25-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Fake engine oil will cause real, long-lasting damage
KUALA LUMPUR: Many vehicle owners buy fake engine oil to save money.
Low-quality engine oil, sold for as little as RM50, has shortened engine lifespans.
Some vehicle repair workshop owners collude with syndicates, selling fake engine oil to unsuspecting consumers.
A source from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said engine oil is crucial for smooth operation and engine longevity.
"However, many consumers remain unaware that counterfeit engine oil on the market can damage engines over time.
"Low prices attract buyers, exposing them to this scam.
"As a result, some retailers sell fake engine oil or oil that does not meet established standards.
"This was evident when authorities raided a syndicate in Klang Valley last April that was bottling counterfeit oil made to resemble popular brands."
The source said the syndicate is believed to be operating on a large scale, with three premises in Ara Damansara and Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Twenty-six members of the syndicate were arrested, and fake engine oil worth millions of ringgit was seized.
Investigations revealed that the counterfeit oil was being advertised online and distributed through workshops.
Authorities found the premises bottling oil using fake labels mimicking major brands.
The syndicate is believed to have been processing the fake oil itself, as evidenced by the discovery of drums of oil and fake labels. The oil may have been used, filtered and repackaged.
"The fake oil was sold below market prices via social media and workshop distribution.
"The syndicate had been operating for two to three years.
Previously, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the ministry had seized fake engine oil worth RM1.15 million between January 2019 and February this year.
He said a new order was introduced under the Trade Descriptions Act.
The ministry has introduced a new order under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 [Act 730].
This order was gazetted on Oct 11, 2024 and came into effect on April 7.
It was established under Section 29 of Act 730 to appoint Sirim QAS International as the authority responsible for certifying and issuing product compliance labels.
He urged all stakeholders, especially manufacturers, to comply with this order.
