Luxury German carmaker Mercedes has approved compatriot lubricants company Liqui Molys low-ash Top Tec 6300 SEA 0W-20 engine oil for its E class engine, as well as some C and S class models that include diesel, gasoline and hybrids variants. Liqui Molys new oil meets Mercedes 229.71 low ash multigrade service engine oils standard. Top Tec 6300 is also suitable for some Jaguar and Land Rover models.

The Germany lubricant company also showed off a range of new oils and additives at Octobers AAPEX auto trade fair. Special Tec DX1, developed for GMs Dexos1 Gen2 standard, is suitable for some Chrysler, Ford and Asian models; Classic Motor Oil 20W-50, a mineral oil for vintage motors, and Top Tec MTF 5100, a low-viscosity gearbox oil for new manual transmissions by BMW, Ford and Volkswagen. It also launched its Truck Series of five additives for motor oil, gasoline and diesel for pick-up trucks; a hybrid additive and Speed Tec Gasoline, which aims to improve combustion.www.liqui-moly.com

From the Racetrack to the Streets of India

Shell Lubricants showcased Advance AX7 10W-30, a premium, semi-synthetic engine oil, at a launch event in New Delhi. Shells Advance range already lubricates Ducati racing bikes on the track, and has had a technical partnership with the Italian racing team Ducati Corse since 1999. Now the AX7 10W-30 has been formulated for Indian road bikes and other performance engines and is available in 1 liter and 0.9 liter packages across India.

India is the worlds biggest two-wheeler market and its demand for oils is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 percent per year, according to consultancy Kline & Co. www.shell.com

Say OLOA to Additives

Major global lubricant additive company Chevron Oronites new OLOA 54720 additive package combines multiple ACEA, API, ILSAC and original equipment manufacturer SAE 0W-20 claims, as well as low-speed pre-ignition protection, into one product, the company said in a press release. LSPI is a persistent issue among turbo-charged, direct injection engines, where there is premature ignition of fuel.

OLOA 54720 helps address the need for an additive package that meets the new ACEA C5 based segment, the company said. Engine and lubricant development over the past few years have meant the need for a specification that takes into account after-treatment devices, such as gasoline particulate filters, and lower viscosity 0W20 and 5W20 oils used by European OEMs to improve fuel efficiency.

Oronite also stated that OLOA 54720 also offers logistics advantages in that it combines several key SAE 0W-20 OEM approvals, which can reduce complexity.www.oronite.com

Spains Got a Lot of Bottle

Spanish finished lubricants and base oil company Cepsa S.A.U. has refreshed its packaging designs for all lubricants and coolants. The company said the redesign improves resistance, handling and leak proofing. The packages are also color coded gold for its XTAR synthetic lubricants, silver for the Avant and Genuine ranges for less demanding engines, red for auxiliary systems or other uses and white for coolants. The textured plastic bottles are also made from 30 percent recycled materials, which enhances the companys sustainability.

Meanwhile, Cepsa introduced two new synthetic lubricants – 0W20 ECO V IV and 0W30 ECO F – to its XTAR range. www.cepsa.com

Malaysia Anti-counterfeit Measures

Shell Malaysia has introduced a new Q code security sticker for five of it its premium Helix lubricants packages, including its Ultra 5W-40 fully synthetic, HX7 10W-40, HX7 5W-30, HX5 10-30 and HX5 15W-40 oils. The grey market for counterfeit lubes is rife in Malaysia and other developing markets, and in response, the Anglo-Dutch company has rolled out similar schemes for packaging in Indonesia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.www.shell.com