VLS Newsletter – June 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 103, with 1 product under investigation, 5 not compliant following investigation, 4 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 6 compliant following investigation, 2 compliant following six month review and 85 archived.
Case 010203 – Anonymous. The case is under investigation and concerns a 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. VLS has written to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd April and they have replied. The reply is with the Technical Review Panel for consideration.
Case 010202 – Exol Ultramax 32. The case concerns an ISO 32 hydraulic oil failing to meet the demulsification requirements of industry standards quoted on labelling and Technical Data Sheet. The product has been sourced, sampled, tested and found to be non-compliant. The Lubricant Marketer has been written to on the 25th April and responded on the 26th April. The response has been accepted by the Technical Review Panel and the investigation has been closed. 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). The complaint concerned the performance claims against the DOT 4 brake fluid specification. The product has been sourced, tested and found to fail its performance claim on three different parameters, which in the view of the TRP could lead to the brakes not being as effective in operation. VLS have written to Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland who are the distributor, concerning the issue and they have advised VLS that they have stopped selling the product, and VLS has also escalated the non-compliance as a consumer protection 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.
Case 010199 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 BMW LL-04. The case concerns conflicting ACEA claims made on PCEO 5W-30. Westway amended the claims made on the product to 5W-30 BMW LL-04, and ACEA C3. A case publication notice has been issued and the product is currently undergoing a six-month review.
Case 010198 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 VW Audi LL3. The case concerns conflicting ACEA claims made on PCEO 5W-30. Westway revised the claims made on the product. A case publication notice has been issued at the end of the investigation and the case is currently undergoing a six-month review.
Case 010197 – To be archived on 5th June 2024.
Case 010196 – Rock Oil Truck-Guard Elite LS FE 5W-30. The case concerns HDDO 5W-30 and its compliance against stated OEM specifications. VLS has published the results of its investigation on a non-compliance basis due to the non-cooperation of Rock Oil over this case. The case is subject to a six-month review in June 2024.
Case 010195 – Silverhook Supreme Plus 5W-30 API SP, ACEA C2 C3. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30 and its marketing claims against several OEM specifications including VW 504 00/507 00 and other applications. 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.
Case 010193 – Exopro C2, C3 5W-30 LS PRO. The case concerns PCEO 5W-30 ACEA C2, C3 and its claim against VW 502 00/505 00 alongside ACEA C2 and C3. The six-month review has been completed and the results are under consideration by the VLS Technical Review Panel.
Case 010192 – Maxiflo 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, and the results have been shared with the Lubricant Marketer prior to website publication.
Case 010191 – case archived.
Case 010190 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Central Hydraulic Fluid. The complaint concerns the OEM specifications claimed on a Central Hydraulic Fluid. The case is subject to a six-month review in June 2024.
Case 010189 – case archived.
Case 010188 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Multi UTTO WB 101. The case concerns Universal Tractor Transmission Oil. The case is currently undergoing a six-month test, the product has been sourced, sampled and tested and the results shared with the Lubricant Marketer prior to website publication.
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. VLS has written to Lubriage Ltd trading as Mannol UK & Ireland who are the UK distributor, asking that they write to their distributors to recover non-complaint and expired stock for disposal, and the matter has been escalated to VLS’s Primary Authority partner Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards as a consumer protection issue. Lubriage Ltd 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. Consequently, VLS has escalated the issue directly to SCT Vertriebs GmbH for resolution.
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, the product has been sourced, sample and tested. The test results are under consideration by the Technical Review Panel.
Case 010181 – Aztec Torotec 5W-30 TSL. The case is currently undergoing a six-month review and the product has been sourced, sampled and tested. 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/
Industry News
UK Government Department for Transport. Self-driving vehicles set to be on roads by 2026 as Automated Vehicles Act becomes law.
SMMT: Car production down as sector calls on next government to enhance competitiveness.
IMI: Mental health issues affecting 1 in 4 automotive industry workers.
National Franchised Dealer Association EU car market rebounds with significant growth in April, electric vehicles return to strength in build up to EU elections.
PR newswire: Air Products Announces Plans to Build Network of Commercial-Scale Multi-Modal Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Connecting Northern and Southern California.
ACEA: EU commercial vehicle market: electrically chargeable vehicle sales rise despite mixed Q1 results.
ACEA Engine Oils retired HDDO sequence category claims guidance. EELQMS bulletin, Lube magazine June 2024, page 56.
The European Commission DG Grow. The European Battery Alliance met to discuss a new action plan, reflecting the current geopolitical context.
API: Unauthorised use of API marks.
Reuters: Geneva’s annual motor show to end after more than a century.
Industry: Japanese car makers join forces to develop small internal combustion engines in latest major EV shun.
Media Editorial
Aftermarket May 2024, VLS opens its 100th case on a Heavy-Duty Diesel Oil complaint.
Lube magazine June 2024, An open letter to UK lubricant blenders from Andrew Goddard, Chairman, Morris Lubricants. Page 57.
Lube magazine June 2024. VLS case 010195 Silverhook 5W30 case bulletin. Page 58.
Auto Trade news May 2024. VLS escalates 5W30 PCEO investigation to Trading Standards.
PMM Online May 2024. VLS reports Silverhook case to Trading Standards.
PMF Online May 2024. VLS escalates Silverhook case to Trading Standards.
PMM June 2024. VLS gives a roundup of recent cases.
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.
Professional Motor Mechanic, May 2024; half page VLS advert Page 23.
Events
Lubricant Expo, Stuttgart, 17-19 September 2024.
UEIL Congress, Revolutionising the Lubricants Industry. Porto, 16-18 October 2024.
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David Wright
Company Secretary
