February 2022

D avid Wright, Company Secretary of independent trade body the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) said: “The lubricants market is going through unprecedented levels of change. The new ACEA 2021 sequences for light duty vehicles were finally published at the end of April 2021, tackling some existing challenges in the marketplace, such as the impact of Low Speed Pre-Ignition and the trend to lighter viscosity lubricants led by Far East manufacturers. “While already filtering out into the market, the 2021 sequences will become mandatory for all new claims from 1 May 2022. The new sequences for heavy duty vehicles are yet to be announced although it is expected they will be released in the first or second quarter of 2022. New categories for fuel efficiency are expected, reflecting the trend in the light duty sequences to lower SAPS formulations supporting lower emissions in heavy goods vehicles.” Concern The upcoming introduction of Euro 7 is also causing concern. David observed: “According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, Euro 7 could spell the end of the internal combustion engine (ICE) as early as 2025 if the EU moves to zero emissions in urban areas such as city centres. A final proposal from the European Commission on Euro 7 is expected in 2022. “The discussion about future mobility does appear to be shifting slightly, though. The UK government published its hydrogen strategy in August 2021 with an ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. The strategy includes investment in the development of hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles, buses and rail supported by £23m of investment through the Hydrogen 44 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2022 OIL AND LUBRICANTS www.aftermarketonline.net With cars on the move again properly as we go into 2022, making sure your customers’ cars are properly lubricated will be crucial VITAL HELP for Transport strategy.” He continued: “Hydrogen as a fuel works similarly to conventional fuels in ICEs, meaning that pistons and other moving parts need to be lubricated to keep the engine functioning properly. This is in contrast to electric vehicles, where a totally different fluid is required. A move towards hydrogen-fuelled vehicles could, therefore, be welcomed by mechanics, as the lubricants required are more similar to current combustion engines and ICEs could be more readily adapted to take this new fuel. However, there is still a long way to go in the development and roll-out of this new and alternative option.” ICE vehicles are not going anywhere for now though. David said: “Drivers are holding onto their vehicles for longer, which means greater opportunities for aftermarket sales, but the consultation by Northern Ireland to move to biennial statutory testing of passenger and light commercial vehicles away from the annual MOT could pose a threat. Motorists might undertake interim maintenance tasks themselves and be more likely to top up their own oil in this scenario. This would create a shift in the aftermarket supply chain and require increased education for vehicle owners. Using the wrong or poor-quality oil, especially in today’s modern, sophisticated engines, can result in accelerated wear in gears and bearings, leading to increased maintenance costs and, if left unchecked, eventual engine failure.” David added: “As all these market changes unfold, VLS will continue to work with the industry, workshops, mechanics and end users to bring transparency to the lubricant marketplace and protect and educate end users.” Protection Speaking of end users, as part of their training, many of today’s mechanics will have learned to see 10W-40 as the traditional engine oil viscosity standard. Things have