April 2020

NEWS 6 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2020 www.aftermarketonline.net “Nuts” for a Mini A Scottish mechanic being driven nutty by a malfunctioning Mini Cooper S was righter than he realised recently, as when the problem was investigated he discovered a squirrel’s nut stash hidden in its twin exhaust. Tech Daniel Pattenden, based in Leitholm, had trouble starting the car, which had been sitting idle for a few weeks when was sent by his boss to pick it up. Daniel and his colleagues managed to fire up the engine later, but had to tow it back to their garage. When they were back they were able to start it up again, which is when they discovered the cause of the problem. “These nuts started coming out the end of the exhaust,” Daniel told The Sun. “I could hear them in there so we took the exhaust off and knocked them out. There were hundreds of them. We made sure it was clear then put it back together again.” Daniel added: “They were quite big nuts - the kind a squirrel would eat, too big for a rat or anything like that.” VLS investigation prompts ATIEL process change With the Coronavirus crisis ramping up in the UK, garages are looking to do their bit to support their communities through unprecedented circumstances. Among the business that are beginning to reach out to their customer base and beyond in order to help are Pure Car Mechanics, based in Pickering, North Yorkshire. Co-owned by Kevin Morris and Angela Snowden, the businesses posted on its Facebook page its willingness to help those who are self-isolating by collecting vehicles from those who are shut in, and then dropping off again when work is complete. Payment can be made by credit card or BACS transfer. While pick-ups and drop-offs are a normal part of the service at the garage, founded in 2009, Angele Snowden felt that with many of their customers likely to have other things on their minds, highlighting the offering was the right thing to do: “It is actually part of our service anyway, but we are highlighting it. We are looking after our customers and anyone else who wants to come on board with us. We thought we it important to promote this side of what we do, getting it out there just so that people know.” She continued: “Supporting the community is what we are always doing, and other garages should definitely think about promoting these sorts of services if they are able to offer them. There is so much negativity about at the moment.“ Angela added: “We are only doing what other local businesses in other sectors are doing – shops etc. We are saying ‘yes we are here, and we can help out, if needed’.” An investigation by the UK’s Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has led ATIEL, the representative body for manufacturers and marketers in the European lubricants industry, to change its quality management policy. Following the investigation. ATIEL member products are now included in compliance programmes for the first time. Case 160 involved a 5W-30 fully synthetic SN/CF Oil which was making technically conflicting claims concerning the ACEA engine oil sequences and OEM specifications which were not technically feasible. After months of investigation and dialogue, the named party failed to provide the Candidate Data Pack, putting them in breach of the ATIEL Code of Practice. VLS reported the company to ATIEL for breaching its undertakings under the ATIEL Code of Practice. Previously, ATIEL members only had to sign a letter of compliance, saying that their products conformed to the correct standards. Their products were not subject to compliance testing – only non-member products were. At a meeting of the ATIEL Quality Management Committee, it was decided that the policy would be changed to that all products would be subject to sampling and testing, including member products. Andrew Goddard, Chairman of VLS said: “The case demonstrates that as an independent trade body VLS will strongly pursue cases, including referring them to other European industry bodies, to ensure that lubricant products are fit for purpose. This announcement sends a strong message to the industry that no one is exempt from testing. Product quality and motorist safety must come first.” Coronavirus: Garages rally around to help communities Follow us on Facebook @aftermarketmagazine NEXT ISSUE: In the May issue of Aftermarket, Big Issue will be looking more widely at how businesses are dealing with the unfolding impact of the Coronavirus, as well as how they are reaching out to the community to do their bit