Pakistan’s Booming Industry of Fake Engine Oils

If you own a vehicle, chances are you’ve used fake engine oil at least once in your lifetime without even knowing it. That’s because the fake engine oil industry is so big in Pakistan that almost every car/bike/truck owner becomes a victim of this scam. It’s so big that you can’t even imagine.

For instance, especially in Lahore, nearly three out of five stores selling engine oils are offering counterfeit lubricants, and even the shopkeeper might not be aware of it.

Here’s an exclusive written documentary on how the counterfeit engine oil industry operates in Pakistan. This article is based on practical, in-field research conducted in local markets and mechanic shops.

Sophisticated Operations of the Counterfeit Oil Industry

They operate at a mass level and have proper hierarchies and operations all around the country. It would not be wrong to say that they’re a proper mafia, and it happens with reported involvement of authorities, allowing them to operate in the market. Moreover, nearly every shopkeeper offering oil change services is connected to this network. These shops sell used engine oil and empty bottles, which are then refined and repackaged into the same bottles.

How do these fake engine oil industries even operate? Let’s figure that out!

Sourcing of Oil From Mechanic Shops

First, they source the used engine oil. When you go to an oil change store or mechanic shop, they drain out your old oil and pour the new oil into your vehicle. The shopkeeper will store that used oil. Every weekend, a truck arrives to collect the used oil from these shops, paying around Rs. 70 per liter. That same truck then delivers the used oil to counterfeit engine oil factories for processing and resale.

Refining of Used Oil

These factories then process the oil. Technically, it’s not processing. Once the engine oil has turned black, you can’t just undo it to make it as clean as before. It’s not a computer program. 

They remove some dust particles from the oil and then pass the oil through a chemical process called “Reduction.” You can simply Google the whole process as it quite detailed and complicated. 

In easy words, this chemical process basically makes the oil look as clean as it was brand new. But it’s all looks only. Once you put it in your vehicle, it’ll destroy your engine. The oil will stay oxidized and be flooded with contaminants, just enough to ruin the engine’s components only after 500-800 km of running.

Supplying Process of Fake Oil to Stores

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They have a wholesaler that deals only with fake oils. They sell their counterfeits to these dealers, who then supply the oils to stores and mechanics. Interestingly, the shopkeepers themselves are often unaware that the lubricants they purchase from wholesalers are fake. Consequently, they sell these products to customers, claiming that the oil is 100% guaranteed original. In the end, it’s the customers who pay the price for this deception.

The Strategic Locations of Their Factories

Their most targeted locations are underdeveloped towns and slum areas, where there is the least chance of police raids. They avoid industrial areas and commercial locations, where there is a high chance of getting noticed.

According to our source, these fake oil factories are located in Lahore’s backside of Data Darbaar, Lakshmi, Kot Lakhpat, Nishtar Town, and Kacha Jail Road. This was just for Lahore; their factories are situated all over the country and in multiple cities. 

How To Spot The Fake Engine Oil So You Don’t Damage Your Engine?

The problem is that this mafia also knows that people are now experts at spotting fake engine oil bottles. For that purpose, they now use original bottles. Yes, they use original brand bottles. 

When you visit the shop for an oil change, if you notice that the mechanic pours the new oil and keeps the empty bottle with him, even if you ask them to hand over the empty bottle, they’ll resist giving it to you “boss aapny kia krna hai khali bottle ka, mai apko dosri bottle dai deta hon agr chahiyai hai to.” 

Basically, these mechanics sell these used bottles to fake lubricant refining factories. These factories pour their counterfeit engine oil into these empty original bottles. All they do is just put a new seal in it, and that seal is so freaking genuine that even an expert can’t tell the difference.

All we can suggest you do is to buy from good and branded stores and official 3s dealerships, and any other that you think is reputable, and no, no one has paid us to mention their name. That’s just our recommendation. Please try to avoid buying oil from local mechanics at all costs!