30/11/2025
VLS investigates claims against Stellantis specification...
The Verification of Lubricant Specifications, VLS, an independent and impartial body which investigates lubricant product complaints, has launched an investigation and issued a caution over engine oils making claims against the Stellantis FPW 9.55535/03 specification, used by vehicles including Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Vauxhall and Opel models.
The Stellantis specification was initially launched in June 2023 and revised in June 2024. Four products have been approved against the 2023 specification and have until June 2026 to be re-approved against the 2024 revision. Its research has identified more than twenty other brands that are making product claims against this specification. VLS believes that the technology to support this specification is not widely available and experts are concerned that claims to meet the specification might be being made without the support of the additive company or technology provider, or in the absence of the supporting technical performance data.
Darren Frogson, VLS Chairman, stated, “This matter is not just one of ‘technicality’. It really matters. Using oils that fail to meet the requirements of the intended specifications can cause accelerated wear to engines, reduce the effectiveness of emission control systems, invalidate warranties, and ultimately result in long term engine damage.”
Alan Outhwaite, Chairman of the Technical Review Panel, explained: “The VLS process is objective, without bias and transparent. As part of our investigation, we will be writing to all brand owners and blenders of products identified as making this claim seeking assurance they can meet the specification and that the claim is supported by their technology provider and demonstrating full technical data to underpin the claim. If the products are found to be non- compliant, the investigation findings will be published on the VLS website, with non-compliant products reported to Trading Standards where necessary.”