How to avoid warranty issues with Agricultural lubricants

The world of agricultural lubricants can be a confusing
place when trying to select the appropriate oil / fluid for different
applications.  Many users often
mistakenly believe that they must purchase “equipment manufacturer branded lubricants”
specific to their machine type. 

Farm machinery is a considerable investment and while it is understandable that Farmers do not want to risk jeopardising their warranties, what many do not realise is its actually illegal for any Vehicle Manufacturer to withdraw a warranty if the chosen lubricants meets the vehicles quality approved specification.

A reputable, independent, and / or international oil manufacturer can produce lubricants using formulations and ingredients approved by the leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Who can manufacture finished lubricants to the required
specification?

The UK lubricants market is served by both the major global lubricant companies and a number of independent blenders. Although the number of independent blenders has reduced over the past decades, the remaining ones have grown in size now making up a significant portion of the market supply. To claim the latest industry ACEA specifications lubricant companies are required to sign a letter of conformity and hold an accredited quality certification, a list of current signatories is available on the SAIL (Services to Associations and Industry in the Lubricants sector) website.

In addition to this the UK has VLS (Verification of Lubricant Standards) which is owned and operated by the UKLA (United Kingdom Lubricant Association). Its role is to react to instances where products have been found to be non-compliant with their stated specifications or physical characteristics.

Oil manufactures such as Witham Group blend their oil to
meet the latest and highest quality specifications complete with warranty
approvals from most of the leading agricultural equipment manufacturers. Witham
are one of the largest independent lubricant manufacturers in the UK, blending
a full range of lubricants using brand new base stock with additive packages to
match from the leading global technology providers.

Witham
MD Nigel Bottom commented “We as a company are prepared to stand by our
products as being warranty suitable in machines where the correct
specifications are recommended by ourselves and adhered to by the customer. Grade for grade we can state that all Qualube
lubricants are blended to direct equivalents and in some cases higher
specifications of all the major international brands.”

The formulation for many Witham Group – Qualube
Lubricants meet and, in some cases, exceed the equipment manufacturers approved
requirements. The global manufacturers of agricultural machinery require the
highest quality products available on the lubricant market for their machines,
and Qualube branded products meet and exceed these stringent requirements.

Shop around, save money

There can be significant cost benefits as well to
shopping around when choosing lubricants, with the freedom  to choose alternative brands to that of the OEM.

It is also possible to rationalise product choices with careful consideration being made across a mixed fleet of agricultural machinery.   For example, the Witham Group produce a product called ‘Qualube Masterfleet’ which is a premium universal, full-synthetic engine oil which is designed to be used in a variety of new and old diesel engine vehicles, therefore providing an efficient solution for those who operate mixed machinery fleets.

Clearly there are cost
savings to be found with such products, avoiding the expense of purchasing a
different lubricant for every single machine, but also eliminating the
potential of the incorrect lubricant being used in the wrong application. It
also reduces the amount of storage space taken up in the workshop.

Get advice

If you’re unsure which lubricants to use, it is advisable to carry out a professional technical appraisal survey of all your equipment, to ascertain manufacturer warranty specifications.  Witham Group offer this service free of charge, without any bias, and it will ensure correct application of product to machine at all times.

Witham also have a free online Lubricant Finder tool which gives the latest recommendations to ensure you are using the right specifications and approved lubes for all aspects of your vehicles and machinery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I, as a customer, choose the lubricant of my choice
as long it meets the Vehicle Manufacturer specifications?

Yes – you are free to choose the brand of your choice if
it meets the technical requirements of the Vehicle Manufacturer.

Source: UEIL (Union of the European Lubricant Industry)

Why does my handbook show more than the manufacturers
specification for my engine?  

As well as the manufacturers specification, many ask for
industry specifications, such as ACEA specification. Many OEM specifications are
often based on the ACEA specification but have certain other more specific requirements.
These can be thought of as “tailored” specifications. However, the vehicle
handbook will probably indicate you can use an ACEA specification if the OEM specification
is not listed. Many agricultural products will claim both the ACEA
specification in addition to the OEMs on their product.