VLS Newsletter – July 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 105, with 3 products under investigation, 4 not compliant following investigation, 4 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 5 compliant following investigation, 3 compliant following six month review and 86 archived.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 is currently undergoing a six-month review.
Case 010195 – Silverhook Supreme Plus 5W-30 API SP, ACEA C2 C3. The six- month review was completed on 3rdMay, 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.
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.
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 results of the investigation have been shared with the Lubricant Marketer, prior to publication.
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 is being tested.
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 – John Neale Coolant CS-AQ. The case concerns the performance claims made on an aluminium synthetic cutting fluid. The case has been subject to a six-month review and is compliant. The case will be archived in July.
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, as no response had been received.
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 is therefore currently re-sourcing a new sample of the product to test for compliance.
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.
The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for consideration.
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 MVBEO – UKLA has issued a leaflet explaining the UK Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order.
SMMT – Car manufacturing dips as factories switch to electric models, 27 June.
IMI – Automotive professional body publishes analysis of manifestos to help members navigate policies, 24 June.
National Franchised Dealer Association powered two-wheeler market sees second consecutive month of moderate growth, 11 June.
ACEA: Europe’s election frenzy: auto industry anticipates real change. 24 June.
EU MBVER – UEIL has issued its feedback and position on the 2024 review of the EU MVBER, 24 June.
EU DG Competition – Commission approves €3 billion German State aid scheme to support the development of Hydrogen Core Network, 21 June.
EU DG Competition – Commission carries out further unannounced antitrust inspections in tyres sector cartel investigation, 18 June.
EU DG Competition – Commission invites comments on draft revised State aid rules for land and multimodal transport, 18 June.
EU DG Grow – Commissioner Breton discusses electricity grid preparedness for electric vehicles, 12 June.
PR newswire: Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Development Platform Market size is set to grow by USD 230.24 billion from 2024-2028, Increasing presence of strategic alliances in autonomous vehicle (AV) development platform market boost the market, Technavio, 28 June.
API: Unauthorised use of API marks showing 38 entries.
Reuters: Tesla deliveries set to fall for second straight quarter, 1 July.
Hydrogen Europe – Rolls-Royce to jointly develop hydrogen engine for CHP systems, 24 June.
Media Editorial
PMM Online June 2024. VLS provides a summary of cases investigated.
Lube magazine June 2024. VLS case 010195 Silverhook 5W30 case bulletin. Page 58.
Autorepair Focus, June 2024. VLS announce Harald Oosting as the new Chairman.
Lube magazine June 2024, An open letter to UK lubricant blenders from Andrew Goddard, Chairman, Morris Lubricants. Page 57.
Aftermarket Online, June 2024. Oosting succeeds Berryman as Chairman of VLS.
CAT magazine, June 2024. Oosting succeeds Berryman as Chairman of VLS.
Lube Report EMEA reports on Harald Oosting succeeding Jacquie Berryman as Chair of VLS, June 2024.
Garage and MOT magazine, June 2024, VLS discusses the issue of using modern engine lubricant formulations in classic cars, page 28.
Auto Repair Focus June 2024, reports on the closure of a case by VLS concerning Aztec Oils.
Lube report June 2024, VLS brings changes to cutting fluid.
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
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
