Protecting cars as they age
Andrew Goddard, Chairman, Verification of Lubricant Specifications
There is a saying going round in the industry that older cars that are out of warranty, with the major automotive manufacturer, are suitable for using additives and lubricant formulations that have not been recommended or even supported by the vehicle manufacturer. That older cars somehow need less protection for their engine than newer vehicles.
The argument goes that in the absence of any warranty claims for the car then the owners are allowed more flexibility over the products they use. Hence if a finished lubricant formulation has not been properly tested or an underpinning additive package does not meet stringent OEM requirements then that is perfectly fine and perfectly acceptable.
The view of VLS is exactly the opposite. This perverse argument that older vehicles do not matter as much as newer vehicles and the owners are willing to ‘let go’ their maintenance obligations to save some loose change over the short-term, but suffer larger maintenance bills over the longer-term, simply defies logic.
Older cars by their very nature have higher mileage than newer vehicles. They might be worn in and some service parts might have been changed over the course of their life. It is hoped that older vehicles have been regularly maintained in line with the service interval recommendations of the OEMs and so as cars age they need more care and attention as parts become worn, rather than less.
It is the view of VLS that all owners should carefully follow the recommendations made by their vehicle manufacturer not only in terms of service schedule but also in terms of any oil change interval and the technical specification, rather than just simply the brand name, of the specific lubricant that is fit for purpose in the application. Anything less risks the significant investment any owner would have made in their vehicle.
62 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.153 OCTOBER 2019
With the average age of the European fleet around 10 or 11 years old across many countries partly as a result of improving vehicle durability, it is right that every care should be taken over the maintenance of modern vehicles which are typically one of the largest purchases that consumers will make during their lifetime.
Cutting corners over the type and quality of lubricant not only risks accelerated wear to gears and bearings in a vehicle which stores up higher maintenance costs in future, but could lead to eventual equipment failure for example if the wrong level of SAPS (sulphated ash, phosphorous and sulphur) is used in connection with an exhaust after treatment device.
Rather than face regular service charges for the replacement of routine parts such as oil filters and lubricants, owners could be faced with failed MOTs, increased maintenance costs and even the replacement of failed engine parts. This simply does not make sense.
Reputable additive companies spend millions of euros each year ensuring that the right, complex chemical formulation effectively underpins what is a rapidly changing regulatory environment of heightened sensitivity around vehicle performance and vehicle emissions.
So let’s all help to ensure our end users properly maintain their vehicles as they age and help protect the environment against increased emissions and the premature scrapping of perfectly good vehicles for the sake of customers saving 10 or 20 euros worth of lubricants at service time. Now that does make sense.
LINK
www.ukla-vls.org.uk
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