VLS Newsletter – March 2023
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 85, with 8 products under investigation, 4 compliant during investigation, 2 compliant following investigation and 71 archived.
Case 010185 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 Fully Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid and is subject to testing.
Case 010184 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 automotive gear oil and is subject to testing.
Case 010183 – concerns the low temperature properties of a 75W-90 automotive gear oil and is subject to testing.
Case 010182 – concerns a hydraulic oil and its compliance against the DIN 51524 Part 2 standard. VLS is in correspondence with the Complainant regarding the availability of the product.
Case 010181 – concerns PCEO 5W-30. VLS has asked the Complainant to revise the case registration form with details of where the product is currently available on open sale.
Case 010180 – concerns PCEO 5W-30. The Complainant has withdrawn the complaint as the product is not available on open sale in the United Kingdom and therefore VLS cannot investigate the complaint. The case is therefore closed.
Case 010179 – concerning 5W-40 engine oil and the mix of ACEA and OEM performance claims made on it. The product has been investigated and found to be compliant at the time of manufacture, the case is closed subject to a six month review in April 2023.
Case 010178 – concerning 10W-40 engine oil and the performance claims made on it. The product has been tested and found not to be compliant and VLS has written to the Named Party about our concerns.
Case 010177 – concerning 5W-30 passenger car engine oil and the performance claims made on it. The case has been superseded as it could not be proven to be available on open sale in the UK, and is therefore closed, and has been archived.
Case 010176 – concerning 0W-30 PCEO and the claims made against OEM specifications is under investigation, and the product is out for testing.
Case 010175 – The product is in compliance and is subject to a six month review due in April 2023.
Case 010174 – concerning 5W-30 PCEO and the ACEA and OEM claims made and is under investigation. A sample of the product is unable to be sourced in the UK and therefore the case does not meet VLS’s requirements to be available on open sale, and the case is closed and has been archived.
Case 010172 – VLS has undertaken a six month review of the case and the product remains in compliance and subsequently the case is closed.
Case 010171 – concerned claims for approvals made against OEM specifications with the investigation now concluded and the results published to the website. A six month review has been undertaken and the product remains in compliance.
Case 010169 – has been archived.
Case 010167 – a meeting has been held with the Named Party as part of the six month review process. The Named Party has supplied revised product labels and a Technical Data Sheet for the product and VLS has raised some queries regarding the claim against ACEA C3.
Case 010159 – remains under investigation and has been passed to UEIL regarding the claims made on 5W-30 automotive engine oil. UEIL has written to the OEMs referenced on the product labelling who are pursuing the matter. UEIL have concluded their investigation into the matter.
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 has welcomed the announcement of the Windsor Framework.
ACEA has published the fuel types of vans along with full year figures for 2022 showing electric 5.3%, diesel 86%.
The Competition & Markets Authority has reported that the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has accepted the recommendation to extend the current Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order for a 6 year period upon expiry on 31st May 2023.
Department of Transport has extended the date for the MOT consultation until 22 March 2023, on extending the first-year statutory vehicle test date from 3 to 4 years.
The European Commission report that road safety in the EU: fatalities below pre-pandemic levels but progress remains too slow.
ILMA report that Volvo vows to be electric trucks leader.
CECRA report that Independent Service Providers call for a swift adoption of sector-specific legislation on access to in-vehicle data – Response to ACEA call for more delay.
Media Editorial
Autorepair Focus, VLS discusses the risks posed by counterfeit lubricants, February 2023.
Garagewire, January 2023. VLS discusses the risks posed by delaying vehicle servicing.
Aftermarket, February 2023. VLS calls on garages to highlight oil changes for their customers’ vehicles during servicing.
Garagetalk Online, February 2023. Industry braces for a rise in counterfeit lubricants due to cost-of-living crisis.
PMM Online, February 2023. Industry braces for a rise in counterfeit lubricants.
Professional Motor Factor, February 2023, Page 16. Cost of living crisis: VLS warns of consequences of avoiding essential vehicle maintenance.
Professional Motor Mechanic, March 2023, Page 7. VLS warns motorists not to put off essential oil changes.
PMM Online February 2023. Oils Podcast features Mike Bewsey, VLS Chairman.
Lube magazine, February 2023, Page 47. VLS reports on the outcome of VLS 010169 regarding PCEO 5W-30.
Lube magazine, February 2023, Page 46. VLS Chairman Mike Bewsey reports on the contribution that product surveys can make to lubricant compliance.
Media Advertising
Aftermarket, March 2023, Page 17. Half page VLS advert.
Autotechnician, March 2023. Half page VLS advert, Page 45.
Garage magazine, March 2023. Half page VLS advert.
Lube magazine, February 2023. Half page VLS advert, Page 47.
Events
ICIS World Base Oils Conference, Windsor, 3-5 May, 2023.
UEIL Congress, Manchester, 31 May to 2 June 2023.
Automechanika UK 6-8 June 2023, NEC, Birmingham. Visit VLS on Stand S60, Hall 19! To register for the event click here
Social Media
Twitter
To follow VLS on Twitter click here.
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.
Mike Bewsey
VLS Chairman
