label still available in the marketplace which was outside of the control of the toll blender.
Consequently, VLS is content to close the investigation and the case.
VLS 010228 – PCEO 5W-30
On 17th April 2025 the case was accepted by VLS. The complaint concerned compliance against SAE J300 which specifies that no yield stress should be observed when measuring Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity (MRV). On the sample analysed a Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity of 34400 mPa.s at -35°C was recorded which is within specification, but a Yield Stress <70 g was observed, which does not meet the requirements of the ACEA and OEM specifications claimed for the product.
The Lubricant Marketer informed VLS that the issue had been identified previously, the marketer arranged for the testing of a new sample of the product which proved to be compliant and provided the test results to VLS.
VLS accepted the test results showing the product as being compliant as at December 2024 and closed the investigation subject to a six-month review.
On 30th April 2026 VLS undertook a six-month review of the case in line with its stated process.
As part of the review the Lubricant Marketer provided Low Temperature Pumping Viscosity test results from a recent batch of the product which had been tested by a leading ISO 17025 global testing house.
The test results show the MRV to be within specification for SAE J300 and the performance profiles:
MAN M3677/M3477, MAN M3691, SCANIA LDF-4, MB 228.51/228.31, VOLVO VDS-4, RENAULT RLD-3, CUMMINS CES 20081, VECO CLASS E TLS EURO 6 REQUIREMENT, DEUTZ DQC IV-10 LA
Based on the MRV results the product remains in compliance at the six-month stage. VLS is therefore content to close the investigation and the case.
VLS 010221 - Granville Oil & Chemical Hypalube C3 FS 5W-30
On 11th September 2024 the case was accepted by VLS.
The complaint concerned compliance against the stated performance claims ACEA C3, API SN/CF, MB 229.31, 229.51 & 229.52, BMW LL-04, GM DEXOS 2, VW 502.00, 505.00 & 505.01.
It was alleged that when tested the product was non-compliant against the specification VW 502.00/505.00 requiring TBN ≥10.0, and SA >1<1.5%.
VLS procured and tested a sample of the product. The test results were as follows:-
Test Results HTHS mPa.s
TBN mg KOH/g
SGS Result Reproducibility VW 502 00/505 00 3.26
8.9 Sulphated Ash % 0.9
0.151 0.7
0.142
Min 3.5 >10.0
>1%m/m<1.5%m/m
VLS therefore found that the product was not compliant against the claim VW 502 00/505 00 for HTHS requiring >3.5mPa.s and TBN requiring equal to or greater than 10mgKOH/g, but it was compliant for Sulphated Ash requiring >1%m/m<1.5%m/m.
In response Granville Oil & Chemical stated that they had already removed the claim against VW 502 00 on current stock, and the sample tested was in excess of two years old. They also stated that they check for consistency in HTHS properties by testing the development blend pre-production and also checking every 3 to 4 blends post production.
On 16th February 2026 a six-month review of the case was undertaken. As part of this review VLS procured and tested a further sample of the product.
VLS found that the HTHS value is now within specification and that the VW 502.00 claim has been removed. Consequently, the product was compliant, and the investigation and the case is closed.
ukla-vls.org.uk
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.193 JUNE 2026
57
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