How to Identify Genuine Engine Oil?
2 Answers
There are many methods to identify genuine engine oil. The following is a detailed analysis and introduction: 1. Check the anti-counterfeiting code: Look at the anti-counterfeiting code on the barrel. The anti-counterfeiting code on genuine engine oil barrels is very clear. Fake engine oil may not have an anti-counterfeiting code, and even if it does, it is likely to be blurry and easy to rub off. 2. Check the oil cap: The outer edge of a genuine oil cap is usually neat and flat, and the sealing cap is a one-time cap. If the oil cap is rough and there is no "pull-tab" seal at the opening, but instead it can be directly twisted open, it is likely to be refilled oil. 3. Check the material and workmanship of the oil barrel: Genuine products have complete material and workmanship with clear printing, while counterfeit products often have burrs and feel uneven to the touch. 4. Smell the odor and feel the viscosity: Genuine oil has a light smell, with a slight fragrance like crystal wax; fake oil has a strong and irritating odor. For oils of the same viscosity grade, the viscosity feels low at room temperature, while inferior oil feels sticky and may exhibit a stringy phenomenon when touched by hand.
I'm totally qualified to speak on this – I got scammed last year! Fake engine oil packaging can be super convincing, but the devil's in the details: Genuine bottles have perfectly smooth serrated cap edges, while fakes feel jagged. When you twist open the cap, authentic ones have a one-time breakable sealing ring. Real oil has a faint burnt aroma, whereas adulterated versions either lack odor or smell suspiciously fragrant. Here's my freezer test trick – authentic oil maintains good low-temperature fluidity without solidifying, while fakes turn into lard paste within two hours. Pro tip: Always scratch off official anti-counterfeit labels and scan the QR code twice – even barcodes can be faked with high precision nowadays!
