Lube-Tech PUBLISHED BY LUBE: THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
consumers. Each of those translates to a potential engine problem under the right (or wrong) conditions.
In extreme cases, Lubrizol have witnessed catastrophic engine failure as a direct result of low performance SFU oils. Lubrizol performed diesel sludge engine tests on both an OEM Approved and a SFU oil. This test is required for the OEM specifications claimed by both oils. The OEM approved oil had low sludge build-up, obtaining a passing result. The SFU oil failed to reach the full test duration, stopping approximately ¼ through the test. The SFU oil generated so much sludge that it blocked the oil ways, leading to oil-starvation. This resulted in catastrophic engine failure as the engine was insufficiently lubricated and cooled.
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Industry response: improving transparency and compliance
The lubricant industry, including trade associations and OEMs, has recognised the challenges posed by misleading or sub-par SFU claims. A number of initiatives and responses have been put in place or strengthened in recent years to protect the markets integrity:
ATIEL and ACEA compliance measures ACEA and ATIEL have tightened ACEA sequence claims through mandatory Letters of Conformance [LoC] registered via SAIL. The 2021 ACEA updates include new test requirements, eliminating outdated claims without data validation. Since 2017, ATIEL has intensified random oil sampling and testing to identify lacking formal licensing, ATIEL leverages industry pressure and potential legal actions via bodies like VLS. ATIEL also now has the authority [granted by ACEA and SAIL] to remove LoC registrants from the system in the case of continued and intentional non-compliance.
Role of VLS (UK) and other national bodies The UK’s VLS independently addresses lubricant misrepresentation, testing products and publicly reporting results, driving voluntary compliance or product withdrawal. VLS collaborates closely through a statutory Primary Authority partnership with Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards agreed by the Secretary of State for Business & Trade, escalating severe non-compliance cases for legal enforcement. Similar frameworks are emerging in other European countries, supported by industry associations like UEIL, highlighting collaborative approaches to ensure fair lubricant marketing practices and OEM compliance.
OEM actions
Figure 5: Illustrates the oil sump condition following engine testing at Lubrizol’s test facility. The top image displays the results with OEM-approved engine oil, while the bottom image shows the results with a SFU engine oil. This image is owned and protected by Lubrizol.
Automakers actively clarify lubricant approvals, some occasionally publishing approved oil lists online (e.g. Mercedes-Benz via their BEVO web platform). Owner manuals explicitly advise using OEM recommended
38 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.187 JUNE 2025
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