Mercedes is the latest automaker to announce tougher lubes specs with an increasing drive towards better economy and environmental performance.
The German vehicle maker announced an upgrade to its passenger car and heavy-duty truck service-fill oil specs, calling it V2012.1. The new upgrade enhances a number of existing Mercedes rules for standard, medium and advanced quality oils and will require several new tests to meet tougher criteria.
The automaker's new standards are primarily driven by increasingly stringent EU targets to increase fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions, according to Lube Report's Tim Sullivan. As a result there are four new chassis dynamometer tests announced by Mercedes, which the company accepts will increase costs for lubes producers. Other tests will also focus on the use of biofuels, concentrating particularly on viscosity and dilution properties with non-bio products.
Mercedes' announcement is the latest in a number of automaker spec enhancements - the most recent coming from Ford with specifc standards for its new EcoBoost engine.