The Garage 308

NEWS 06
OIL GRADE PICTURE GETTING
INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED
The headaches surrounding oil grades are set
to increase for automotive professionals over
the coming years, a leading lubricant expert has
warned.
THE number of different
engine oils on the
market has soared in
the last decade.
Whereas once
most cars required a basic
15W-40 viscosity oil or a
10W-40, there is now a much
wider range available depending
on OEM and vehicle.
Leading lubricant manufacturer
FUCHS Lubricants
now has circa 30 core engine
oils. Ford alone now has four
main oil specs.
“It’s horribly complicated,”
said FUCHS’ UK Automotive
Technical Manager, Andy
Brown. “In the aftermarket,
you could need to stock in the
region of 17 different grades
to cover a wide selection of
vehicles.
“Unfortunately, it’s only going
to get worse, particularly
with hybrids and EVs playing
an ever-increasing role in the
automotive market.
“Ultimately, it’s all about
emissions and fuel economy.
OEMs have been hit with
stringent emission targets
and the oil can play a significant
role in helping them
achieve that.
“At the most basic level, it’s
about hydrodynamic lubrication.
Thinner oils result in
less friction and, therefore,
less energy being used.
“That’s why we’ve seen 0W-
16 enter the market. 0W-12
and 0W-8 will come. I’d expect
to see 0W-12 this year
or next from one of the major
OEMs.
“Oil should be considered
a critical component. You
wouldn’t use the wrong tyres,
and you shouldn’t use the
wrong oil either.”
Andy said that the situation
is further complicated
by the fact that there is much
more to an engine oil than its
viscosity.
Two 5W-30 oils, for example,
could be quite different
in their make-up due to the
additives added to them to
deal with the specific needs
of individual OEM’s components,
particularly the piston
rings and the upper cylinder
areas.
Andy outlined the different
lubrication considerations
which are at play when
it comes to hybrid and EV
vehicles.
“EV vehicles are typically
factory fill and sealed for life,
so there is little or no aftermarket
for those,” he said.
“Hybrids are slightly different
because the engine isn’t
FUCHS’ UK Automotive Technical Manager, Andy Brown
always running. The engine
will cool down when running
on the battery, so the oil
needs to be able to cope with
those stresses.
“Some existing products
are hybrid compatible, but
others will need to be adapted
to suit the unique demands
of hybrid systems and
for some there will be brand
new technology.”
Furthermore, Andy said
he expected new ACEA specifications
to be announced
this year, with A5, B5 and
C5 specs being axed and new
ones brought in, mainly to
address LSPI issues found
in turbocharged gasoline engines.
All of this amounts to a
severe headache for motor
factors and professional motor
mechanics as they seek to
stock the products their customers
want and need.
Andy said: “We appreciate
that oil can be daunting these
days – and the cost of getting
it wrong can be severe.
“But there are a few simple
things people can do to
ensure that they use the right
oil. Firstly, consult the handbook
and check the requirements
carefully.
“Secondly, use an online
oil checker system to find the
right products just from a
number plate.
“Thirdly, speak to an expert.
Our customer service
team is happy to advise either
on the telephone or by email.
“For the aftermarket, we
run education courses to
help people understand how
to use oil properly, and we are
also supplying smaller, 20L
Lube Cube packs instead of
the once commonplace 205L
barrels so that they can stock
a wider range of products.”
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06 News.indd 1 25/02/2020 09:21