Lube-Tech PUBLISHED BY LUBE: THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
Lubrizol’s aim is to deliver a factual, engineering- focused review of how self-certified oils compare to formally approved ones, and most importantly, what is being done to safeguard lubricant quality.
The rising prevalence of SFU Oils in Europe Across Europe, most engine oil brands seek to meet the performance requirements set by the industry and OEMs. However, there is a significant presence of products on the market that rely on self-declared compliance. Often marketed as “Suitable for Use” in applications calling for certain specifications or standards rather than holding an official OEM approval. Some lubricant marketers adopt SFU labelling to avoid the cost and time of formal approval processes. These SFU oils typically claim to meet standards (such as ACEA sequences or OEM standards) based on in-house or additive supplier data. This practice has rightfully raised some concerns in the industry, as it relies heavily on the integrity and testing diligence of the oil marketer and their additive suppliers.
The extent of SFU oils in the market is highlighted by the work of industry watchdogs. For example, the UK’s Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS), an independent body under the UK Lubricants Association, has investigated over 120 lubricant cases since its formation in 2013. The vast majority of these cases involve passenger vehicle engine oils, reflecting how prevalent and important this segment is. Significantly, in its findings, VLS reports that “non-compliance with stated specifications remains the most frequent cause of complaint”, indicating that many oils were found not actually meeting the claims on their labels. In 2024 alone, half of the cases opened by VLS related to conflicting or unevidenced OEM specification claims, i.e. oils marketed as approved or meeting OEM specs without proof. This statistic underscores the level of growing concern that the engine oil market is becoming populated by SFU products whose performance credentials may not be fully verified.
34 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.187 JUNE 2025
No.158 page 2
Such findings reveal a compliance gap in the marketplace. While most mainstream oils sold by established companies are indeed tested and conformant, there are some products where claims might be exaggerated or unsupported. The Chairman of the VLS Technical Review Panel noted that although awareness of compliance is growing, “the significant rise in cases over the past 12 - 18 months, demonstrates that there is still work to do to ensure an open and fair marketplace that end users can have confidence in” [VLS Managing Conformance and Assuring Compliance, A Case Review 2013 – 2024]. In other words, despite progress, sub-standard formulations occasionally slip through, with some products being sold as meeting the latest specifications but failing to perform effectively. This is the context in which certain SFU oils have proliferated: while the product might be to the highest standard, the lack of approval means the self-certification environment relies on trust and technical honesty.
Validation frameworks: ACEA sequences, ATIEL code, EELQMS, and OEM approvals Ensuring an engine oil truly meets required performance standards involves a complex framework of industry specifications and testing protocols. In Europe, the backbone of performance definition comes from the ACEA Oil Sequences, the specifications published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) for various classes of engines (e.g. ACEA A/B for passenger gasoline/ diesel, ACEA C for catalyst-compatible oils, ACEA E and ACEA F, for heavy-duty diesel). These sequences define minimum performance requirements in standardised engine tests and lab tests. Noteworthy is that ACEA does not itself certify or license oils. Oil companies are responsible for testing their products and self-declaring compliance. There is currently no official ACEA stamp on a bottle, unlike the API’s trademark “donut”, and no central registry of ACEA-compliant oils maintained by ACEA. The system relies on manufacturers to act diligently.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
