How to Distinguish Genuine from Fake Engine Oil?
2 Answers
Methods to identify genuine engine oil: 1. Check the bottle cap: Ensure the seal is intact without any damage to effectively prevent counterfeit oil in genuine bottles; 2. Observe the appearance: Carefully examine if the oil appears excessively dark, cloudy, or contains impurities; 3. Smell the oil: Genuine qualified engine oil should have no noticeable odor; 4. Feel the texture: Genuine qualified engine oil should feel slightly oily to the touch without any stringiness; 5. Verify anti-counterfeit features. Engine oil, motor oil, or engine lubricant is a substance enhanced with additives in base oil, primarily containing anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, and multi-grade oil viscosity index improvers. Engine oil is used for lubricating internal combustion engines, with its main functions being to reduce friction and wear of moving parts and to remove sludge and varnish from the engine.
I used to always get tricked by fake engine oil, but later I learned a few tricks. Mainly, start with the packaging: genuine oil has clear and intact labels on the can, the anti-counterfeit coating can be scratched off to verify the code, and scanning the official QR code can check authenticity. Don’t skimp on price—legitimate brands like Shell and Castrol cost over 100 yuan, and anything below 50 yuan is usually suspicious. Open the bottle and smell it: genuine oil has a slight sweet scent, while fake oil smells pungent or like gasoline. Also, pour a little oil on paper to see how it spreads; genuine oil spreads slowly and evenly, while fake oil spreads quickly or leaves residue. Shake the bottle—genuine oil has moderate fluidity; if it’s too thin or too thick, it’s likely fake. Remember to only buy from authorized stores or large supermarkets—it saves a lot of hassle. Regularly check your engine oil condition; if you feel sluggish acceleration or high fuel consumption, check the oil quality immediately to avoid engine damage and extend its lifespan.
