How to distinguish real motor oil from a fake?

How to distinguish a fake from the original motor oil?

Initially, before conducting any experiments at home to determine authenticity, we recommend taking a closer look at the packaging, canister, and label. You can tell a lot about oil by looking at the canister.

Instructions on how to distinguish a fake from an original motor oil:

• Well-known companies use plastic for these purposes, and most often it is silver in color, with a uniform tint. If it is a fake, then most often traces of soldering and gluing of the two halves of the canister are visible, that is, the seam, while the ebb and shine of the canister may be uneven in different places.
• Sometimes there is translucent material, or the thickness of the canister is not the same in different areas. A lot of attention needs to be paid to the lid. Original oils are closed with caps with antennae, which are simply soldered to the ring. Therefore, you won’t be able to simply remove the cover.
• Try turning the canister over. If this is original oil, then liquid will not drip. Very often in fakes this ring is not attached to the lid, so the oil can drip and leak. Pay attention to the canister and how dry it is.

Missing date

What you need to pay attention to

In order to distinguish an original from a fake, you should pay attention to the following external signs:

• marking;
• cover color and configuration;
• fixing ring;
• protective film;
• label printing;
• canister casting.

Verifying the authenticity of Shell oil begins with inspection of the container and product labeling. Every car owner is interested in how to spot a fake. After all, damage from poor-quality lubrication leads to malfunctions of the power unit, and sometimes can completely damage it. Old-style Shell Helix canisters can be found in retail chains and at service stations. A mandatory condition for labeling is the date of release of the product. New design canisters appeared on the market 2 years ago. The shelf life of the brand's motor fluid is 5 years. Therefore, on the packaging of the familiar old version, the date of manufacture cannot be recent. Such a lubricant was produced no later than 2 years ago. If you find oil from a recent production date in an old package, rest assured: this is a fake Shell.

Next, you should pay attention to the lid of the canister. The original Shell Helix product uses high quality plastic for packaging. The color of the lid should not differ even by a slight shade from the main color of the canister material.

Upon inspection, the retaining ring looks like a continuation of the lid; when opened, it is easily separated and has no defects.

As for the protective film, there is no need to worry if you do not find it when opening the canister. It may be missing, and this is not a sign of a counterfeit Shell Helix product. The presence or absence of film depends on the lot number of the product and the country in which the product was produced.

If there is a film, then it should be perfectly smooth, not wrinkled, white, and dense. Motor oil manufactured in the Russian Federation in Torzhok until 2012 was produced without a protective membrane.

Next, we study the printing of the label. The PurePlus Technology logo on a well-printed, high-quality label is made using mirror coating. If there is no mirror effect, such a product casts doubt on the authenticity of the product. All inscriptions must be clear and easy to read.

The label on the back of the canister of the original product is two-layered, with the top layer easily peeling off without leaving any adhesive marks.

Pay attention to how the canister is molded. The plastic must be smooth and free of sagging, chips and sharp corners. In a word, the molding of the container must be done with high quality, the seams must be welded flawlessly. The Shell line of motor oils is available in canisters of three colors: blue, light gray, grey. The plastic is relatively soft and pliable when pressed. The structure of the material has metallic inclusions. The canister is not transparent when viewed through light; it is not possible to see the liquid level. Counterfeit canisters can sometimes differ in size: their base is slightly wider than the original container.

The bottom of the original container is distinguished by the presence of transverse flattened ovals. The fakes have a smooth bottom with a seam in the middle. Products produced in Russia are additionally marked “not for food”. European products do not have it.

We looked at how to distinguish a fake from real branded Shell oil by visual inspection. The authenticity of the composition can only be determined in special laboratories.

How to distinguish motor oil from a fake by packaging?

If there are traces of oil, it is most likely a fake. Well-known manufacturers print the company name on the lid and ring, and this is done in such a way that half of the inscription remains on the lid and half on the belt.

Instructions on how to distinguish motor oil from a fake by packaging:

1. Accordingly, when unscrewing, removing the cover, re-soldering to these places is quite problematic. Of course, a lot of attention should be paid to the label. Well-known manufacturers are experimenting with color, maybe even a gradient or gradual color transition. This does not happen with fakes, and the packaging is very simple, so as not to fool your head.
2. Don’t be fooled and don’t try to buy a huge amount of oil if you see it at a discount. Well-known motor oil manufacturers almost never offer 20-30% discounts. Most likely it's a fake. The maximum that even large manufacturers of auto chemicals can offer is a 5-7% discount. Therefore, too low a price should alert you. Under no circumstances should you buy this oil in reserve.
3. Please note the date of manufacture. Usually they indicate not only the month, but also the exact time. Take a close look at the inscriptions, they should not be the same. This applies to the date, as well as the number, series and lot.
4. If all the digits of the number, series, batch are the same, most likely you are looking at a fake. And, of course, you need to pay attention to how the car behaves after filling in the new product. If in the cold season it slips and the engine starts very difficult, then most likely you bought a fake. The motor oil that is most often counterfeited is made from regular synthetic or mineral oil and contains minimal or no additives.

Counterfeit packaging

Where to buy non-counterfeit motor oil?

The main characteristic of such an oil is an increase in viscosity at low temperatures, and an increase in fluidity with increasing heat. Accordingly, in the hot season, the oil will flow, so its thickness and viscosity will not be enough to lubricate all surfaces and parts in the engine. If this is the case in winter, then the car simply will not start because the oil will freeze or become very thick and viscous, which will interfere with the normal operation of all systems and components of the car.

Where to buy non-counterfeit motor oil:

• Buy goods in large stores and official distributor networks. Do not hesitate to ask the seller for a certificate, as well as documents confirming that they cooperate with a specific motor oil manufacturer.
• All this is officially documented with the conclusion of an appropriate agreement. You can ask on the website of the motor oil manufacturer which chain stores they cooperate with. If the small store where you want to purchase the product is not on the list, most likely they sell fakes and counterfeits. Now, indeed, many workshops have been discovered that produce so-called burnt motor oil, which does not meet the specifications and standards. Thanks to the use of such oil, all machine parts very quickly fail, which leads to breakdown.
• A lot can be said from the hologram, as well as the sticker, which are on the lid. Well-known manufacturers always seal the lid with a label, which prevents the canister from being opened and replaced with a counterfeit one.

Goods for cars

How to distinguish Mobile motor oil from a fake by packaging?

Manufacturers who develop chemicals for cars often allow oil to be checked for authenticity. This can be done using special applications. Cans containing goods have a QR code that can be checked using the appropriate program in the mobile application. You will be able to find out the batch number, as well as the exact date and time of production of such oil. This allows you to find out with one hundred percent probability that you did not purchase a fake, but a real product.

This product is of very high quality, and the company produces a huge amount of car cosmetics. You can easily spot a fake by its packaging.

How to distinguish Mobile motor oil from a fake, instructions:

• There should be a watering can on the lid
• Under the sticker on the back there is an arrow, and under it the following sticker
• There is an inscription on the seam at the bottom of the container with the exact date and time of manufacture
• The plastic is completely opaque and abrasion resistant. There are no scratches on it
• Under the lid there is a skirt of the same color

Goods for cars

Checking oil for counterfeit

A car enthusiast I know once complained that he bought oil from a well-known brand at a car store, which was not cheap. As a result, the consumption increased, the pressure began to drop and very soon it thickened on the dipstick. Unfortunately, modern technical means make it possible to fake literally everything. Automotive oil is no exception. No matter how the manufacturers manage to protect their product, the “craftsmen” find a loophole and drown their good name, frame them.

Autoparus experts advise - trust, but verify!

Now we are talking only about branded oils; they all have not only special protective elements, but also features of the packaging (canister) itself. Every self-respecting car owner today uses special mobile applications to verify the authenticity of products. Many brands have developed their own applications, but the most important thing is that they all have a special option on their brand websites to check the originality of their products (links are on the packaging). In any case, get a QR code counter on your smartphone; you can’t live without it today.

About protection methods A number of companies have chosen the most common protection method today by reading a QR code, which will take you to the same verification page. Then you need to enter the 16-digit code from the end of the package and the like. The instructions are always attached next to the same code. The most expensive ones went further and introduced protective tape. It is located on the packaging in a place that catches the eye, often next to the lid. Protected by a special layer that must be wiped off. Below it will be the necessary code to enter on the verification site.

• Features of the label Top brands try to make the label not only distinctive, but also with security elements. Shell, for example, has part of the front label that is mirrored and shimmers. Many top oil labels have holograms. It could be a droplet, like Shell, or a lock, like Kastrol. The image on the hologram changes its color. Mobil has a number of elements on its label that react to ultraviolet light (like money). However, this is also written on the packaging itself, just pay attention to these elements.

• Features of the container The canister can also tell how much real oil is inside it. Here manufacturers choose different paths. For example, the top cap on a Mobil canister has a triangle from the factory solder.

• Summary The most important thing is that you use all those determination methods, and not then grumble at the manufacturers. Five minutes of checking will save nerves, money and the health of the engine. Read the instructions on the package!

Mobil motor oil, how to distinguish a fake by QR code?

In 2020, Mobile developed a new level of protection, as well as a way to distinguish a fake from an original using new technologies. Almost every user and car owner has a mobile phone on which a QR code analyzer has been downloaded. This is a special application that can be downloaded from the Play Store. It helps to determine all information about a product using a special code, which is located in the form of squares and raised dots. Mobile companies also took care of their customers and developed protection for their products. You can determine whether it is original or fake using two methods. You need to point the camera at the QR code and get a response.

If all the numbers match, you will receive complete information about the product and confirmation of its quality. There is another way you can check the product by going to the Mobile website. ru original. You need to enter the 12 numbers that are located under the QR code, under the label. Next, you need to compare the placement of the colored strokes that are obtained on the page and the metal dots applied to the canister itself.

If the image matches, you have a completely original product. Please note that the check should be carried out while connected to the Internet. If there is no Internet, unfortunately, you will not be able to check the authenticity of the product. At the moment, not all companies can boast of such multi-level protection. But manufacturers strive to improve, so they are inventing new ways to distinguish real products from fakes.

Original and fake

How to check the authenticity of Total oils by packaging

Often, just by the packaging itself, you can determine that this is an illegally manufactured product, since it differs from the original one. But it should be taken into account that the situation here is constantly changing, as counterfeit manufacturers respond to incriminating materials published in the public domain. Therefore, information on how to distinguish original Total oil from a fake should be regularly updated.

Today in the trading network you can find counterfeits, which can be identified by the following characteristics:

1. On the label, the inscription 10W40 is made in a noticeably different font (small letters instead of capital letters), there are other differences, for example, the presence of an inscription under the number 5 in the lower right corner of the label.
2. In the 2016/2017 fake, there are three stripes at the bottom of the plastic canister, which, firstly, do not reach the side edges of the package, and secondly, are located almost close to each other. The original has much wider stripes and reaches the edge of the bottom.
3. You can also identify a fake by the lid. If you look closely, the original has a beveled edge that is polished and differs from the rough top; the fake has the same bevel as the lid itself. In addition, with real oil the cap does not fit tightly with the neck; there is a small but clearly visible gap. A counterfeit product does not have such a gap.
4. Finally, the transition of the corner edge in the original canister is about 3 mm thick, while in the fake it is noticeably wider - about 7 mm.

This information may be out of date when you read this article, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful. There is simply a possibility that new signs will appear by which the authenticity of Total oil can be determined.

Total 7000 Energy 10W40

You shouldn’t rely on the QR code either - scammers have long learned to fake it too.

Fake Toyota motor oil - how to distinguish?

Japanese cars are sensitive to changes in oil quality and can quickly respond to the use of a counterfeit by breaking down. It can be difficult to distinguish an original from a fake, but it is possible.

Fake Toyota engine oil, how to distinguish:

1. The lid is not smooth, but rough with instructions on how to open
2. Presence of the exact manufacturing address on the packaging. There should be an inscription: Made in EU and Italy is nearby. If the country of origin is France, it is a fake. There is no Toyota production in this country
3. Smooth plastic without defects and seam gluing
4. Do a freeze test. After 2 hours in the freezer, the original product practically does not change its viscosity. The fake becomes thick and viscous

Toyota oil

Counterfeit Shell motor oil, how to distinguish

Shell motor oil is usually packaged in cans of different colors, depending on the type and purpose of the product. However, almost all of them have signs by which they can be distinguished from fakes.

How to distinguish counterfeit Shell motor oil:

• Cover and ring. Between the lid and the ring there should be bridges the thickness of a human hair. When opening the canister, the ring must remain on the neck, and the lid is removed. If you managed to remove the ring along with the lid, this is a fake.
• The second sign of identifying the originality of the oil is the logo with the image of the piston. It is made of shiny holographic paper, which is very difficult to counterfeit. Therefore, you will almost never see this logo with a piston in fakes.
• The third way to distinguish the original from the counterfeit is the presence of a double sticker on the back of the canister. You can easily remove it and read what is written underneath it. This is not the case with fakes. Usually people who counterfeit oil do not bother with such subtleties. That is why there is a single sticker that cannot be removed and is firmly glued to the container.

Shell oil

What canisters of Shell oils are available in today?

Since September 2020, Shell motor oils began to be produced in new 1 and 4 liter canisters. They come in three colors: blue for semi-synthetic, gray for HX8 synthetic and gold for Ultra synthetic.

The new shape of the canisters prevents the appearance of abrasions on the labels and has a more comfortable ergonomic handle.

The front labels of modern containers indicate the technologies used to produce Shell oils: Shell PurePlus, Flexi Molecules and Active Cleansing.

The biggest changes are in the design of the anti-counterfeiting sticker on the canister lids.

In accordance with modern visual protection technology, stickers now contain a 3D image of a drop, visible from different viewing angles. The shape of the sticker itself, as well as the procedure for checking Shell products for originality, have remained unchanged.

How to recognize fake Liqui Moly motor oil

Unfortunately, the Liqui Moly company did not provide any holograms or protection that can be used to distinguish a fake. However, it is still quite possible to do this.

How to recognize counterfeit Liqui Moly motor oil:

• Pay attention to the lid, it is always black, since the manufacturer does not make products with other lid colors.
• The lid is a special watering can with which you can pour the product into the car. If this watering can is not there, this is a fake. Unscrupulous people who produce the product in artisanal conditions most often buy empty cans and pour cheap types of oil into them.
• However, in this case, traces of opening and use of the canister will be visible. They often re-glue stickers in order to make the product more expensive, passing off a cheap option as an expensive one. However, in this case, the junction of the old and new stickers, as well as abrasions on the canister, will be visible. Be sure to pay attention to the date of manufacture, it is usually stamped at the bottom and is difficult to fake.

Liquid moths
A chemical laboratory can tell with a 100% guarantee that this is a fake. However, in some cases, the cost of the analysis itself is several times higher than the product, so not every buyer will be able to afford it. However, you can safely demand quality certificates from the seller, as well as a supply agreement with the engine oil manufacturer.

In large chains that directly cooperate with the manufacturer, the price is competitive, sometimes there are discounts, but not very high up to 7%. In addition, there are a number of necessary documents, and the product range is constantly updated. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask stores for documentation, as well as papers that confirm the quality of the products and the existence of agreements between the seller and the manufacturer.