Do you think motor oil counterfeiting is going on?

[WMSmotorhead]

I read the lawsuit from Citgo about the bulk oil bearing Citgo's name but not being their stuff.

Do you guys think this is happening elsewhere? Or should I be suspicious when I see my brand oil on sale at the closeout store?

 

[CATERHAM]

I don't recall ever seeing it happen with bottled oil. In fact is you by the oil at a major retail outlet I'd say the odds of it happening are nil.

 

[Oregoonian]

I read that story as well.....and have had the same thoughts....especially with oil-change places (Jiffy-Lube and others).... as well as the dealerships.

 

[Garak]

Yep, bulk oil - certainly possible. Then again, there are enough garbage, uncertified bulk oils out there already.

It's a lot greater investment of time and money to get boxes and bottles right.

 

[Donald]

I would say no. I think manufacturers like Mobil 1 and Pennzoil look for counterfeit oil and go after it. Walmart is big enough to buy directly from the manufacturer. So unless a trucker is switching it en-route I would again say no.

 

[LeakySeals]

The refineries have strict EPA regulations and tightly monitored distribution logs. Sames goes for the distributors. No way to get hold of somebody else oil in bulk without raising a flag.

 

[dave1251]

I am sure it happens. Just like there is counterfeiting in other industries but I do not believe it would happen in the same area for long. Also I agree oil companies are on the look out and ready to bring down the hammer but nothing is perfect. But getting your favorite motor oil brand by case or 5qt jug, I would not worry very much about.

 

[dave1251]

Also if you are suspicious contact the tech line of your favorite brand of motor oil. There is some numbers under the quart bottle or 5qt jug this is the batch number of the oil and the tech line can confirm that what you are buying is indeed what you think it it.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead

Do you guys think this is happening elsewhere?


Be more worried that an quickie-lube is not putting in the same brand that the customer thinks he/she is purchasing. Years ago, I used to work at a place where it would happen, although in my case the customer wasn't getting a bad oil, just not the oil they thought they were getting. Dealerships also purchase different brands when buying several thousand gallons of a bulk purchase. I've seen that happen also.

 

[Nightmare]

Wonder if people who pay for a semi or full syn oil at some quick lubes, actually get it? 7 years ago, ( last time I let someone else change my oil,) I watched the tech get a jug, pump the oil from the drum, then bring it over to fill. Sometimes they use a gun to pump it from a drum. But do you really know what grade you are getting?

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
I read the lawsuit from Citgo about the bulk oil bearing Citgo's name but not being their stuff.

Do you guys think this is happening elsewhere? Or should I be suspicious when I see my brand oil on sale at the closeout store?


In the first part of your post, you cite a case of apparently deliberate misrepresentation.
WRT actual conterfeiting of retail size packages, like quarts or jugs, I kind of doubt it.
It seems like it would involve an awful lot of trouble and expense that could only pay off if the malafactors were able to achieve considerable volume in selling their product prior to being detected.
Now, there are some local markets in the world where I could see this happening.
I don't think that its likely in this country, though.
Most of the knock-off stuff sold here is of considerably higher unit value and profit than motor oil.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead

Do you guys think this is happening elsewhere?


Be more worried that an quickie-lube is not putting in the same brand that the customer thinks he/she is purchasing. Years ago, I used to work at a place where it would happen, although in my case the customer wasn't getting a bad oil, just not the oil they thought they were getting. Dealerships also purchase different brands when buying several thousand gallons of a bulk purchase. I've seen that happen also.
Originally Posted By: Nightmare
Wonder if people who pay for a semi or full syn oil at some quick lubes, actually get it? 7 years ago, ( last time I let someone else change my oil,) I watched the tech get a jug, pump the oil from the drum, then bring it over to fill. Sometimes they use a gun to pump it from a drum. But do you really know what grade you are getting?



x2.

There has been bad oil sold before. A few recent EPA tests showed oil out of spec, wrong quantities of additives, etc etc.

Buy name brand and don't worry about anything.

 

[daves87rs]

Not likely...

 

[Kruse]

If it is happening, I would imagine the company with their name on the label would try to keep it quiet. I mean, who would want to tell the world that the oil inside the bottle that has their name on it is counterfeit?

 

[dave1251]

I think the biggest threat is the counterfeit API symbols that some low quality blenders put on their bottles.

 

[Cristobal]

It's a pretty slippery subject, but I bet that slick operators are doing this right about now.

 

[Shannow]

If there's money to be made, then there's counterfeit...

Counterfeit Wini Reds make it to the stores, there's undoubtedly counterfeit oil...well provably, with used oil sold as new.

 

[chad8]

It took me 10 minutes to find out what a wini red is.
Counterfit oil. NO. label switching and selling cheap bulk oil as name brand oil... certainly.
We are talking about places with low profit margins run by tar sand peddlers.

 

[Garak]

A retailer is lucky to make $12 off of a case of 12 quarts/litres of oil. Walmart uses oil as a loss leader. It's not like a Rolex watch's markup.

Outside of bulk oil, I don't see the incentive to marketing counterfeit oil. It would be cheaper and less risky to sell garbage oil under one's own label. There, one only faces action from the API and PQIA, along with some states' consumer affairs branches.

Counterfeiting a major brand? I wouldn't want to be the one facing a lawsuit from XOM, SOPUS, BP, or any of the other big players for counterfeiting their product.

 

[Kestas]

I don't doubt there's counterfeiting with oil. I suspect it's happening more in third world countries than here, especially since the price of oil is quite high elsewhere around the world. It's just not worth counterfeiting here in the USA with the low price of motor oil.