July/August 2018

data and backed by the technology provider. At VLS we rigorously investigate every single case to ensure that lubricants products being sold are fit for purpose and really can deliver what is claimed.” Acceleration Technology has really sped up the process according to Morris Lubricants Automotive Product Manager Adrian Hill: “In recent years, as we stepped into the Euro 6 era, the pace of change in the automotive world has accelerated, as the drive towards reduced emissions pushes vehicle hardware and lubricant formulators into new territory. The SAE 10W-40 market is very much in decline, with sales volumes dropping year upon year as SAE 5W-30 product lines have become the standard. “We are now seeing the next evolution in passenger car engine oil technology with a move to even thinner grades to satisfy legislation that is driving down the level of CO2 emissions to the next level. If that wasn’t enough, there is a new phenomena known as LSPI, Low Speed Pre-ignition. All the major OEMs are urgently looking at this and there is no doubt that LSPI-safe lubricants will begin to emerge. Then there’s diesel, as Adrian explains: “Diesel engines may be fitted with DPFs and Adblue systems. DPFs take out any solid debris and Adblue systems reduce NOx emissions. Both of these system types rely on correct oil chemistry to ensure their operational efficiency. Lubricants that create a high level of ash will prematurely block DPFs. These are expensive to replace, with costs ranging anywhere from £1,000 upwards, depending on the unit. Lubricants with high levels of certain additive elements like sulphur and phosphorous will poison Adblue catalysts, making them ineffective. Again, the bill for replacement is high. Car owners can’t get away with using the incorrect oil, as electronic sensors are continually feeding data back to the engine management system.” He adds: “At Morris Lubricants we always aim to support the end user to make an informed decision. A long with myself our technical team are always on the phone or email to answer any enquiries. The company also has its online lubricant selector www.whatoildoineed.com where you can input a vehicles registration or select from a wide range of make and models to identify our recommended lubricants.” Liquid Engineering “In the drive to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy,” says Andrew Salton, Lubricants General Manager at The Race Group, part of Certas Energy, “engines are becoming smaller and running at higher pressures than ever before. This puts additional pressure on the engine oil to work harder to protect engine components from wear and tear. OEMs require engine oils that deliver improvements in fuel economy without compromising reliability and durability. For garages, the holy grail of engine oils would be one oil that can do everything however it’s a complex landscape and there isn’t currently one oil that can cover all the specific performance demands from each OEM.” Andrew adds: “Engine oil touches every part of the engine and so it’s critical to use the right oil for a specific vehicle to avoid issues and maximise the performance of that engine. The Race Group works with independent garages to provide them with the latest innovations in engine oil from Castrol to ensure they have access to products that meet the needs of the cars coming to their garages.” Extra value Paula Huesca De Crean, Chief Commercial Officer at Euro Car Parts, believes this vast choice in the oil market presents a major opportunity for repairers to deliver extra value to customers, and top up profit margins at the same time: “To make sure customers don’t end up with undue damage, repairers have a responsibility to regularly check oil levels on their behalf – and additional profit can be realised through oil service promotions. Customers who only use their vehicles occasionally should be having their oil serviced as regularly as those who drive every day, as it will continue to age inside the engine even when a vehicle isn’t in use. “Additional income can also be achieved through selling customers a one litre top-up of oil to store in their boot, 46 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2018 OIL AND LUBRICANTS Above: LIQUI MOLY oil cabinet www.aftermarketonline.net after every oil change, making sure they always have the right type of oil in their vehicle in case of emergency. As long as you make it clear when the oil needs to be topped up, this reserve will keep them going until their next professional oil service.” Storage of oils in garages New solutions tend to create new problems. One side effect of increased specialisation in oils and lubricants is the need for more product in the workshop, which can make storage a issue. Many small garages often suffer from the problem of needing to stock lots of different special oils but not having enough space to store them. One solution is the oil cabinet from the German oil and additive specialist LIQUI MOLY. “It has space to safely and cleanly store twelve different types