Fleets, workshops and the motor industry have been warned not to use Mannol Central Hydraulic Fluid 8990 on the back of concerns over vehicle safety.
Safety organisation Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) has issued a vehicle safety warning over the hydraulic fluid and escalated its case to Trading Standards.
The multifunctional product is designed for use in selected power steering, transmission, suspension and other hydraulic systems.
In June 2023, VLS received a complaint alleging that the product did not meet the Kinematic Viscosity (KV) -40°C limits stated in its performance claims against the VW specifications listed. Failure to comply with these specifications could impair performance at low temperatures and compromise vehicle safety.
Independent testing by VLS also showed that the fluid failed to meet the VW specification it claimed. Mannol did not respond to the complaints and the fluid was reported as non-compliant.
The case was subject to a six-month review, in line with VLS’s stated process, and the subsequent testing found a new sample was still out of specification.
Some claims had been removed from the technical specification. However, the claim against VW TL 52 146 had been retained, which VLS believes is non-compliant and could pose a serious safety risk in applications requiring this specification.
Details of the case have been escalated to VLS’s primary authority partner, Bucks & Surrey Trading Standards, on a non-compliant basis against VW TL 52 146.
David Wright, VLS’s company secretary, said: “We urge motor factors, mechanics and end users alike to avoid using this Central Hydraulic Fluid, which could cause problems with vehicle operation, including power steering and suspension. Sufficient action must be taken to protect driver safety.”
