VLS Newsletter – July 2020
Case summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 65, with 2 products under investigation, 0 not compliant following investigation, 0 not compliant following six month review, 1 product not proven to be compliant and escalated to Trading Standards, 1 product compliant during investigation and no further action taken, 1 compliant following investigation, 1 compliant following six month review and 59 archived.
Case 010165 – concerned the cold weather properties of an automotive engine oil and, upon independent testing which was arranged by VLS through a third party laboratory, the product was not found to be non-complaint and consequently the case will remain anonymous until archived.
Case 010162 – the product complaint regarding a 5w30 automotive engine oil will be archived on 15th July 2020, following the six month review which completed on 15th May 2020.
Case 010160 – the six month review into a 5w30 automotive engine oil has concluded and has resulted in ATIEL changing its procedures regarding its compliance monitoring of OEM engine oils under the ACEA engine oil sequences.
Case 010154 – due to non-compliant HTHS properties identified at the six month review, the case regarding an automotive engine oil has been escalated to Trading Standards.
To view the case outcomes, visit https://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-outcomes/
For details of how to submit a lubricant product complaint to VLS, go to https://ukla-vls.org.uk/case-handling-process/
Industry News
ACEA, the European Association of OEMs, addressed a letter to European Commissioner Breton to seek support in order to avoid having to stockpile newly-produced vehicles or to stop production. The shutdown of production and sales imposed by EU member states to fight COVID‐19 has caused a significant build‐up of stocks of vehicles meeting current emission standards but not the new standards that will come into force in the coming months.
ILMA the Independent Lubricant Manufacturer’s Association of North America report record jobs gains in North America of 4.8 million in June smashes expectations; unemployment rate falls to 11.1%.
API has updated its Pandemic Planning Guide.
Department for Transport announced at the end of June that the temporary six month suspension of nationwide MOT testing planned to end in September, would end on 1st August to allow the aftermarket and service-fill sector to resume operations.
Department for Transport has recently finished consulting on statutory instruments to bring the existing EU type approval framework for automotive vehicles into English law, and remove reference to EU institutions.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced on 6th July that the UK car market in June was down a third as tentative restart reveals subdued demand. They also announced that the market for Light Commercial Vehicle registrations fell 24% in June.
The Petrol Retailer’s Association announced that the Department for Transport has allowed the selling of winter fuel beyond the usual cut-off date in June until the end of July to allow forecourts to sell-through current stocks where demand has been affected by the coronavirus.
Media Editorial
Professional Motor Factor (PMF) reported on its website of VLS’s moves on pro-active testing by using the engine oils database of the Institute of Materials to analyse 5w30 automotive engine oils.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop (CVW) reported of VLS’s proactive lubricant monitoring programme.
Auto Repair Focus reported on VLS’s moves to begin a pro-active testing programme.
Garage and MOT magazine reported on VLS’s moves to begin pro-active testing.
LubesNGreases Lube Report EMEA reported on VLS’s pro-active testing programme.
Aftermarket featured news of VLS’s pro-active testing programme in its monthly newsletter.
Professional Motor Mechanic (PMM) online reported on the escalation of case 154 by VLS to Trading Standards.
Garage and MOT magazine reported on the escalation of case 154 to Trading Standards by VLS.
LubesNGreases Lube Report EMEA reported on the escalation of case 154 by VLS to Trading Standards.
Aftermarket magazine in June 2020, reported on VLS’s move to pro-active testing.
Media Advertising
Lube magazine features the newly revised and refreshed VLS advert on page 20, June 2020.
Events
UNITI, Stuttgart will take place on 23/24 September.
ChemUK, has been moved to 12th and 13th May 2021 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK.
Lubmat, Bilbao will take place on the 1st and 2nd December 2020.
ICIS, the 25th World Base Oils Conference will take place on 17th to 19th February 2021 in London.
ELGI, Hamburg has been postponed to April 2021.
VLS will be exhibiting at Automechanika UK at the NEC in Birmingham on 8-10 June, 2021. https://www.automechanika-birmingham.com/
Social Media
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LinkedIn
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Stay Up To Date
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Andrew Goddard
Chairman of VLS
