VLS Newsletter – October 2020
Case summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 66, 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, 0 compliant following six month review and 61 archived.
Case 010166 – concerns the OEM and ACEA claims made on a 5w30 automotive engine oil. The case is currently anonymous and under investigation.
Case 010165 – concerned the cold weather properties of an automotive engine oil and the use of a non-approved formulation. Upon independent testing arranged by VLS, the product was found to be compliant regarding its cold weather properties and insufficient evidence was obtained whether the product was using a non-approved formulation. Consequently the case will remain anonymous until archived on the 12th October.
Case 010163 – concerning the claims made against manufacturer specifications has been investigated and the product found to be in compliance. The case was reviewed in September as part of a six month review and was found to be in continued compliance at the six month stage.
Case 010159 – remains under investigation and has been passed to UEIL regarding the claims made on a 5w30 automotive engine oil.
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 who have contacted the Named Party.
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/
VLS has also purchased UK lubricant marketer test data from the Institute of Materials for nine products over the summer period and for five test properties for each of the products. All samples concern 5w30 automotive engine oils with the exception of one 10w40 automotive engine oil. Four of the samples were found to be non-compliant by way of their HTHS values and have been escalated to ATIEL.
Industry News
ACEA report that Commercial vehicle registrations were down by 28.2% for the eight months into 2020; -0.9% in July and -18.0% in August.
ILMA report that EU and Britain far apart as key week of Brexit talks begins.
SMMT launches Safe Harbour scheme to secure supply chain.
Media Editorial
Professional Motor Mechanic, October 2020, Andrew Goddard talks about the latest revision to the ACEA Engine Oil Sequences.
Garage magazine, September 2020. Does a classic car need a classic engine oil?
Lube Magazine, October 2020, VLS talks about the latest revision to the ACEA engine oil sequences.
VLS has produced a short introduction to the ACEA engine oil sequences which is available on the homepage of its website.
Media Advertising
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, VLS has rephased its promotional campaign over the summer period and will re-commence advertising in the trade press from September 2020.
The current plan includes
Garage magazine, October 2020.
Aftermarket magazine, November 2020
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, December 2020.
Garage magazine, January 2021.
Professional Motor Mechanic, February 2021.
Commercial Vehicle Workshop, February 2021.
Events
ILMA Virtual Annual Meeting October 26-27 to be held online with #EssentialILMA as the theme. Registration from $49 for members, $100 non-members.
ACI European Base Oils and Summit, Nov 25-26, Rotterdam.
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 will take place on 24-27 April 2021.
UNITI, Stuttgart will now take place on 28-29 April 2021.
ChemUK, has been moved to 12th and 13th May 2021 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK.
Automechanika Frankfurt will now be held on 14-18 September 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
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.
Andrew Goddard
Chairman of VLS
