VLS Newsletter – May 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 103, with 2 products under investigation, 5 not compliant following investigation, 3 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 8 compliant following investigation, 1 compliant following six month review and 84 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, tested and found to be non-compliant in its HTHS value versus the performance claims made. VLS have written to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd April and awaits a reply.
Case 010202 – Anonymous. The case is under investigation and concerns an ISO 32 hydraulic oil and its 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 we await a formal reply.
Case 010201 – Aztec Oils Emprotec 10W-40 HDDO. The complaint concerned a claim against the OEM specification RLD-4 which has been withdrawn by Aztec Oils and the results of the investigation have been published. 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 and DVSA. The case is due to be reviewed 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 subject to a six-month review in May 2024.
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 subject to a six-month review in May 2024.
Case 010197 – case closed.
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 investigation has been published to the website and is currently undergoing a six-month review.
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 investigation is currently undergoing a six-month review.
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 investigation has concluded, and the case is currently undergoing a six-month review.
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 – SAR Sarmax Hydraulic Fluids VHVI range. The product is compliant and the case is due to be archived on the 8th May.
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 and sampled and is being tested prior to sharing the results with the Technical Review Panel and the Lubricant Marketer.
Case 010187 – John Neale Coolant CS-AQ. The case concerns the performance claims made on an aluminium synthetic cutting fluid. The case investigation notice has been published to the website and the case is currently undergoing a six-month review.
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.
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 is currently undergoing testing.
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 is currently being tested.
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 £1.3 million to back cutting-edge transport projects. Organisations and academics can apply for funding to research innovative ideas to improve transport in the UK including the use of hydrogen for plane and boat journeys.
SMMT: UK car production falls in March as factories adjust for new models.
IMI: Motor Trades Vacancies: March 2024: 23,000 jobs to be filled.
National Franchised Dealer Association The ZEV mandate, introduced earlier this year, requires OEMs to meet a target this year of 22% of new car sales and 10% of new van sales to be zero emissions or face penalties. This target percentage will gradually rise each year reaching 52% of new cars and 46% of new vans by 2028.
PR newswire: UK ran its second Hydrogen Week. During this week, Hyundai set two new records for the driving range of its fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
ACEA: Electric cars: EU needs 8 times more charging points per year by 2030 to meet CO2 targets.
The European Union Commission DG Comp. Commission approves €267 million Slovak State aid measure to support Volvo Cars’ new electric vehicle plant.
The European Commission DG Grow. European Commission launched a call for pledges to achieve the green and digital transition of the EU Mobility Industrial Ecosystem while ensuring its competitiveness and resilience to crises.
ILMA: California Air Resources Board (CARB) rule would ban most locomotives more than 23 years old starting in 2030.
The Hill: USA fatal crashes involving Ford’s partially automated driving system prompt investigation.
API: Unauthorised use of API marks.
Reuters: Musk disbands Tesla EV charging team, leaving customers in the dark.
Hydrogen Central: Decentralised, local hydrogen fuel cell applications are the nucleus for the energy transition and transformation of Germany as an industrial location.
Industry: Ford revises electric vehicle strategy, emphasises hybrid expansion.
Industry: Some Chinese electric cars are ‘almost uninsurable’ in Britain.
Industry: Volvo says goodbye diesel, hello electric.
Media: End of road for EVs? Hertz to sell 20,000 since customers don’t like them – but could you get a good deal buying a cast-off Tesla for $18k?
Media Editorial
PMM Online: Interview with VLS Chair Jacquie Berryman.
Operations Engineer: The role of VLS in fighting rogue suppliers.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, April 2024: VLS celebrates its 100th case, Page 7.
Car Mechanics magazine, May 2024: VLS answers a question about the right engine oil to use in a vehicle, Steve Rothwell column, Page 66.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS receives its 100th case regarding a Heavy-Duty Diesel Oil, page 49.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 176 published at the close of the case, page 49.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 185 published at the close of the case, page 50.
Lube magazine April 2024: VLS bulletin for case 186 published at the close of the case, page 51.
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, April/May 2024, third page VLS advertisement, Page 51.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, April 2024: half page advert on VLS, Page 7.
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
