EU citizens are free to choose their engine oil

European drivers have won the freedom to choose their own automotive oils

In this section: 27 articles
  1. Who owns the oil brands today?
  2. Uz-Texaco joint venture enters the synthetic engine oil market
  3. 08.10.2011 LIQUI MOLY is building an oil storage terminal
  4. New ultra-powerful BMW Power M3 Tornado RS
  5. Toyota gets a new Aqua hybrid ready for market
  6. New Gulf engine oil lineup
  7. Castrol's Oil Film Has Become Tougher
  8. A new product in the ADDINOL oil lineup
  9. Shell refreshes its lubricant range
  10. The Nissan electric car will be a home battery
  11. ELF has expanded its engine oil lineup
  12. The new Opel Combo has been unveiled
  13. Fighting traffic jams, or 'odd-even' the Beijing way
  14. First Toyota hydrogen filling station opens in the US
  15. The updated Mazda3 gets a better engine
  16. EU citizens are free to choose their engine oil
  17. $100 billion for growth: Shell's plans through 2014
  18. BP is selling two car oil brands
  19. New YACCO synthetic for French cars
  20. Engine oils earn GM's dexos specifications

All articles in this section (27)

Including during warranty service

Many automakers impose certain restrictions on maintenance and on the use of parts and lubricants, requiring vehicle owners to use components and materials of the specified brands. Under a European Commission ruling, these restrictions are unjustified: in the European Union it is now forbidden to force consumers to use spare parts from a particular manufacturer. This is regulation No. 461/2010 and the Commission’s accompanying document, titled "Supplementary guidelines on vertical agreements for the sale and repair of motor vehicles and the distribution of spare parts."

The most manufacturers can do is issue recommendations, stating in the owner's manual the technical requirements for spare parts and automotive oils (for example, manufacturer standards, ACEA, API for automotive oils). Vehicle owners have the right to decide for themselves which lubricant to use, choosing any one that meets the technical requirements.

The text of the ruling makes clear that independent manufacturers of parts and lubricants may supply their products to garages and repair shops. At the same time, automakers fulfilling their warranty obligations must not depend on the brand of automotive oils and components used.