Avoiding the lube lies...

Continuing our look into fakes, Rob Marshall examines both engine oils and supplemental additives to see how the lubrication industry is treating the issue

Most garages are aware of just how sensitive modern engines are to the correct oil but getting it right is not always straightforward. Yet, technician efforts are in vain, if the market is flooded with fakes, or those that do not meet the specifications claimed.

Addressing the former point first: counterfeit lubricants exist. Motul has found that one-to-five-litre packs are the most affected by scammers. It elaborates that, while some counterfeit lubricants wear poorly copied packaging and labelling, some of them are not so obvious. Inside, cheaper and poorer quality base oil can be used, which has no hope of meeting the car manufacturer's requirements.

Liqui Moly finds that counterfeit lubrication formulations can deviate widely from those made to the correct specification. Aside from inferior base oil, low-grade additives can cause serious mechanical harm. It also points out that using pirated oil leads to the loss of the vehicle warranty. This is relevant, because many warranty companies hire specialist oil laboratories that can evaluate samples very quickly.

What is counterfeit engine oil?

The VLS confirms that, while anything is possible, counterfeit engine oil is likely to be used lubricant that has been repackaged and presented as a new product, which is unsuitable for its stated application. It could also be lesser-spec oil that is presented with a premium specification. Alternatively, virgin base oil could be blended with a sub-standard additive pack, or no additives used at all.