged an uplift and retest by their current supplier. The product is being reformulated and VLS awaits the test results of the reformulated product.
Case 010185 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 Fully Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid. The investigation has concluded subject to a six-month review, and the results of the investigation have been published to the VLS website.
Case 010184 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 automotive gear oil. The product has been sourced and tested and VLS are in dialogue with the Named Party. The Named Party has quarantined and disposed of stock held in the warehouse and is arranging a reformulation of the product.
Case 010183 – The investigation has concluded subject to a six-month review, and the results have been published to the VLS website.
Case 010182 – concerns a hydraulic oil and its compliance against the DIN 51524 Part 2 standard. The product has been sourced and tested and the results are under review by the Technical Review Panel.
Case 010181 – concerns PCEO SAE 5W-30. The product has been sourced and is being tested.
Case 010179 – the case has been archived.
Case 010178 – concerning SAE 10W-40 engine oil and the performance claims made on it. The product is not compliant, and the case is subject to a six-month review at which point if the product is still non-compliant then the case will be escalated to Trading Standards.
Case 010176 – concerning SAE 0W-30 PCEO and the claims made against OEM specifications. The product has been retested, details of the test results and complaint have been passed to the Named Party. The Named Party has responded with the steps they will take to bring the product into compliance which have been agreed with the Technical Review Panel and the case investigation is concluded subject to a six-month review.
Case 010175 – the case has been archived.
Case 010171 – the case is subject to a six-month review.
Case 010167 – the case is subject to a six-month review.
Case 010159 – UEIL has concluded its investigation into the matter and a bulletin is due to be issued.
To view the case outcomes, visit http://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-outcomes/
To raise a case with VLS, visit http://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
SMMT report that UK car production output maintains momentum, growing 26.9% in May to 79,046 units. Volumes for domestic market surge 45.4% to 16,188 while exports rise 22.9% to 62,858.
The Competition and Markets Authority has announced a plan to help drivers get more competitive fuel prices. A new fuel finder scheme to enable drivers access to live, station-by-station fuel prices on their phones or satnavs would help revitalise competition in the retail road fuel market.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation body the National Franchised Dealer Association (with its advisers, TLT) has, through various meetings with the CMA, sought to apprise the CMA of developments in the sector, including the anticipated transition to direct and agency (including non-genuine agency) sales on the part of certain OEMs.
The Department for Transport has issued new regulations on Alternate Fuel labelling.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is calling for a three-year postponement to restrictive rules on EU-UK electric vehicle trade, set to come into force in just six months. Otherwise, tariffs could total €4.3 billion, potentially reducing electric vehicle production by some 480,000 units.
ATIEL has reported on its work with UEIL, the European association of the lubricants industry, on establishing a Product Carbon Footprint methodology.
CECRA report that European Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on the Data Act.
API Raises Significant Concerns with EPA’s Proposed GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles.
ILMA report on a Wall Street Journal story on Why the U.S. Remains Far From Recession – The pandemic’s after-effects fuel economic resilience despite rising interest rates.
AP report that German truck maker Daimler, Japan’s top automaker Toyota and two other automakers announced they will work together on new technologies, including using hydrogen fuel, to help fight climate change.
Media Editorial
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, June 2023, VLS was featured in the May Top 5 article.
Auto Repair Focus, June 2023, reports on VLS’s 10 year anniversary at Automechanika, Birmingham.
Autoscene, June 2023. Reports on VLS exhibiting at Automechanika, Birmingham.
Professional Motor Factor Online featured VLS in its June preview of Automechanika, Birmingham.
Garage Talk Online June 2023, features VLS celebrating its 10 year anniversary at Automechanika, Birmingham.
Professional Motor Mechanic Online, June 2023. VLS warns against counterfeit oils.
Garage Talk Online June 2023, featured VLS celebrating its 10-year anniversary at Automechanika, Birmingham.
Transport Operator, June 2023. Mike Bewsey marks VLS’s ten-year milestone looking back at a decade of upholding lubricant standards.
Aftermarket magazine, June 2023 included a preview of Automechanika, Birmingham including a feature on VLS.
Professional Motor Mechanic Online, June 2023, reports on products being removed from sale following VLS’s investigations.
Professional Motor Factor Online, June 2023, reports of lubricants quarantined after VLS investigations.
Aftermarket magazine Online June 2023, reports on positive conclusions to VLS gear oil investigations.
Garage Talk Online, June 2023, reports of lubricants quarantined following VLS’s investigations.
Lube magazine, June 2023 includes a feature on VLS’s ten year anniversary with a look back at the changes that have taken place in the sector since 2013. Page 50.
As a member, we would encourage you to disseminate the materials and content generated by VLS through your own communication channels.
Media Advertising
Aftermarket, June 2023. Half page VLS advert, Page 19.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, June 2023. Half page VLS advert, Page 17.
Lube magazine, June 2023. Half page VLS advert, Page 45.
Events
Lubmat (Lubrication, Maintenance and Tribotechnology) conference will be held in 17-19 July in Preston, UK.
Lubricant Expo will be held in Messe Essen, Germany on 26-28 September.
ATIEL will be holding a webinar on the European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System hosted by ACI on the 4th October.
The Lube conference on Succession and Sustainability will be held in London on the 18th October.
Social Media
Twitter
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LinkedIn
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Stay Up To Date
We would encourage all members to make use of the content generated by VLS and share this to your own communication platforms. 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.
Mike Bewsey
VLS Chairman
