How many kilometers will it take for fake engine oil to show effects?
3 Answers
How many kilometers will it take for fake engine oil to show effects mainly depends on the degree of its counterfeit nature. With particularly fake engine oil, you can immediately notice a decrease in engine power, increased noise, and higher fuel consumption compared to before. Below is some relevant information about fake engine oil: 1. Identification methods: (1) Check the packaging: Genuine engine oil containers are well-made, without rough edges or protruding seams. (2) Consider the price: Genuine engine oil usually has a standardized price, and even if it fluctuates, the difference won't be significant. 2. Hazards: (1) Fake engine oil lacks a sufficiently thick oil film to prevent component wear, leading to accelerated engine wear and continuous problems. (2) Fake engine oil fails to aid in heat dissipation, easily causing dry friction and resulting in engine overheating. (3) Fake engine oil has poor cleaning performance, unable to clean the engine, which can quickly accumulate carbon deposits, sludge, and other contaminants.
The harm of counterfeit engine oil does vary in reaction time from person to person, but based on the cases I've observed, symptoms usually start to show after driving 200-300 kilometers. At this point, you may notice increased engine noise, a sluggish throttle response, and inexplicably higher fuel consumption. Continuing to drive for about 1,000 kilometers becomes particularly risky—the oil pressure warning light could activate at any moment, and during repairs, visible scoring on the piston rings is often found. A friend once changed oil at a roadside stall, and by the fifth highway rest stop, the engine completely failed; upon disassembly, it was full of sludge and metal shavings. The critical issue is that counterfeit oil lacks any lubricating or protective capability—every additional kilometer driven accelerates engine wear.
Thinking back on using counterfeit engine oil still gives me chills. I opted for a cheap no-name brand oil to save money, and within just over 400 kilometers, something felt off – the engine rattled like a tractor during cold starts, and the tachometer jumped erratically during acceleration. By 700 kilometers, the oil pressure warning light suddenly lit up on the dashboard, and when I opened the oil cap, I smelled a burnt odor. The mechanic said these fakes might contain recycled or low-quality base oils that can't handle high temperatures and pressures, especially under heavy loads like climbing hills with the AC on in summer, which can destroy an engine in no time. He advised always checking anti-counterfeit codes when buying oil, rather than regretting it after thousands of kilometers.
