Aftermarket February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023 AFTERMARKET 43 economy boosting properties are paramount, but the volatility of the lubricant - and therefore its ability to control the oil consumption in an internal combustion engine - is also very important when using such low viscosity oil. Motul Hybrid 0W formulations make them particularly resistant to high temperatures for improved control of the oil consumption. They are also formulated to improve oil flow at start up, deliver faster oil pressure build up, faster rev rise and a more rapid move to operating temperature.” With full EVs, lubricants will still play a big part: “Obviously, pure electric vehicles, with no internal combustion engine or conventional gearbox to lubricate, narrow down some of the standard requirements for lubricants. There are still, however, many areas which require fluids or lubricants, and often of a more specialised nature, so we are concentrating on making sure we are at the technical forefront of things like brake fluid, coolant, greases, hydraulic fluids as well as workshop sprays and cleaning fluids.” Andy added: “The Motul message is also, of course, that though, EV is already part of our automotive aftermarket mix, and, in its varying forms, will continue to play an increasing role in service work, for the foreseeable future, ICE engine cars will make up by far and away the majority of business done in the workshop.” For more information, visit: www.motul.com Advances Commenting broadly on the evolution of lubricants, Mike Bewsey, Chairman of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) observed: “Oil formulations continue to evolve at a pace, catering to advances in engine technology. Engines have increased in power density, sump sizes have reduced, and drain periods have increased. Engines have been developed to meet the need for reduced emissions, greater performance and better fuel economy. “In these conditions, lubricants must be able to cope with temperature changes, increased bio-content in fuels, hybrid vehicle technology, start-stop functionality and problems arising from LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition). All this development has led to the production of lower viscosity oils with a complex balance of additives to create the exact lubrication each engine needs. Electric and hybrid vehicles act very differently from conventional petrol and diesel internal combustion vehicles, resulting in very different fluid requirements. Hybrid electric vehicles operate at lower temperatures with higher stress during stop/start and require additional lubricant additives to disperse increased sludge effectively. Battery electric vehicles reach very high temperatures, particularly during rapid charging. Specifically, designed fluids must cater to the increase in oxidation and the need to dissipate the increase in generated heat around the power units. These coolants need the correct copper compatibility to avoid copper corrosion and must help avoid foaming produced by higher RPMs as air gets into the high-stress environment. “Despite all these technical advances, motorists are holding onto their cars for longer as the cost-of-living bites. While oil companies may be keen to promote their latest ultralow viscosity formulations, older vehicles may require different engine oils from the latest models. It’s always worth checking the exact requirement for each and every vehicle.Many leading lubricant suppliers have access to industry databases that reference specific vehicle models and detail the manufacturers’ recommended lubricant specifications. These databases are powered by the technical knowledge and expertise of large companies such as Olyslager or OATS. They spend thousands of hours each year working through owner manuals and service documents to identify the right products for a vehicle just by entering the registration.” Mike added: “In this increasingly complex market, it is tempting for manufacturers to claim their products meet a wide range of OEM and ACEA specifications. All of the cases investigated by VLS over the past three years have related to misleading marketing claims with conflicting or unevidenced OEM approvals. If an engine oil sounds too good to be true or you have any concerns about it being mis-sold or mislabelled, it’s important to double-check. You can report a product to VLS, who will independently investigate it to confirm if it really can deliver what it claims.” For more information, visit: https://ukla-vls.org.uk/ Right: HYBRID-0W16 from Motul Left: LIQUI MOLY has a very wide range of oils