The Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) tightened its guidance on lubricant marketing claims, escalating efforts to curb misleading product statements as increasingly complex engine technologies raise the risks associated with unsuitable oils and fluids, the organization announced. The revised guidance follows a series of recent investigations involving lubricant products carrying inaccurate or unsupported claims.
The latest update sharpens requirements around application recommendations, warning marketers against broad statements that imply universal compatibility across an OEM’s product range when multiple specifications may apply. Claims such as products being “suitable for all models” or “suitable for several OEMs” should be avoided unless fully substantiated, the organization said.
Under the updated rules, lubricant marketers using phrases including “Recommended for use,” “Suitable for use,” or “Meets the requirements of” must hold robust technical evidence supporting those statements. VLS said supporting documentation should include qualifying performance test data tied to OEM specifications and, where relevant, results from substantial field trials.
The guidance also reinforces the requirement for lubricant marketers making ACEA claims to register with SAIL, which administers the Letter of Conformance system on behalf of ATIEL, the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry. Participation in the European Engine Lubricant Quality Management System applies to all automotive engine lubricants sold within the framework.
A publicly accessible registry allows buyers and distributors to verify suppliers and confirm whether lubricant marketers are signatories to the Lubricant Marketers’ Letter of Conformance.
Darren Frogson, chairman of VLS, said pressure on shelf space in workshops and automotive retail channels had encouraged some marketers to expand the number of claims attached to individual products.
“At VLS, our mission is to protect and educate end users and to support fair and open competition in the lubricants market,” Frogson said. “Today’s sophisticated engines require a very specific balance of chemistry.”
He added that workshops and mechanics rely on technical data sheets to determine whether lubricants have been properly tested and validated for specific applications. Using an unsuitable oil can accelerate wear in gears and bearings, increase maintenance costs and, in severe cases, contribute to engine failure, he said.
The revised framework builds on earlier guidance introduced in 2015, when VLS sought to standardize terminology used across lubricant packaging and technical literature. A further revision in 2019 required companies making ACEA performance claims to review and provide access to a Candidate Data Package, or CDP, to demonstrate formulation performance against ACEA sequences in line with the ATIEL Code of Practice.
The organization, established in 2013, has examined 146 complaints through its Technical Review Panel, spanning passenger and commercial vehicle oils, gear oils, transmission and hydraulic fluids, brake fluids and metalworking products. Most cases have centered on marketing language, including disputed compliance with ACEA specifications, conflicting original equipment manufacturer approvals and claims lacking sufficient evidence, according to VLS.