As many large foreign motor oil manufacturers have left the Russian market, this has led to a surge of counterfeits and fakes in the swamps. According to local media and channels, under the guise of parallel imports, drivers have started to be offered poor-quality counterfeits.
According to the Union of Auto Services (they still exist there, it turns out), the share of counterfeit goods in the automotive oil market in Russia has increased to 30–50%. Market participants complain that counterfeiting motor oil and other lubricants has become a profitable and almost safe business. Instead, car owners who refill with such ‘liquid’ risk reducing the lifespan of their engines and facing premature expensive repairs.
Prior to the beginning of 2022, the most popular foreign brands in the Russian market were Shell, Mobil, Castrol, and Total. None of them are officially sold in Russia anymore. The problem of buying quality oils has become particularly acute for owners of technologically ‘advanced’ cars and models with turbocharged engines. In addition, as local experts complain, winter is approaching and it is unknown what consequences pouring ‘poor-quality’ oil will have, as it is quite difficult to distinguish it from the original. Hopefully, the military equipment of the Russian aggressors is filled with proper oil… although, what doubts can there be, as kickbacks have never been canceled, especially through a parubrik…