Elf engine oil: how to distinguish an original from a fake, what to look for when buying

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Elf engine oil: how to distinguish an original from a fake, what to look for when buying
Elf engine oil: how to distinguish an original from a fake, what to look for when buying
Anonim

French oil and gas company Total merged with Elf Aquitaine in 2000. The merger created a brand of lubricants under the Elf logo.

Today, Elf transmission and engine oils are in high demand in Russia. They are used not only by ordinary car owners, but also by various car repair shops and vehicle manufacturers.

Engine and transmission oil "Elf" today is widely known in Russia. These lubricants are used not only by individuals. Various private and state organizations work with official suppliers in the Russian Federation.

Pros and cons

elf logo
elf logo

Elf motor oils have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the production features and product properties. Weaknesses include:

  • High percentage of counterfeit products on the market. Often, fakes are of very high quality, which is why even experts can have difficulty in how to distinguish the original oil."Elf" from a fake.
  • Lubricants are produced by several factories, which affects the quality of the finished product. Consumer characteristics of Elf motor oils may vary slightly.
  • Many consumers believe that the cost of products is too high, especially against the background of domestic counterparts.

Original Elf oils also have advantages:

  • Wide range of products. Lubricant can be selected for any engine and operating conditions.
  • Developed network of dealers. Genuine Total products are available throughout the country.
  • Steady high quality. Problems with the use of Elf motor oils arise in the event of the purchase of counterfeit products.
  • Beneficial effect on the exhaust gas treatment system. Oils are formulated with additives designed specifically to work with DPF filters and catalytic converters, subject to appropriate approvals.
  • Long service life of oils when poured into engines operating under increased loads. Unlike similar compounds, Elf lubricants are created on a high-quality synthetic or mineral base. Early replacement due to accelerated degeneration is not required.

Some car owners add to the number of advantages the reduction in waste consumption in engines with large processing. Most other lubricants burn out quickly, forcing the car owner to add fluid regularly, but Elf oils do not have this disadvantage.

Elf lubricant ranges

how to distinguish the original from a fake elf oil
how to distinguish the original from a fake elf oil

A wide range of Elf motor oils allows car owners to choose products with the most suitable characteristics for their car. The following lines are in the greatest demand.

Elf Evolution Full-Tech

Synthetic high performance engine oil. Among them are energy-saving, extreme pressure, protective and antioxidant properties. It is poured mainly only in new cars. Suitable for engines that comply with EURO-6 standards. Available in only one viscosity grade - 5W-30.

Evolution 900

Synthetic high quality engine oils available in a wide range of viscosities. Elf Evolution 900 SXR 5W30 grease is popular with Russian car owners.

Evolution 700

engine oil elf characteristics
engine oil elf characteristics

Reliable semi-synthetic lubricants suitable for engines of domestic and foreign cars with high mileage. The range of viscosity characteristics, like the previous line, is very wide.

Evolution 500 (400, 300)

Mineral engine oils that show their maximum performance when working with old and used cars equipped with unpretentious engines. High-quality base, good additives and affordable price have made this line of oils one of the most popular.

How to distinguish the original Elf oils fromfakes

elf oil manufacturer
elf oil manufacturer

The main disadvantage and problem of Elf products is the high amount of counterfeit products on the market. Counterfeits are carried out by many underground companies.

Analysis of existing counterfeit made it possible to understand how to distinguish the original Elf oils from a fake. A high-quality counterfeit practically does not differ from the original, but it can still be identified by several signs:

  • Cover. One of the most compelling arguments to date. The edge of the original cover is polished to a shine, although the rest of it is rough. The upper surface is convex, a small gap of 1.5-2 millimeters remains between the base of the canister and the lid. The protective ring remains on the neck of the canister after unscrewing the lid.
  • In the back of the bottom of the original canister there are three parallel strips that do not reach the edge by 5-7 millimeters.
  • The front label on the counterfeit container is glued on a curve, often accompanied by obvious printing defects. A two-layer sticker often does not separate or is difficult to separate and breaks. Information is printed poorly, with errors or jagged lines of text.
  • The relief of counterfeit canisters, unlike the original ones, protrudes by more than 5 millimeters, which is noticeable not only tactilely, but also visually.

The most effective way to distinguish the original Elf oils from a fake is a careful and thorough inspection of the canister, in particular, the lid. Other nuances are noticeable only on the explicitlow-quality fakes.

Motor oil recommendations

elf evolution
elf evolution

When choosing Elf lubricants, the main thing is not to encounter fake products. For products of a brand with a worldwide reputation, Elf motor oils have a characteristic dependence: the higher the quality, the higher the price.

When choosing motor oils, you should rely on several criteria:

  • Viscosity parameters suitable for a specific engine, operating and climatic conditions.
  • Presence of tolerances of the Elf oil manufacturer according to ILSAC, API and ACEA.
  • Availability of approvals and recommendations from automakers.
  • The type of base on which the engine oil was created - mineral base, synthetic or semi-synthetic.

Subject to the basic selection criteria and taking into account the characteristics of motor oils, you can choose the most suitable lubricant for the car. When buying, it is also advisable to check the material for counterfeit.

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