Management Board

Unconfirmed Minutes from the last Management Board meeting, held on 15th July 2009, are now available to CEC Group members on the CEC Web Site.

Daimler Visit

Two representatives from the CEC Board visited Daimler for a general discussion about CEC business and potential future support to engine test developments.  
The current economic climate makes it more difficult for engine suppliers to see the added value of providing engines for CEC test development.
A presentation is in the process of being put together in order to promote CEC with appropriate representatives from OEMs, in order to increase knowledge and understanding of the benefits of CEC sponsored test development, whilst addressing the views, concerns and confidentiality issues of the OEM management.

Group Progress Reports

Surveillance Groups in CEC now only need to provide a Progress Report for CEC Management Board review on an annual basis.  However, if there are any issues or problems that require the attention of the Management Board then these should be sent to the CEC Secretariat as they occur.

CEC Tests for Third Parties

The CEC Secretariat is often asked for the names of companies that provide third-party commercial testing of CEC tests.  
The CEC does not make any recommendations.
If your company wishes to be contacted for any third party CEC test business, please provide the following for a link from the CEC Web Site:
1.  Your Company Logo
2.  Your Company Web Site Address
3.  Permission for CEC to use your Company Logo on its Web Site
4.  Permission for CEC to link to your Company Web Site
Potential customers will see the range of CEC tests that you can carry out commercially, by visiting the CEC Web Site and connecting directly from there to your own Company Web Site, where your services and contact details are listed.

SG-F-098 – DW10

The Group is proposing to request a fouling biodiesel to be provided from within the Group membership, or, alternatively, the knowledge of how to make one and keep it stable enough for Round Robin testing.

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

The results of the reference test using the high reference oil referred to in our previous Newsletter were within the defined acceptance bands.  
The test is now approved and accepted as a CEC test with effect from 22nd June 2009, under the designation CEC L-101-09.  
ACEA has been informed about the change to the year of the method for their Specifications.
A licence to use the test method is now available at a cost of Euro 69,000. 

TDG-L-100 – Turbo Deposits Test

Several OEMs still perceive the need for this test, though obtaining more information about the problems encountered is proving difficult.  
Currently the Group is at a standstill and no progress can be made without further suitable oils of known performance.  The status of calibration oils is being followed up and ACEA F&L Group will be advised that the CEC is considering to close the Group if progress cannot be made in the near future.  A decision will be made before the end of 2009.  If the Group is closed without further work being done then it should be possible for the lead laboratory to produce a CEC Code of Practice, which could be used again if similar work is required in the future.

Replacement for DV4 test – CEC L-93-04

CEC has been advised that PSA will be offering an updated engine to replace the current test.  
The Industry Group made up of representatives of ACEA, ATC and ATIEL will review an initial draft Template and Terms of Reference which the current DV4 Group, SG-L-093, are being asked to produce, since they have the most experience of the test.

OM646 Biodiesel Test

CEC is advised that the Industry Group made up of representatives of ACEA, ATC and ATIEL are working on a revised proposal, including a probable move to RME B15 fuel.  
AAA has yet to agree the proposal, but when it does it will re-write the Template and Terms of Reference and submit them to the CEC Board with a request to set up a new TDG.

M111 Sludge Test Replacement

The CEC M111 Sludge Test (CEC L-53-95) will run out of hardware at the end of 2009 and needs to be replaced but no replacement hardware has been offered for a new CEC test development.  
The only option so far is the M271 Daimler Sludge Test which has been proposed for acceptance into the ACEA Sequences for the period up to end 2011.  Daimler can only support this test to be run in 2 German laboratories.  It is recognised that the proposal to use the M271 test in the ACEA Sequences is due to an emergency situation and ACEA is seeking Industry support for this short-term solution. It has been suggested that although some details of the test procedure must remain confidential, several ACEA members would like to include some CEC quality control on the test.
CEC Board Members are considering this new option within their Industry Associations.

CEC Chairmanship Change

Hans Thomassen will retire from the Chair of the CEC Board on 31st December 2009.  His replacement is proposed by ATC and will be Derek Mackney.  This change meets with the full support of all CEC Board Members.

CEC Secretariat Opening Hours

Please note the following changes to the availability of the CEC Secretariat and the CEC Help Desk.  Opening Hours are Monday to Thursday, 0800-1730 hours.  The office will be closed on Fridays, with immediate effect.

Test Monitoring System News

If you use the CEC Test Monitoring System to input reference data for CEC tests at www.cec-tma.net you need to be aware of the following information.

Test record editing: TMS participants can now edit registration information and test data, for their own lab only. This is available from the 'List Registrations' option on the page menu, choose 'View' then 'Modify Test'. The system will record who made the last change and when.

Laboratory and instrument ID’s: On selecting a test type, users will see their own lab code for this test on the page, together with a list of authorised instrument ID’s. If you need to add to or amend this list, then please contact TMS Support at cec-tma@pdcnet.org.uk.

Data input spreadsheet: Please use Excel 2003 or later with the data input spreadsheet. Previous versions of Excel should not be used.

CEC Help Desk

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