The smooth and long-term operation of a car engine depends on the quality of the lubricant used. One of the most popular and reputable brands on the automotive oil market is Shell, which is associated with impeccable quality at an affordable price.
Shell products are widely popular not only among motorists, but also among counterfeit manufacturers. That is why proper testing of Shell oil , which helps to timely distinguish original motor lubricant from a low-grade counterfeit .
What is fake car oil made of?
Adulterated Shell car oil is a mixture of industrial lubricants with cheaper and lower quality lubricants from huge drums intended for trucks.
A counterfeit can also be made in another way - using already used oil, which is restored using primitive methods and passed off as real Shell lubricant. In such automobile oil, the required additives may be completely absent or may be in minimal concentration, because clandestine manufacturers are trying to save as much as possible.
As a result of this mixing, the viscosity index of the oil is only remotely close to the original product. Most often on the market there are counterfeits of Shell Helix Ultra , since it is one of the most popular and in demand among consumers.
Matrix code
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There is an option on how to distinguish a fake Shell using a matrix code.
It is applied by the manufacturer to the back of the oil container. It's worth looking there and also trying to erase the inscription.
Non-original oils have paint that wears off quickly. The code is often not printed evenly or clearly, and the numbers may be partially erased.
For genuine motor lubricant, the code consists of clear and rare dots. But they do not contact each other. The code encodes the batch number, as well as the date and time the canister was filled with oil.
What are the dangers of using non-original Shell oil?
For every buyer of Shell transmission products, oil authentication is extremely important. Using counterfeit, low-quality lubricant is dangerous for a car engine.
Consequences of using fake motor oil:
- labor-intensive and lengthy engine starting in winter;
- increased noise when the car engine is running;
- rapid wear of engine elements and parts;
- formation of soot and soot on engine components.
Important! Fake oil, unlike the original , does not have the necessary lubricating properties and does not provide effective anti-corrosion protection. In addition, it very quickly loses its functions as it begins to oxidize. The result is a decrease in heat dissipation, accelerated wear of rubbing surfaces and the absence of a complete protective oil film.
Why is it important?
To create a motor oil that will provide comprehensive engine protection, years of work by specialists with knowledge in the field of chemistry, physics and many other sciences are required. Each formula undergoes a series of tests in production and is then sent for certification, after which it goes into production. This oil meets a set of characteristics and is capable of performing its functions in the specified temperature range.
If we are talking about fakes, then the key factor in their creation is cheapness. That is why, under the guise of original oil from any well-known manufacturer, they can easily slip you a mineral-based “substance” with a minimum of additives, and sometimes even without them. Perhaps the only thing that could be more dangerous than using such “oil” is a complete refusal to use lubricants.
At high temperatures, counterfeit compounds quickly become too fluid; at low temperatures, they thicken. In both the first and second cases, the engine elements do not receive the required level of lubrication, operate at an increased level of friction and quickly fail.
Important!
Purchasing original oil is a guarantee that it will perform its functions to the stated extent.
The main differences between fake oil and the original one
When checking the authenticity of Shell oil , there are several important points to consider that will help distinguish a counterfeit lubricant from a real one.
- visual inspection of the canister ;
- label printing quality;
- shape and color of the lid;
- the presence of a protective film and a fixing ring;
- container casting quality;
- marking.
Shell automobile oil must be checked It only takes a few minutes and will help you avoid buying low-quality counterfeit products.
Changes of the year
Since September 2021, canisters with a seal made of aluminum have been available. What alarmed buyers. We found out - the original canisters.
The oil, produced in the fall of 2021, comes with an aluminum seal. Glue is applied between the lid and the seal.
On the left is the original from 2017 (under the lid, glue is visible on the aluminum protective seal). On the right is a fake.
The tear-off ring has changed. The tear line was moved exactly in the middle and the distance between the lid and the tear ring was slightly increased. Below are the lids of original Shell oil cans. One will be released until 2021, the second will be produced from 2021 (the tear-off ring has become narrower, the tear boundary has become more visible and runs exactly in the middle of the lower skirt of the lid).
Both photos show the original oil. On top of the new model (2017). Bottom photo - until 2021.
The distinctive features of sagging, roughness of the lids on new canisters (from 2021) are not relevant.
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The process of checking oil authenticity
check Helix automobile oil in various ways, paying attention to all the signs that help determine the genuine or clandestine origin of the lubricant.
- Date of manufacture – keep in mind that the company began producing today’s canisters only 2 years ago. Accordingly, if an old canister has a new production date, it is a fake.
- Container shape - Shell car oil cans have two handles located on the top and on the side base.
- Neck - the new modification of the canister has a narrower and shorter neck in comparison with old containers. In this case, there should be no gaps between the cover and the retaining ring.
Be sure to check number of your car oil.
It is applied with high-quality printing and does not wear off even under strong pressure.
Protective sticker
There is a single or double sticker on the cover of the branded Shell Helix. The lowest-grade fakes do not have it. Therefore, if there is no sticker on the cover, then it is better to avoid such lubricant.
Even the presence of a label does not guarantee the authenticity of the oil. To check the brand sticker, the brand used special protection. Therefore, you must follow the instructions below.
- Look at the large numbers on the sticker. They must duplicate the last characters of the barcode. The numbers on the branded sticker are white. White numbers
- Wet your finger with water. Wetting the finger
- Moisten the white numbers. They will change color to red. If this does not happen, then the oil is fake.
Shell Helix products are as well protected as branded lubricants from Motul, Mobile, Toyota, Elf, Zeke and Idemitsu brands. This confirms the presence of another protection. It is implemented using the image of a drop.
In the original, the image of a drop changes its color depending on the angle. A green tint is required. The fake is not able to change color. Some counterfeit products vary in color from dark red to brown.
Another check will require an ultraviolet lamp. Under its light, part of the label changes color.
Original Shell Helix oil has a double sticker or label with writing on both sides. There is a unique individual serial number. You can check it using the brand's official website. If you do not want to enter 16 digits, you can use the specified QR code as your smartphone.
If the unique code has been checked multiple times, information about this will be displayed. In this case, the chance that the oil being tested is a fake is 99%. Fraudsters often print the same branded serial number.
How to spot fake Shell before buying oil
find out if Shell motor oil is fake even before purchasing. To do this, you need to carefully examine the canister and the material it is made of, the lid, label, and the presence of protective stickers.
Label
Genuine Shell Automotive Oil Canisters come with several quality and well-printed labels. On the front side of the canister there is a PurePlus Technology logo on the label, which is originally applied using the mirror coating method. If there is no mirror effect, the authenticity of the car oil is questionable.
The label on the back wall of the canister is double-layered. With little effort, the top layer peels off, leaving no traces of glue.
Important! One of the most important differences between real Shell motor oil and a fake is the use of different typographic fonts. This can be determined by the differences in the spelling of the letter “a” in the instructions for the oil in all languages, as well as the letter “f” in the text in the Kazakh language.
Protective sticker
The manufacturer equips Shell branded automobile oils with special protective holographic stickers located on the lid of the canister.
On the sticker you can see an image of a drop, which in real products shimmers, changing the shade from green to reddish. If the hologram does not change its shade under the light, this is fake oil.
Important! On fake stickers, a drop with a matte surface is applied, without the characteristic metallic sheen. Shell uses innovative powder to coat the hologram, which provides a metallic sheen.
Canister
A canister of Shell branded motor oil can have one of four main colors - red, grey, yellow and blue. Main features of the original canister from Shell:
- The canister is made of high-quality and dense plastic; the oil level cannot be seen through it.
- The plastic of the canister is quite soft and pliable when pressed, with a slight metallic sheen.
- The seams of the canister are even, smooth and neat, with almost invisible traces of soldering.
- The original canister has flattened transverse ovals at the bottom. If the bottom of the container is smooth, with a seam located in the center, this is a clear sign of a fake.
- Measuring ruler - on a real canister it is straight, follows the entire height of the tank and ends on its side. For fakes, most often the measuring ruler ends near the handle.
Important! A unique matrix code is applied to the lower part of the back side of the canister. Clandestine oil production can be identified by fuzzy, blurry dots that can merge with each other.
Lid
In order to recognize genuine Shell automobile oil, you need to carefully examine not only the canister, but also the lid. Its color should not differ from the main color of the canister.
You can determine the true origin of Shell motor oil by the retaining ring. It should look like a continuation of the lid and not have any kinks or other defects. When opening the lid, the retaining ring comes off easily.
Canister
When inspecting a Shell Helix canister, you first need to check its color. For many years, the brand has been pouring lubricant into containers that have their own shade depending on the viscosity of the oil. You can check the corporate color using the table below.
Table - Canister color depending on the oil series
| Oil | Canister color |
| HX7 | Blue |
| HX8 | Light gray |
| Shell Helix Ultra | Dark grey |
The original canister is made of a material with a metallic overflow. Fraudsters are extremely rarely able to recreate it. Usually it all comes down to shagreen with orange peel.
Metal overflow
It is advisable to look at the canister “into the light”. Branded packaging is not transparent. The packaging of the fake makes it easy to determine the level of lubricant inside.
Branded canister for light
Oil level when inspecting a fake
Even though the original canister is not translucent, it has good softness. Even the handle bends with the force of your hand. Fraudsters use harder plastic. Therefore, it will be possible to compress only the middle of the canister.
Handle squeeze
The serial number and production date are stamped at the bottom of the canister. Fraudsters use low-grade paint, so it quickly wears off even at the stage of packaging and transportation. Therefore, the lack of information indicates the origin of the lubricant is counterfeit.
Erased information
Even if the data is present, it is printed in solid font on the counterfeit. In the original, information is depicted in a matrix way. At the same time, all the points are clear and even.
Solid font
Applying information using a matrix method
In some cases, the bottom of the canister allows you to identify a fake. The applied marks on branded packaging are perfectly clear. On a fake, they are blurry, missing or do not match in size.
Bottom inspection
Comparison of icon sizes on the bottom
There is also a difference in the ends of the measuring strips. The ruler of the fake goes all the way to the handle. With a genuine canister, the strip ends earlier.
Comparison of measuring rulers
How to check the authenticity of oil after purchase
Checking Shell motor oil after purchase does not pose any particular difficulties due to the fact that the company is actively fighting counterfeit products, offering customers an official system for checking the originality of the purchased motor oil.
Important! To check Shell oil for authenticity using a code, you need to scan the QR code with your smartphone. To determine the originality of products, you can use special online applications or visit the company’s official website.
Enter the identification code on the main page of the company website - if the car oil is genuine, the system will provide detailed information about the series and characteristics of the oil. If you enter a fake ID code, you will be immediately redirected back to the main page of the site.
If you enter a fake code or a code that has been used many times, you will see the message “Code has expired” on the screen.
Checking the identification code of Shell automobile oil can be considered the most accurate and effective. It is never counterfeited by scammers, since it is not economically profitable for them.
Lid
The difference in quality can already be felt from the lid:
- It has swells . It may sound strange, but this is a sign of the original. The fake ones have smooth lids . However, if you come across a sample made in Hamburg, then the lid on it will also be without sagging.
Sagging on the original cover
- Sits tightly. The lid is a single piece without a gap. If there is a gap between the lid and the seal, then the product is counterfeit.
Cover of fake and original
- The sticker on the lid has a greenish grid-like area. Under different viewing angles and lighting, the green color becomes black. The fake sticker is always green , no matter how you twist the lid.
Grid on the original label
Shell Oil Specific Codes
Starting in 2021, all canisters containing Shell branded products will feature a special hologram with a 16-digit identification code. Also, a unique QR code is applied to the sticker located under the lid of the canister.
A unique hologram is applied to the sticker on the lid of the package, which changes its shade under the influence of water and during movement. A barcode is placed under the hologram. To check the authenticity of your car oil, peel off the top layer of the sticker - you will see a QR code designed for mobile applications, as well as an identification code.
To ensure that the engine oil is original, you need to make sure that the last 4 digits of the identification number match the code on the top half of the sticker. On the label, below the codes, the address of the company's official website is indicated, which can be used to verify the authenticity of the motor oil.
What points should you pay attention to first?
There are several signs by which you can distinguish real oil from counterfeit:
pay attention to the product labeling; The shade and configuration of the cover may differ; look carefully at the fixation ring and protective film; the label must have clear printing without washouts or other flaws; the fullness of the canister is an important point when purchasing.
And now about each of the points in more detail.
In order not to make a mistake in choosing an oil, you should start checking by inspecting the outside, that is, checking the container and labeling. Poor-quality lubricant can put the unit out of working condition, so we check the release date of the product, which should be indicated on the canister. Keep in mind that new Shell oils were released a couple of years ago. And at service stations and retail chains you sometimes find old versions. Considering the shelf life of the oil, which is five years, an outdated container cannot have a recent date
So, if you see that an old-style canister has a recent release date, it means they want to deceive you and offer you a counterfeit product. Next, pay close attention to the size of the canister, it is slightly different and looks larger compared to the original. In most cases, “leftist businessmen” do not care about affixing the “not for food” sign.
On a container with a fake, the location of the casting designation of this form will always be visible. The canister lid of the original is made of high-quality plastic, and its shade is identical to the main color of the container itself. The retaining ring is an extension of the lid; when you open the lid, it should come off without problems, without effort. Look at possible defects; if the ring is uneven or breaks, it means you are holding a fake in your hands. There may be no protective film on some modifications of Shell oil, so do not focus on this point. It all depends on the specific batch and country of the manufacturer. If there is a protective membrane, pay attention to its smoothness and white color, as well as the density of the structure. The label of genuine Shell oil is an excellent print made through mirror coating; in the absence of a special mirror effect, the quality and originality of the product can be questioned. The logo and inscriptions that are present on the canister with truly high-quality oil should not be blurred or washed out; they are all perfectly readable and visible. There must be a two-layer label on the reverse side. When removing the top layer, there should be no glue left on the bottom. The plastic from which the original canister is made is smooth; there should be no chips or other defects in the form of uneven seams or sagging. In terms of color, the line of Shell engine oils is presented in three options: blue; light gray; gray. There is a metallic effect in the color structure. It is impossible to see the oil level through the walls of the canister; they are dense and therefore cannot be seen through. But counterfeit versions of canisters may well allow this; in addition, the bases of such containers are often wider, this is another important point in recognizing counterfeit motor oil.
Such a thorough visual inspection will help every motorist find out the authenticity of the branded product; as for the composition of the oil, everything is much more complicated here. The qualitative composition can only be determined by laboratory tests.
What to do if you purchased a non-genuine product
If, after checking the identification code on the company’s official website, you determine that you purchased counterfeit Shell automobile oil, in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights, you have the right to return the goods. In turn, the seller is obliged to return the money you spent.
In order to avoid problems with returning the money spent, first make sure that you have not damaged the integrity of the canister of motor oil. Also, to contact the seller, you will need to present a cash receipt or sales receipt confirming the fact of purchasing motor oil at this particular outlet.
The smooth operation and duration of operation of a car engine depend on the quality of the engine oil used. Knowing the main differences between original Shell oil, you will be able to identify counterfeits, which will allow you to save a lot on buying a counterfeit and overhauling a car engine.
Types of Shell Helix oils
To begin with, it should be noted that the Helix line from SHELL was developed specifically for passenger cars, and over time it changed from simple mineral oils to modern synthetic oils, including those used in sports cars. Next, it makes sense to take a closer look at each type produced. This line includes the following brands of oils:
- HX3. It is mineral and is packaged in a red canister.
- HX5. It is also mineral, but it is believed that it is more suitable for diesel engines.
- HX6. It is semi-synthetic and comes in a yellow canister.
However, the listed oils are currently considered obsolete and are becoming less and less common on sale. Instead, the market is filled with the more advanced HX7, HX8 and ULTRA. It is about them that will be discussed further. Let's start in order.
Motor oil markings
Detailed explanation of all markings on a canister of motor oil. Find out what the markings of engine oils API, SAE, ACEA, ILSAC and GOST mean in order to choose the required oil for your car engine. Read more
Shell Helix HX7
Sold in a dark blue canister. It is a semi-synthetic oil. Can be used for both gasoline and diesel engines. It has the following classifications: API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4, ASO SG+. At the same time, it has the following official approvals from car manufacturers: MB 229.3, VW 502 00/505 00, Renault RN0700, RN0710, Fiat 955535-G2.
You can buy SHELL Helix HX7 oil with a viscosity of 10w 40 in a 4-liter canister using the following article number - 550040315. The price of such a canister as of summer 2021 is about 1,100 rubles.
Shell Helix HX8
Packaged in light gray canisters. It is a fully synthetic oil. Also suitable for both diesel and petrol engines. Has the following specifications: API SL/CF (meets the requirements of API SN bench tests), ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4. The oil also has official approvals from the following car manufacturers: MB 229.3, VW 502.00/505.00, Renault RN0700, RN0710.
You can buy SHELL Helix HX8 motor oil in a 4-liter canister with a viscosity of 5w-30 using the article number - 550040542. The price for this volume is 1,500 rubles.
Note! In 2021, Shell begins production of new HX8 oil with new approvals:
- SHELL Helix HX8 A5/B5 5W-30 for Ford, Volvo, Mazda cars;
- SHELL Helix HX8 ECT 5W-30 with low ash package (ideal for diesel engines with and without particulate filters) with European ACEA C3 approval and VW 504.00 vehicle manufacturer approval and MB 229.31 approval.
This means that if previously oils with a low-ash package (ECT) were only found in Ultra-type oils, then from now on a similar composition will appear in the HX8 line. Moreover, it will cost less than the designated Ultra.
conclusions
It is necessary to purchase motor oil only in large specialized stores. You should not buy at markets, stalls and small dubious points - there is a high probability of getting counterfeit goods. Even when purchasing a lubricant from a trusted store, it is a good idea to carefully check the label and canister for the above characteristics. Remember - if you fill it with a low-quality lubricant, you will quickly kill the engine. Therefore, the purchase of motor fluid should be taken as responsibly as possible.
