Imitation engine lubricants are a cancer in automotive aftersales. Well maybe it’s more akin to Covid; an endemic. It’ isn’t going anywhere and we’ll have to learn to live with it but that doesn’t mean we can’t be careful to reduce our chances of catching it.

That said, The Honda Guys channel on YouTube worked together with Honda dealer Ban Lee Heng Motor in Seremban to raise awareness on the imitation parts out there and how to easily tell them apart so you don’t get ripped off.

You might remember Ban Lee Heng Motor as the diehard Honda dealer with quite a collection of Type-R performance machinery in their stable.

Also Read: Seremban’s Ban Lee Heng Motor – A tale of Honda’s DNA across 3 generations

In this episode, Vijay from The Honda Guys takes us through the tell-tale signs of imitation engine oil and filter being passed off as genuine Honda items.

The first and probably the most noticeable giveaway is the printing quality of the sticker on the front of the bottle. Its images aren’t as sharp.

Also Read: Over 80 Honda Type Rs graced the opening of Ban Lee Heng’s new 3S showroom in Melaka

Next up is the colour of the cap. You can see in the photos that the red is a little duller on the imitation bottle. Furthermore, the authentic bottle has the Honda wording on the cap offset from the middle while the fake one has the word in the middle.

Lastly, you can see from the pour test that the lubricant itself is vastly different in terms of viscosity and colour. The imitation lubricant is thicker while the authentic oil is less viscous.

Also Read: Out of new Hondas to sell, this Seremban dealer is turned into a Type R museum!

That last factor alone should be all the warning you need to avoid using imitation oil at all costs. Running your engine on these lubricants of unknown provenance can cause serious damage to the engine internals.

If that does happen, your warranty will be voided for using imitation parts.

Also Read: Honda Malaysia introduces a new grade of engine oil to keep your VTEC well lubed

Even the oil filter isn’t spared. Although a little harder to differentiate as compared to the lubricants, the two most telling signs of an imitation oil filter is the physical size of it and the different shade of blue on the exterior.

Using an imitation oil filter could lead to improper filtration of residue in the oil, in turn causing contaminants to damage or deposit on the engine internals.

Also Read: Are you using the WRONG engine oil for your car?

It goes without saying that using imitation lubricants and filter turns your engine into a ticking timebomb.

Always send your car to authorised dealers to get them serviced. Alternatively, you can ensure you’re purchasing original Honda lubricants, filters and other parts by ge tting them from Ban Lee Heng’s official online store on Lazada and Shopee.

An interesting fact shared by the host during the video also states that you can bring your Honda bought from a grey importer into authorised Honda service centres for simple maintenance jobs or scheduled maintenance.