Beware of fake engine oil, counterfeits body tells Kenyans

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has urged Kenyans to be on the lookout for fake engine oil and machinery-related lubricants that are currently in circulation.

ACA has attributed the influx of the fake products to rogues working in tandem with local dealers, suppliers and mechanics to sell the products to unsuspecting Kenyans.

 “They are unscrupulous traders, operating with makeshift dealers, mechanics, and manufacturers in the light industries in most major towns,” ACA said according to the Nation.

 “In the last five years we seized products worth over Ksh.65 million in different operations in Nairobi and also with other government agencies like the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).”

ACA consequently reminded Kenyans that use of fake lubricants does not ensure long and efficient operation of vehicles and machinery.

Counterfeit engine oil contains colour, additives, and low quality processing oil that damages the engine. Catastrophic side effects such as explosions, overheating, and fires have occurred due to malfunctioning of engines.

 “These products are made of poor-quality ingredients and danger to engines and engine parts. They can cause technical defects which can bring risks of accidents and machine breakdowns and increased cost of operation,” said ACA.

Counterfeit engine oil is made and packed in such a way that an untrained eye can easily mistake it as genuine. In most cases, fake engine oil is usually recycled old engine oil or low quality engine oil being disguised as legitimate.

The fake lubricants are often packed in original bottles that are refilled with fake oil, or in copycat bottles. Counterfeiters, in fact, spend more on packaging than they do on acquiring the counterfeit lubricants in order to pass off the fake products as legitimate.  

As it stands, local legitimate engine oil trading is only regulated by EPRA.

According to the National Observatory on Illicit trade Kenya loses more than Ksh.2.1 billion in revenue annually to counterfeit products.