The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has launched a widespread market investigation and issued a caution over engine oils making claims against the Stellantis FPW 9.55535/03 specification, used by vehicles including Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Vauxhall and Opel models.
Darren Frogson, VLS Chairman, stated: “The Stellantis FPW 9.55535/03 specification was initially launched in June 2023 and revised in June 2024. Four products have been approved against the 2023 specification and have until June 2026 to be re-approved against the 2024 revision. However, our research has identified more than twenty other brands that are making product claims against this specification.”
VLS believes the technology to support this specification is not widely available to the general market. Industry experts are concerned claims to meet the specification might be being made without the support of the additive company or technology provider, or in the absence of the supporting technical performance data to demonstrate the formulation can meet the specification.
As part of VLS’s mission to educate and protect end users, VLS is calling on lubricant blenders to ensure they have the necessary technical supporting documentation, demonstrating the formulation meets the requirements of the specification, such as through performance test data, and this is made available upon reasonable request to workshops, garages, and mechanics so vehicle owners and the public can have continued confidence in the products they buy and use.
Darren continued, “This matter is not just one of ‘technicality’. It really matters. Using oils that fail to meet the requirements of the intended specifications can cause accelerated wear to engines, reduce the effectiveness of emission control systems, invalidate warranties, and ultimately result in long term engine damage. Lubricant marketers and distributors need to be acutely aware of the risks associated with supplying products that fail to meet the required standard.
“It is imperative that vehicle owners can continue to have confidence in the lubricant products used in their vehicles. VLS is deeply concerned about this market development, which is why the Board has decided to conduct a comprehensive market investigation and issue a caution about products claiming to meet this specification.”
Alan Outhwaite, Chairman of the VLS Technical Review Panel, explained: “The VLS process is objective, without bias and transparent. As part of our investigation, we will be writing to all brand owners and blenders of products identified as making this claim seeking assurance they can meet the specification and that the claim is supported by their technology provider and demonstrating full technical data to underpin the claim. If the products are found to be non-compliant, the investigation findings will be published on the VLS website, with non-compliant products reported to Trading Standards where necessary.”
You can keep up to date with VLS investigations by visiting ukla-vls.org.uk.
