Reference Fuels

The extensively revised Reference Fuels Manual has been received and is currently under review by the CEC Secretariat.
The RFG is working through the action items determined at his meeting with the Board in November 2008, including establishing if any groups have problems as a result of the reduction in benzene content to 1% v/v in accordance with EN 228 for all except legislative fuels, producing an appropriate jet specification for use within CEC and finding new members the Group.  The next meeting takes place in February 2009.

Management Board

Unconfirmed Minutes from the last Management Board meeting, held on 13th January 2009, are now available to CEC Group members on the CEC Web Site. 

Statistics and the CEC Quality Process

Industry is interested in additional parameters in tests that are not currently accepted as CEC parameters.
If these are meaningful, fit for purpose and precise, but they don’t discriminate using the CEC reference oils defined, advice is needed as to how these could become incorporated into the CEC quality system in some way.
Work is being carried out to enhance the CEC Progress Report Pro-forma in order to add some detail about what the test is used for and the specifications it supports.

SG-T-048 – Oxidation Stability of Lubricating Oils by Artificial Ageing

The Group has requested permission to withdraw procedure A from the Test Method CEC L-48-A-00 and the Board has approved this, subject to the decision being a consensus by all members of the Group.

SG-L-101 – OM501 LA Bore Polishing and Piston Cleanliness Test

More data has been reviewed by the Board.
Approval of the test for piston cleanliness is expected to be formally carried out once a clear statement is presented by the Group with support of its SDG Liaison Officer.

TDG-L-100 – Turbo Deposits Test

An ACEA member may be able to offer historical data with some alternative reference oils.  This will be progressed.

New ‘Effects of Biodiesel’ Lubricant Test using OM646

This new test proposal is being discussed in Industry to ensure the focus is on the needs of European business.
A number of proposals for test fuels are being discussed and it is expected that a proposal will be made to CEC very soon.

New Sludge Test to Replace CEC L-53-95 (M111)

It is understood that there is some initial interest being expressed by an ACEA member to provide the engine for this replacement test.  The existing test is not likely to be available after the end of this year.

CEC Working Groups

Some CEC Groups rely on a very small number of members to provide the necessary support to each Group.  It is important that Group members actively contribute to the work of the Group.  This involves submitting reference data by either participating in Round Robins and /or test monitoring, but also taking on support positions within Groups.  Please offer to take on these roles (Chairman, Secretary, Reference Fuel or Oils Co-ordinators, Test Method Co-ordinator) as Groups cannot be effective without good support.

CEC Help Desk

Support is available from Lyn, Barry and Monique.  See the CEC Web Site for details:  www.cectests.org