VLS Newsletter – September 2024
Case Summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 120, with 17 products under investigation, 2 not compliant following investigation, 5 case escalated to Trading Standards following investigation, 1 compliant during investigation, 3 compliant following investigation, 3 compliant following six month review and 89 archived.
Case 010220 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO. A letter has been sent to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd August and no response has been received as yet.
Case 010219 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO. A letter has been sent to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd August and no response has been received as yet.
Case 010218 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance with HTHS for an ACEA C3 PCEO. A letter has been sent to the Lubricant Marketer on the 22nd August and no response has been received as yet.
Case 010217 – Anonymous. Is an advisory notice concerning the product’s compliance for Sulphated Ash, HTHS and Noack Volatility for an ACEA C3 and ACEA C4 claim. A letter has been sent to the Lubricant Marketer on the 1st August and no response has been received as yet.
Case 010216 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Yield Stress and an advisory for HTHS against performance claims for ACEA C2 and ACEA C3. A sample of the product is being sourced for testing.
Case 010215 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS and TBN against performance claims for ACEA C2 and ACEA C3. The product could not be found on open sale in the UK market and consequently the case has been suspended.
Case 010214 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of Phosphorous, against API SN on an 5W-30 ACEA A5/B5 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010213 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of Sulphated Ash on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010212 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance of TBN and Sulphated Ash against a VW 502.00/505.00 performance claim, and an advisory regarding the products HTHS and Noack Volatility on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010211 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 automotive engine diesel oil. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010210 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Sulphated Ash on a 5W-30 ACEA C2 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010209 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for HTHS on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and is currently being tested.
Case 010208 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for TBN and SA against a performance claim for VW 502.00, and the validity of a claim against VW 505.01 on a 5W-30 ACEA C3 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010207– Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for TBN against a performance claim for ACEA A1/B1-12 and Ford M2C 913B. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010206 – Anonymous. Concerns the product’s compliance for Phosphorous and HTHS against an ACEA C3 claim, HTHS, Phosphorous and Calcium against a VW 504 00/507 00 and a Porsche C30 claim, and Noack Volatility against a MB 299.51 claim on a 5W-30 PCEO. A sample of the product has been sourced and is being tested.
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. The product has been sourced, sampled and tested and the results are with the Technical Review Panel (TRP) for determination. The product was found to be compliant regarding its foaming characteristics but the demulsibility was not. The Lubricant Marketer has been written to.
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. A sample of the product has been sourced and tested. The test results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
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. The test results have been provided and are with the TRP for consideration. The case will be discussed at the next meeting of the VLS Supervisory Board.
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 currently subject to a six-month review.
Case 010200 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Brake Fluid DOT-4 (3002). Product not proven to be compliant following Investigation – Escalated to Trading Standards. Six-month review due September 2024.
Case 010199 – The case was archived on the 21st August.
Case 010198 – Westway Lubricants 5W-30 VW Audi LL3. The six-month review has been completed, awaiting confirmation from the TRP to close the case.
Case 010196 – Rock Oil Truck-Guard Elite LS FE 5W-30. The case has recently completed its six-month review and the results shared with the Lubricant Marketer. A final website publication notice has been issued along with a bulletin and the case will be archived on the 10th September.
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. Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards have referred the matter to the home authority of the Lubricant Marketer. The Lubricant Marketer is now registered with SAIL to be able to make ACEA claims.
Case 010193 – Exopro C2, C3 5W-30 LS PRO. The case has concluded, a final website publication notice has been issued along with a bulletin and the case will be archived on the 2nd September 2024.
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 details of the case would be escalated to VLS’s Primary Authority partner Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards on a non-compliant basis. A bulletin has been issued and a six-month case publication notice published to the website.
Case 010190 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Mannol Central Hydraulic Fluid. The complaint concerns the OEM specifications claimed on a Central Hydraulic Fluid. The case has undergone a six-month review. A new sample of the product has been procured and has been tested. The test results are not meeting the specifications claimed, case to be escalated to Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards on a non-compliant basis.
Case 010188 – The case was archived in August.
Case 010187 – The case is archived.
Case 010184 – SCT Vertriebs GmbH Fanfaro MAX 6 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil. Product not proven to be compliant following Investigation – Escalated to Trading Standards.
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 has sourced a further sample of the product which has been tested and the results are with the Technical Review Panel for determination.
Case 010181 – Aztec Torotec 5W-30 TSL. Product Compliant Following Six Month Review – Case Concluded. To be archived in October.
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 Government Department for Transport has issued a statistical data set on vehicle mileage and occupancy rates.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders report that car production slowdown continues as factories gear up for new models.
National Franchise Dealers Association offers guidance to consumers ahead of ‘74 plate change.
The Institute for the Motor industry Vacancy Rate Tracker: Automotive vacancies heading in the wrong direction.
International Industry News
ACEA: New car registrations: +0.2% in July 2024; battery electric 12.1% market share.
ATIEL: EELQMS Bulletin on the use of additive packs giving performance indication only without data supporting ACEA performance claims.
EU Commission DG Comp: Commission approves €99.5 million Romanian State aid measure to support Nokian Tyres’ new zero CO2 emission tyre factory.
EU Commission Mobility and Transport: Sustainable Transport Forum – new sub-groups on hydrogen infrastructure, zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and public key infrastructure for e-mobility.
Euractiv: Why China’s interest in producing cars in Europe underscores need for investment rules.
Politico: Biden’s plan to rip down inner-city highways risks ‘epic fail’.
Reuters: California issues draft regulations for operating autonomous trucks.
Hydrogen Europe – Solaris to Deliver Articulated Hydrogen Buses in Belfort.
The Hill. BMW recalling more than 100K vehicles for motor concern linked to overheating.
Media Editorial
LubesNGreases report on the UK anti-dumping investigation by the Trade Remedies Authority.
Professional Motor Mechanic, September 2024. Reports on VLS case 200 regarding the brake fluid safety concern, page 6.
Lube magazine September 2024. Bulletin for VLS case 195, Page 56.
Lube magazine, September 2024, Interview with new VLS Chairman Harald Oosting, Pages 53-54.
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, September 2024, VLS advert on Page 55.
Events
Automechanika, Frankfurt 10-14 September 2024.
VLS Annual General Meeting 10.50am, Friday 27th September 2024, Manchester Hall, 36 Bridge Street, Manchester. M3 3BT. Please note this is a members’ only event.
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
