News about arrests tied to underground workshops that churn out counterfeit motor oil keeps surfacing with alarming regularity. The workshops are shut down, convictions handed down, yet the question remains: how many counterfeit bottles have found their way into the market before the crackdown? This discussion focuses on reducing the risk of buying counterfeit oil within the community on VKontakte.
Manufacturers continually test new ways to verify authenticity. Some oil cans carry a QR code. A patented app can be downloaded onto a smartphone to scan the code and provide a manufacturer’s confirmation of the product’s genuineness. How reliable is such a system in practice? Doubts persist among observers who track counterfeit activity.
In some cases the process becomes more robust. Each scan may trigger a counter showing how many times the product has already been checked. A single or double check may involve an intermediary or a reseller, which is not inherently alarming. But if the counter shows many dozens of scans, that can be a warning sign that the product is likely counterfeit.
Another solid strategy is to buy from official suppliers. If a brand has been chosen, the next step is to visit the official website and look up a list of authorized distributors in the shopper’s city. Purchasing from these sources reduces risk and improves confidence in product quality.
What else helps to fight counterfeit oil?
Readers contributed additional suggestions in the comments, offering practical steps to protect themselves from counterfeit purchases. The following ideas reflect common sense and experience.
- “Consider buying from large supermarket chains. Big networks order in large quantities and work directly with authorized suppliers. This approach often yields lower prices and greater assurance against fakes.”
- “I once bought oil and noticed packaging flaws that indicated a fake. The oil traveled far, far beyond typical routes, and after switching to a genuine product, performance returned to normal. Look for uneven seams, glue where there should be a seal, and other packaging anomalies.”
- “When comparing viscosity classes such as 5w-40 or 10w-40, a simple test can reveal falsification. Pour a sample into a glass and place it in the freezer. If it behaves like normal oil and remains liquid, the base is likely synthetic or semi-synthetic. If it thickens or behaves like jelly, suspicion should rise.”
- “If the product is already in the engine, counterfeit oils may show indirect signs. The oil can appear unusually light, not darkening as expected. There may be cloudiness or sediment, inconsistent texture around the filler hole, or a dipstick showing uneven transparency. A pressure gauge may reveal lower readings, and the engine might sound slightly labored under load.”
- Modern low-viscosity oils can improve engine performance and fuel efficiency, but they are not suitable for every engine or operating condition.
- Information about oil brands and safety notes can be found through official channels and consumer guidance resources in widely used social platforms.