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CASTROL SERVICE ENERGISED OUR WORKSHOP... FROM A CUSTOMERS POINT OF VIEW IT’S A NO BRAINER - EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF CASTROL TIM BENSON,

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Fortunately, the UK has a body that checks if oils meet their claimed oil specification and can alert Trading Standards, if the blender does not act. The Verification of Lubrication Specifications (VLS) confirms that, while it has not investigated any cases of fake engine oil to date, counterfeiting is a global problem. Consequentially, it is concerned about a rise in UK counterfeit lubricants, as criminals seek to cash in and sell cheaper but inferior oils.

How are UK garages protected?

Understandably, big brands work hard to protect their reputes. The VLS reminds us that, globally, oil manufacturers take steps to protect the products you buy directly, such as introducing copy-proof QR codes and track and trace methods on the packing.

Take Liqui Moly as a typical example. It tells AT that, for its protection and that of its customers, its brand is registered in all markets. Therefore, its global employees keep their eyes open to detect counterfeits. Should any be found, the company seeks prompt legal redress.

While companies cannot reveal all of their security measures for obvious reasons, many of them realise the importance of letting their customers know what they should look out for. Liqui Moly highlights that its genuine packaging is graced with an identification number, used to identify its authenticity. Yet, it also highlights an invisible identifier as well, the location and meaning of which is known only to the company and Liqui Moly's authorised dealers. The company also has more subtle features to frustrate the counterfeiters. This includes elaborate packaging design that is harder to copy.

Naturally, the supplier also protects you. Many oil blenders have dedicated distributors. Motul, for instance, states that its outlets ensure that authentic products only reach the workshop. Liqui Moly also values the close relationship it has with its sales partners, which brings it closer to its customers. This helps the company to show the end user the importance of quality, how it is recognised, and the significance of manufacturer approvals.

Ensuring Enforcement

An issue with complex products, such as oils, is that a considerable amount of technical expertise is needed to identify whether, or not, there is a genuine problem. This is one reason why the VLS was established, to encourage greater compliance with required standards and to ensure that oils deliver their claims. The organisation assists its members further, by publishing guides about marketing claims that are acceptable and how they should be communicated.

Even well-known businesses with the best intentions make mistakes, especially as oil specifications and manufacturer approvals become ever more complex.

If a complaint is received, the VLS investigates. Should an issue be found, it will engage with the relevant company, because its focus is on education and working on correcting the issue, rather than embarrassing the party involved. Like most credible organisations, such as the DVSA with its R90 brake friction investigations, it does not publicise information about an investigation without engaging with the company involved and not without independent verification.

Out of the 82 cases it has investigated throughout its history, the VLS reports that the vast majority have complied with the requirements either during, or following, the investigation. If a party fails to act, some cases have been referred to Trading Standards but this situation is unusual. This fact indicates that the UK lubricants market is reasonably free of counterfeit oils –but, again, this is not a reason to be content.

How to raise concerns about fake engine oil

Contact the VLS on 01442 875922 or email admin@ ukla-vls.org.uk. The VLS will then outline the case process, should you wish to progress a concern to a formal complaint.

The complainant purchases two samples to prove that the oil is on UK sale, before sending them to a testing house. These organisations employ VLS-approved test methods to see whether, or not, it fails to meet the stated specification. A case registration form is completed and a case handling fee is paid. The VLS's Secretariat anonymises the complaint and passes the information to the Technical Review Panel, which will evaluate the evidence and make its recommendation.

The Secretariat communicates its decision to the company involved. In most cases, the Named Party takes the required action, provides evidence to VLS, and the case is closed. If the Named Party does not take the action required, the case is referred to Trading Standards for enforcement.

Case 166

To highlight the process, this case involved an investigation that the VLS handled about a 5W-30 engine oil. The complainant argued that no additive pack existed in the marketplace that could meet all of the OEM claims made on the packaging.

Subsequently, the VLS requested that the defendant provide documentation, including a letter of support from their additive company supplier, to prove that all of the marketing claims that it made were true.

The party cooperated and provided the VLS with a reblend approval to the required formulation from their supplier, along with a copy of the Candidate Data Pack. The VLS worked subsequently with the defendant to rationalise the number of claims made on the technical data sheet.

After six months, the VLS conducted a six-month review and concluded that the 5W-30 lubricant continued to be compliant and concluded that the case had been resolved.

Ensuring anonymity, or cloaking in secrecy?

It is unreasonable to seek details of a company being investigated, because this could affect impartiality. Once that investigation is complete, the VLS publicises full case details on its website, including naming the company and brand involved. After six months, the case is reviewed and archived two months later, providing that the product is still compliant.

Why is counterfeit oil harmful?

Liqui Moly reports that it is conducting research into counterfeit lubricants that have originated from Asia and this work is ongoing. Motul reports that it has analysed the content of such imitations. It found that those lubricants do not meet any approvals and even possess different viscosities than those stated on the label. It also says that it found situations, where the bogus products were also contaminated.

However, it is useful to see which brands are making persistent, repeated errors and are being investigated more than others. Sadly, you cannot see this information because, out of the 84 cases investigated in nine years, only three companies are

Why are accurate and truthful oil specifications important?

While draining and refilling sumps are fairly straightforward operations, the chemistry behind oils is extremely sophisticated. We should consider that they perform numerous tasks in modern engines, in addition to lubrication. These demanding requirements have led to many individual approvals by car and motorbike manufacturers, resulting in considerable research and development for the oil blenders. Counterfeit products do not receive this approval, making the lubricant unsuitable for the particular vehicle. If used, serious mechanical damage and high repair costs are possible consequences.

Oily misconceptions

LKQ Euro Car Parts smashes apart common engine oil myths:

1. The ACEA C3 specification is not automatically applicable to every C3. Manufacturers apply their own characteristic specifications to ensure optimum vehicle performance and keep wear to an absolute minimum. named. The rest are archived online (**https://ukla-vls.org.uk/ case-outcomes/**) as 'anonymous'. We queried the VLS why this is the case, arguing that it makes the whole exercise rather pointless. The VLS responded:

2. Similary, it is believed that 5W30 oils are all the same but there are more than nine different oils sharing that viscosity, all with different properties.

3. There is not an engine oil available that covers all manufacturer approvals.

"The purpose of this archiving process is to allow sufficient time for those interested to see the outcome of the case without unnecessarily penalising the company for its initial non-compliance, now and in the future."

We hope that the VLS will review this stance, because being named acts as a deterrent and will encourage companies to tighten their internal processes.

Additive manufacturers have their say

As there are no formal standards to which oil additives adhere, they provide an easy route for the unscrupulous to make easy money.

JLM Lubricants elaborates that a fake product can still look realistic and be accompanied by marketing hype. The risk is that, should there be an equal promise of decent profit margins, a stockist may be tempted to promote the product to their trade and retail customers. Such products tend not to be discovered as fakes (that are dangerous at worst and ineffective at best) until something happens to make the headlines. The result sees traders try and disassociate themselves from the product rapidly, while ditching their remaining stock. The subsequent reputational fallout for the supplier can be considerable.

How not to get caught out by fakes

1. Purchase your preferred oil brand through its authorised dealer. Alternately, work with a trustworthy supplier/factor.

2. Be sceptical of extremely cheap offers on the Internet

3. Pay attention to the manufacturer's approvals

4. If in doubt, seek the ID/batch number and approach the manufacturer.

5. Pay attention to the legally required product/safety data sheets. Counterfeit products tend not to have these documents.

While BG products agrees that a wide range of fuel and lubricant additives span the spectrum from effective to worthless, it highlights that there is no policing organisation to ensure that any claims made are true. The onus falls on the garage, or technician to do so, if using it on customers' cars. So, how do you know?

BG Products advises researching whether any test data exists to support the advertised benefits. Meaningless, unsubstantiated and exaggerated statements mean nothing. Third-party, or pertinent performance testing evidence, is more useful. For instance, many fuel products make claims about “fuel injector cleaning” or “GDI cleaning”. Yet, very few products back such assertions up with proof.

There are other factors you can consider, too. How long has the product been on the market? After all, gimmicks that comprise inexpensive base oils, or solvents, have no staying power. A company that has been in the market for over twenty years, for instance, is more likely to be legitimate.

JLM Lubricants adds that, as we have seen in recent months, not only are motorists looking to save money on repairs, but workshops also have to justify their invoice totals. Fueltone Pro has also reported increased nationwide demand for its engine oil flushes. It theorises that this is due to the cost-of-living crisis, saying that garages and technicians are assisting car owners with preventative maintenance by using additives.

Interestingly, while JLM Lubricants admits to guarding its product development, from idea, through to formulation, testing and release, the company is also grateful to professional technicians that help with the final testing stages, just prior to them being launched through JLM's distribution channels. In agreement with many other companies mentioned, JLM Lubricants sees its close contact with these distributors as vital to counteract any chances of counterfeit versions of its products passing scrutiny. Yet, the company admits to not being self-satisfied. Speaking to AT, its founder admitted that his biggest headaches are caused by seeing additives being sold that resemble those of JLM. They might not be fake but it is frustrating to see an unproven company piggybacking off JLM's repute so brazenly for a slice of the same market. The situation, after all, is not good for anybody – other than the fakers.