Gear oil complaints have seen a resurgence over the last few years sparking a warning from the UK's lubricants watchdog.
“There has been an increase in gear oil cases,” noted Alan Outhwaite, Chairman of the Verification of Lubricant Specifications's Technical Review Panel at a recent press briefing, while also highlighting ongoing challenges workshops face working with wet timing belts.
Gear oils currently account for 6.9% of cases overall, while wet timing belt oil cases account for 10.1% of cases. With products being updated more regularly to keep pace with changes to vehicles, garages are being urged to make sure they are always using the right oil formulation for the car in front of them and to strictly adhere to oil servicing intervals.
Challenges
Outhwaite noted the challenge producers face: “While wet timing belts are beneficial for modern engines in terms of fuel economy, ensuring compatibility is increasingly complex.”
Using the wrong wet timing belt lubricant can lead to accelerated belt wear, slippage, and ultimately lead to premature system failure. “What you have is a lot of liquid and polymer in a very hot environment, and that can lead to issues,” said Outhwaite.
He cited a recent high-profile example: “There were issues with Stellantis engines fitted with wet timing belt that require 5W-30 fully synthetic oils formulated to minimise LSPI. Unfortunately the belts degraded quicker than expected, sometimes ending in catastrophic failure. As a result, the OEM has reduced the servicing interval. More recent versions of the system now employ a timing chain, and for the current implementation, replacement is being rolled down from 10 to six years or 62,000 miles.
“Other cases highlighted difficulties in meeting SAE75W90 gear oil requirements, where incorrect formulations could compromise system longevity.”
VLS was set up by the UKLA in 2013 to deal with an increasing number of complaints on claims made about oil and lubricant products. Since then 146 complaints have been made by oil companies, garages and members of the public. Of those cases, over 75% have related to passenger vehicle engine oil and the most common cause of complaint has been non-compliance with ACEA specifications or conflicting or unevidenced OEM approvals.
15 cases have been ongoing since last November. In most instances, companies bring products into compliance through product reformulations, relabelling or updating product information sheets, and the case is settled. Where companies do not comply, cases are escalated to trading Standards for enforcement action.
The scope of the organisation takes in all types of lubricant. In another recent high profile VLS case that ran from 2023 through to 2025, a complaint was received about Mannol Brake Fluid DOT 4 3002, which failed to meet performance requirements for safe operation. Ultimately the product was recalled by the supplier, and distributors were asked stop selling the batch in question.
Looking at the wider lubricants market, Mike Bewsey, CEO of Duckhams Oils and VLS Director, noted that the increasing complexity of the market puts pressure on garages: “It’s very difficult for workshops. Resources are tight and they have to make the right decisions. The answer is to not hold lubricants on site, and rely on your factor, who can supply your needs.”
Increasingly complex
Darren Frogson, Chairman of VLS, said, “Workshops are the front line and can play an important role in helping customers understand just how vital oil selection and oil servicing are.
“We know that UK households are feeling the impact of rising fuel costs, but postponing or skipping oil changes, ignoring the oil warning light or using an oil beyond its serviceable life is a risk we are asking motorists not to take.”
“Engine oil is an increasingly complex area, yet it’s more important than ever to select the right lubricant. Modern vehicle engines require sophisticated lubricants using advanced chemistry. Even the slightest change in the formulation can cause engine damage over time.”
Frogson concluded: “Saving a few pence in the short term could create much more expensive issues in the future. Poor quality or the wrong oil can damage emission control systems and accelerate wear to gears and bearings, leading to increased maintenance costs. Mechanics and motorists should always refer to the owner's manual for details when selecting the correct oil for their vehicle and check with the vehicle manufacturer if needed.”
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