Technical 16 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2025 Keeping your oil know-how in check Beware the risk of using latest engine oils in ageing vehicles says Harald Oosting, chairman of industry trade body Verification of Lubricant Specifications The number of vehicles on UK roads is growing, but it’s also ageing. According to the latest European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) 2025 Vehicles on European Roads report, there are 35.2 million cars on UK roads. Of these, 16.8 million are over a decade old, and the average car age has risen to 10.6 years. Just four years ago, the average age was eight. The economic impact of Covid-19, automotive supply chain issues, uncertainty about EVs and the future of the internal combustion engine, inflationary pressures and slow economic growth mean motorists are holding onto their vehicles for longer than ever. On the one hand, this is good news for workshops. With older vehicles on the roads, there is more demand for servicing, repairs and MOTs. However, as cars age, some aspects of servicing, such as choosing the right engine oil, can become more complex. Engine technology has evolved significantly. To meet government requirements for reduced emissions and motorists’ demand for economy and performance, smaller engines are running at higher temperatures to maximise efficiency, power and fuel economy. Longer oil drain intervals, taken together with smaller sumps and the need to minimise emissions, have created the need for less viscous, synthetic or semisynthetic oils to provide the lubrication required in these challenging conditions. But are these highly efficient, sometimes ultra-low viscosity lubricants suitable for the ageing vehicles being serviced in workshops? The latest formulations are specifically developed for the most modern engines. Traditionally, when newer oils were developed, some were designed to be ‘backwards compatible’. However, with an increasingly complex range of industry and OEM specifications, backwards compatibility cannot be assumed. Subtle yet important differences concerning viscosity characteristics and/or additive chemistries are reflected in specifications that must be acknowledged during regular servicing. For example, a 2021 VW Polo 1.0 mpi requires an SAE 0W-20 engine oil complying with the latest VW 508.00 specification, part of which mandates very low high temperature, high shear properties (HTHS) to improve fuel efficiency. HTHS measures the viscosity or resistance to flow of an engine lubricant at elevated temperatures under constant shear. This oil would be unsuitable for a 2017 VW Polo 1.0, which requires an SAE 5W-30 oil conforming to the older VW 504.00 specification, with higher and exclusively different HTHS properties. Use of a VW 508.00 compliant engine oil in place of VW 504.00 would potentially result in accelerated wear of engine components. In contrast, a VW 504.00 compliant engine oil instead of VW 508.00 would affect emissions and fuel economy. OEM specifications themselves evolve, adding to the complexity. For example, VW 504.00/507.00 has kept the same specification reference, but some tests behind it have been updated, and the severity has changed. Workshops rely on lubricant manufacturers conducting regular auditing and testing through comprehensive quality management processes to ensure products remain compliant and mechanics have the correct information. Generally speaking, using the wrong oil risks damage to emission control systems, accelerated wear in gears and bearings and the formation of piston deposits. Left unchecked, it could lead to eventual engine failure, meaning higher maintenance costs for your customers and potential reputational damage for your business.
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