VLS Newsletter – September 2020
Case summary
Overall the number of cases stands at 65, with 1 product 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 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 complaint 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 163 – concerning the claims made against manufacturer specifications has been investigated and the product found to be in compliance. The case is due for a six month review on 27th September.
Case 010160 – has now been archived.
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.
Industry News
API have announced EOLCS licensees have the option to apply for Emergency Provisional Licensing according to the requirements of paragraph 6.9 of API 1509, recognising that the COVID-19 crisis could disrupt the supply of components that licensees use to formulate their API-licensed engine oils.
ILMA report that the Japanese stock market has been buoyed after Warren Buffet took a 5% stake in five major Japanese companies with interests in mining and energy, including Mitsubishi.
SMMT have reported that commercial vehicle production in the UK rose 3.6% in July however UK engine manufacturing fell 10.6% and UK car production fell 20.8% over the same period.
ASTM – VLS has been invited to join the ASTM sub-committee on Global Lubricant Test Standards Collaboration Team which sets out to improve communications between various global standard developing bodies.
Media Editorial
Commercial Vehicle Workshop (CVW) Summer 2020 issue reported on VLS’s findings regarding a raft of complaints concerning 5w30 automotive engine oils.
LubesNGreases August 2020, featured an article from VLS on the importance of packaging and labelling.
Lube magazine Aug 20, featured an article from VLS on its new pro-active approach, and a news feature on the escalation of an automotive engine oil case to Trading Standards.
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
Professional Motor Mechanic, September 2020, Page 17
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
UNITI, Stuttgart will now take place on 28-29 April 2021.
Automechanika Frankfurt will now be held on 14-18 September 2021.
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 will take place on 24-27 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
Twitter
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LinkedIn
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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
