How to choose the right oil
Like many responsible oil manufacturers, FUCHS has included an online oil chooser tool for modern cars on its website at http:// Fuchs-eu.lubricantad visor.com.
Such services are useful, because the choices are particularly complicated for newer vehicles. Selecting the correct viscosity is only the first stage. As most modern engines require fully-synthetic oil, the next step is to establish the correct ACEA (European) or API (North American) classification.
“Car manufacturers tend not to rely on ACEA as much these days,” advises Andy, “and API tends to be more popular for commercial vehicles. Essentially, car manufacturers meet the ACEA specification first, then factor-in extra additives to improve the quality and technical performance of the oil.
This is why choosing a lubricant that meets the ACEA requirements alone might not be sufficient; you still need to look up the manufacturer requirements in your car’s handbook.”
As this magazine has discovered before, no routine tests are made on lubricants to ensure that the specifications printed on the bottle are true. Although the
British Verification of Lubrication Specifications (VLS) gives a degree of security, the organisation reacts only after receiving complaints.
FUCHS agrees with us that a degree of faith is needed to decide whether a lubrication brand is trustworthy, or not, in which it does so is to ensure that oils not only meet the various manufacturer specifications but are also certified by the car company. However, we pointed out that the certification process can be lengthy and costly, and certain vehicle makers demand a royalty for every litre sold. Taken out of the lubricant manufacturer’s R&D budget, this will result in extra costs for the consumer.
Kenyon agrees: “We think that it is worth it to guarantee quality, but we balance this engineering-led decision with other budgets. We do not engage in overly-expensive marketing activities. Instead of sponsoring Formula One, for example, we prefer to prioritise the development and supply of lubricants mainly to smaller, independent teams, such as Ciceley Motorsport in the British Touring Car Championship.”