![Over 30 percent of engine oils sold in hypermarts and online stores are fake 01]()
The prices of engine lubricants sold at hypermarts or even various online platforms can be attractive but unless you can verify its authenticity – which is quite difficult if you rely only on visual inspections – it is best to avoid them.
The issue of counterfeit lubricants is not new but it remains rampant due to indifference among consumers, as well as weak enforcement.
According to lab test by Shell Malaysia, using 12 randomly selected engine lubricant products purchased from hypermarkets and online stores, 4 were found to be fake.
It’s not difficult to understand how things can go very wrong when you pour counterfeit lubricants – many of which are recycled – into your engine.
Visually, there’s no easy way to identify a genuine lubricant product versus a counterfeit one. Even the so-called genuine labels or cap design can be easily duplicated.
Shell has a QR code affixed on the packaging of all its lubricant products but what about lubricants made by other brands?
The only foolproof method of ensuring that the product that you are paying for is a genuine item is to buy from authorized dealers.
The easiest is to buy from petrol stations as you can be sure that lubricants sold there are genuine. However this only works if you are buying Shell or Petronas brand lubricants.
For brands that don’t operate any petrol stations, like Castrol for example, then it is best that you locate the nearest authorized dealer from Castrol Malaysia’s website.
If you online shopping is your thing, then stick to the official stores. Brands like Shell, Petronas, Liqui Moly, Mobil, Total Oil, operate official online stores at Lazada’s LazMall. Never buy any lubricant products from an unauthorized third party. In fact, one shouldn’t buy any safety-related automotive parts from unauthorized resellers.
If you send your car to an independent third-party workshop for maintenance, it is best that you bring your own lubricants and parts, unless you trust the workshop enough that it uses only genuine parts and lubricants. Otherwise, stick to an authorised service centre for your car.
