With a global presence and a significant share in the world passenger vehicle market, it is not surprising that the Volkswagen group is considered one of the most important OEMs when it comes to engine lubricant approvals.

The words Mercedes Benz are synonymous with quality. It is therefore no surprise that the MB approvals, managed by Daimler, require high performing, high quality engine lubricants.

In 2004, BMW introduced a new specification for engine oils called BMW Longlife-04. This was in response to hardware changes to its vehicles that the company had introduced to address ever tightening global emissions legislation and in particular to meet the Euro 4 emissions standard. However, since 2004 the specification has gradually changed, and today is considerably more demanding.

Many issues associated with incorrect or poor lubricant choice do not, thankfully, lead to catastrophic engine failure. Over time, inferior lubricants can result in a lack of efficiency, poor fuel economy or component failure. But there is one fairly recent phenomenon that could be taking place in your engine which can cause catastrophic engine failure when you are least expecting it. The phenomenon is associated with modern turbocharged gasoline direct injection engines and is termed low speed pre-ignition, or LSPI.