Professional Motor Mechanic

No rest for the VLS: “We can go further, faster and be more influential.”

|Date: July 13, 2026

No rest for the VLS: “We can go further, faster and be more influential.”

VLS’ biennial industry lunch took place recently, as ever at London’s RAC club, the spiritual home of aut ...

VLS’ biennial industry lunch took place recently, as ever at London’s RAC club, the spiritual home of automotive gatherings. This year’s VLS lunch landed at just the right time to capitalise on a rare ...

July 13, 2026
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VLS closes Silverhook investigations

|Date: February 06, 2026

VLS closes Silverhook investigations

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (UK) (VLS) has closed the Silverhook investigations, VLS 010 ...

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (UK) (VLS) has closed the Silverhook investigations, VLS 010226 and VLS 010227, after the company took corrective action. In April 2025, VLS received a com ...

February 06, 2026
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Another year of change for oils and lubricants

|Date: January 21, 2026

Another year of change for oils and lubricants

2025 was another year of change in an increasingly complex oils and lubricants market, as VLS Chairman Da ...

2025 was another year of change in an increasingly complex oils and lubricants market, as VLS Chairman Darren Frogson explains to PMM. Not quite an ‘annus horribilis’, but 2025 certainly posed continu ...

January 21, 2026
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VLS investigates false Stellantis oil claims

|Date: December 22, 2025

VLS investigates false Stellantis oil claims

The VLS has launched an investigation and issued a warning about engine oils making claims against Stella ...

The VLS has launched an investigation and issued a warning about engine oils making claims against Stellantis specification used for Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat and Vauxhall models. The Verification of Lub ...

December 22, 2025
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VLS clears up oil specification confusion

|Date: October 27, 2025

VLS clears up oil specification confusion

Many workshops are still unsure about oil specifications. It’s the VLS’ job to make sure that changes. In ...

Many workshops are still unsure about oil specifications. It’s the VLS’ job to make sure that changes. Independent membership organisation the Verification of Lubricant Specifications, with the suppor ...

October 27, 2025
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VLS investigates Stellantis specification

|Date: October 08, 2025

VLS investigates Stellantis specification

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has launched a widespread market investigation and iss ...

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 specificatio ...

October 08, 2025
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Why are lubricant investigations on the rise?

|Date: April 03, 2025

Why are lubricant investigations on the rise?

Alan Outhwaite, chairman of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications Technical Review Panel, gives re ...

Alan Outhwaite, chairman of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications Technical Review Panel, gives readers of PMM some details about the recent spike in lubricant investigations and the work the o ...

April 03, 2025
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The PMM Awards 2024

|Date: December 02, 2024

The PMM Awards 2024

The PMM Awards are back, celebrating the standout articles that defined 2024! Read on to discover who too ...

The PMM Awards are back, celebrating the standout articles that defined 2024! Read on to discover who took home the top honours! Every month, the PMM team works tirelessly to produce a magazine that i ...

December 02, 2024
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VLS issues lubricant warning

|Date: October 14, 2024

VLS issues lubricant warning

Data from the Department for Transport has shown people are making fewer trips and travelling fewer mile ...

Data from the Department for Transport has shown people are making fewer trips and travelling fewer miles, with average vehicle mileage falling since 2002 from 9,000 miles a year to 7,000 miles in 20 ...

October 14, 2024
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The latest lubricant investigations

|Date: September 16, 2024

The latest lubricant investigations

David Wright, Company Secretary of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) brings PMM readers ...

David Wright, Company Secretary of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) brings PMM readers up to speed on the latest lubricant investigations. In 2013, reputable lubricant blenders and m ...

September 16, 2024
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Brake fluid safety warning issued by VLS, Mannol responds

|Date: July 03, 2024

Brake fluid safety warning issued by VLS, Mannol responds

Verification of Lubricant Specifications has issued a safety warning and escalated case VLS 010200, a com ...

Verification of Lubricant Specifications has issued a safety warning and escalated case VLS 010200, a complaint regarding Mannol Brake Fluid DOT 4 3002, to Trading Standards. In December 2023, VLS rec ...

July 03, 2024
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VLS reports Silverhook case to Trading Standards

|Date: May 24, 2024

VLS reports Silverhook case to Trading Standards

The VLS has been left with no choice other than to escalate a 5W30 PCEO investigation concerning Silverho ...

The VLS has been left with no choice other than to escalate a 5W30 PCEO investigation concerning Silverhook's 5W30 Supreme Plus to Trading Standards after the company failed to bring the product into ...

May 24, 2024
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PMM discusses the state of motor oil in 2024

|Date: April 15, 2024

PMM discusses the state of motor oil in 2024

PMM clears up a thing or five about motor oil. Dipping into the silver tome that is the AA Book of the Ca ...

PMM clears up a thing or five about motor oil. Dipping into the silver tome that is the AA Book of the Car, published in 1976, I find the advice for “choosing the right oil” includes castor oil as a v ...

April 15, 2024
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PMM interviews Chair of the VLS

|Date: April 02, 2024

PMM interviews Chair of the VLS

PMM sat down with Jacquie Berryman, Chair of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications, to catch up on ...

PMM sat down with Jacquie Berryman, Chair of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications, to catch up on her plans for her role as VLS chair and the wider issues VLS will need to address in the comin ...

April 02, 2024
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VLS welcomes new Chair

|Date: September 27, 2023

VLS welcomes new Chair

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has welcomed Jacquie Berryman as its new Chair. Jacqui ...

The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has welcomed Jacquie Berryman as its new Chair. Jacquie takes over from Mike Bewsey, who has become President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Associ ...

September 27, 2023
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