When car manufacturers’ recommended motor oils suddenly became scarce, many drivers faced high prices, with retail refills costing around two thousand rubles per liter. The oils on offer often come from foreign manufacturers who have halted supplies to Russia or closed their local factories, narrowing the available options for motorists inside the country.
This situation raises a practical question: which oils can be used without risking engine damage? Should the choice fall to Russian brands, Korean oils, or Chinese products?
Russia has long produced oils across multiple quality classes, including formulations suitable for the latest engines. Yet many drivers ignored these options, fixating on what was just labeled as recommended. The underlying reality is that many oils within the same class share a common base and the same additive packages, often sourced from the same suppliers.
Thus, selecting oil becomes a straightforward task. The key is simply to know the grade recommended for a specific engine and to choose a product on the shelf that matches that grade and viscosity. Brand appears less critical than meeting the exact technical specifications.
For example, consider a Hyundai Solaris configured with ACEA A3 and a viscosity of 5W-30. That specification does not limit the choice to Shell, which can cost roughly 13,000 rubles for a four-liter can. A similar option is offered by Lukoil Genesis, a four-liter container priced below 4,000 rubles. Other Russian manufacturers such as Gazprom Neft with their G-Energy line, or Rosneft and Tatneft, provide products that meet the same grade and viscosity. The crucial point is that the oil must align with the recommended standard and the desired viscosity. The engine itself will not notice a difference in most everyday driving conditions.
Mikhail Kolodochkin, a longtime contributor to Za Rulem, the country’s oldest and most authoritative automotive publication, notes that even the most respected oil specialists acknowledge a wide range of performance similarities across major brands within the same class. Differences exist, but they are often so subtle that even seasoned experts may struggle to quantify them. In practice, one brand can be substituted for another without causing harm, provided the core specifications are honored.
In similar fashion, the mindset among experienced technicians is practical: if a topping-up is needed on the road and the exact preferred product is unavailable, use what is immediately accessible, ensuring the oil is of the current generation and suitable for the engine’s needs. The wise course is not to attempt a complete engine teardown after a roadside top-up but to visit a service center for a full oil change when feasible.