How to tell real and fake engine oils in the market

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has raised alarm over an influx of counterfeit engine oil in the country.

Counterfeit engine oils are often packed in original bottles that are refilled with fake oil, or in copycat bottles making it difficult for most people to tell whether the product is legitimate or not.

This leaves many motorists susceptible to the risk of malfunctioning engines and failing machinery.

Since completely abandoning the use of vehicles is out of the question, all motorists can do is to ensure that the engine oil they purchase is original and that it offers necessary protection and enhances the  vehicle's overall performance.

Here are six elements that can help you distinguish between an original engine oil and a counterfeit one:

Colour: Genuine engine oils are usually golden and transparent, free of impurities, sediments and suspended matters of all kind. Fake oil is usually much darker and repeated use will make it less uniform in appearance.

Smell: New oil does not have any special smell while fake oil often has a suffocating and pungent smell. If the engine oil has a burnt smell when you open the packaging, it is most probably counterfeit.

Feel: Fake engine oil is often thick and full of impurities and sediments. Its turbulent flow is also poor and is it not as delicate to the touch when compared to its legitimate counterparts.

Weight: Owing to the presence of impurities and sediments in fake oils, counterfeits are usually much heavier than legitimate ones. You can test this out when you change your engine oil. When you drain the used oil from your vehicle you can collect it in a bottle whose quantity volume is the same as the fresh oil you will put into your vehicle. You should feel a difference.

Packaging: Make sure the packaging does not have strange inscriptions on it. The labels and caps of the oil containers must match the original ones to the last detail. 

Viscosity: This element must be taken into consideration especially by experienced users who have previously used the same type of oil. If you notice a change in the consistency (viscosity) of the oil when you do an oil change, double-check its origin.