February 2021

much more important. “Many oils are tailor-made for a particular engine type. That’s why we’re now seeing more and more situations where the same oil is absolutely necessary for one engine and can cause serious damage in another.” LIQUI MOLY’s oil guide, available at www.liqui-moly.com has been designed to help technicians pick the right oil first time. Users just need to enter the number plate, and they then get a list of suitable engine oils, as well as suitable gearbox oils and other liquids. “At LIQUI MOLY we have the right oil for practically every vehicle on the road,” observed Oliver. Frequency generator While an oil change as such might be seen to be a standard service, it can still be more. Oliver said: “With a few simple measures, individual service packages can be compiled that turn any oil change into a unique service. This can enable a garage not just to generate attractive margins but also set itself apart from the competition. “Before changing the oil, add LIQUI MOLY Pro-Line Engine Flush to the old oil and allow the engine to idle for a few minutes. During this time, the active ingredients remove any A ll those cars that sat still for months during 2020 may have missed some of their scheduled services, and this could mean the need for an oil change is critical. You need to make sure you are up to speed on the latest requirements though. Andrew Goddard, Chairman of independent trade body the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) said: “As vehicles become more sophisticated and complex than ever before, lubricants have to keep evolving. Traditionally the lubricant was there to keep engine parts moving smoothly. But today’s lubricants have to cater to the strive for reduced emissions, demand for greater performance and better fuel economy. Smaller engines are running at higher temperatures to maximise efficiency, power output and fuel economy. Longer oil drain intervals, taken together with smaller sumps, have created the need for less viscous, synthetic oils to provide the lubrication required in these challenging conditions. Added to that, lubricants must be able to cope with temperature changes, increasing bio- content in fuels, hybrid vehicle technology, challenges like Stop/Start functions and problems arising from LSPI. “The advanced chemistry of these sophisticated lubricants, using the latest synthetic technology, strikes a delicate balance. The tiniest change in a formulation of 0.01% can have a real impact on the finished product. Using the wrong or incorrect specification oil risks accelerated wear to gears and bearings. Left unchecked, it could lead to eventual engine failure, meaning higher maintenance costs for vehicle owners and potential damage to your business’ reputation.” Andrew continued: “A one-size-fits- all product would be convenient for lubricants manufacturers, retailers and motorists alike, but it wouldn’t be the right choice for vehicles. To keep range sizes down, lubricants 36 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2021 OIL AND LUBRICANTS www.aftermarketonline.net OILED AND READY... With cars on the move again for 2021, making sure your customers’ cars are properly lubricated will be crucial manufacturers are striving to produce products that can meet multiple specifications and cater to increasing numbers of makes and models. Unfortunately, as VLS investigations have found, there are some lubricant products for sale that actually can’t meet all of the specifications they claim. “By working with independent testing houses and industry experts, through our anonymised technical review process, VLS can identify where products are failing to meet their specifications.” Andrew added: “Backed by Trading Standards, we then work with the named parties involved to make sure that necessary changes are made to bring products into compliance. This ensures that the aftermarket can have confidence that the lubricant products they select are genuinely fit for purpose.” Specifications “Motor oil has long ceased to be a universal lubricant; It has developed into a highly specialised liquid spare part,” said Oliver Kuhn, Deputy Head of the LIQUI MOLY Oil Laboratory. “Viscosity is no longer the central criterion for differentiation. The specifications that an oil meets are