How to distinguish fake Total Quartz oil

Properly selected engine oil ensures long and efficient operation of the car engine. That is why it is so important to pay attention to its characteristics. Today there are many quality tools. One of them is Total oil. There are many varieties of these products on the market. At the same time, motorists are often interested in the question of how to check Total oil for authenticity.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

How to counterfeit oil total

Fraudsters fake Total and Elf oils in various ways. The most common types of fraud include the following:

1. Imitation of a canister with the addition of low-quality mass inside. Usually this option is used by underground workshops.
2. Mixing the original product with a liquid of unknown origin. This option is used by stores that sell oils from a large barrel for bottling.
3. Purchase of original canisters and their refilling. This option can be used by any scammers. At the same time, it is associated with the greatest risks, since it involves the use of branded packaging.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

Regardless of the method of manufacturing fakes for buyers, such products represent a real danger. It affects the performance of the car and can lead to unpredictable consequences. With the systematic use of fakes, there is a risk of rapid engine wear. In this case, you will have to spend a lot of money on partial or major repairs.

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How to spot a fake

Total oils are characterized by a low degree of canister protection. Therefore, it can be quite difficult to distinguish a fake. Skilled scammers are able to produce products that completely imitate the original. This is due to the rapid development of technology.

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Underground workshops can copy canisters in 1-2 weeks after the appearance of a product with a new design on the market. However, there are certain signs that allow you to check the originality of engine oil.

Label

To check the authenticity of the oil, you should pay attention to the label. For original products, it must be printed on factory equipment and have a perfect appearance. Even when looking closely at the image, graininess or other defects cannot be detected. All shades should be saturated, and the drawings should be clear. The presence of sagging on the original label is unacceptable.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

It is important that all information regarding engine oil is present on the canister. There should be information about the manufacturer and supplier. Distributor contacts are of great importance.

On the back, the sticker looks like a booklet. It duplicates information from the main side. It is presented in different languages. There should also be a square with an exclamation mark.

Fakes usually do not contain this element.

The same sign is drawn on both spreads of the book. You will not find such a pattern on a fake label. In addition, the text font of the fake is somewhat darker than in the original.

Another feature of the sticker of the original “Total Quartz” oil is that the peeled off side does not stick to the hands at all. She smoothly returns to her place on the canister without much effort. What can not be said about a fake sticker. It will definitely stick to your hand and leave air bubbles when you return it to its place.

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The batch code is of great importance. On the original container, this number is indicated immediately below the displacement - on the front side. It is also present on the reverse side in the window with a barcode.

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Characteristics of some Total Quartz oils

Oil brand	Characteristic
Engine oil with INEO C3 5W-40	New generation LOW SAPS engine oil developed specifically for VW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche engines. Optimizes the operation of catalytic exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, in particular the particulate filter.
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO MC3 5W-30	Low SAPS synthetic motor oil specially formulated to meet the technical requirements of vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Kia.
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO ECS 5W-30	New generation engine oil with low sulphated ash content and low phosphorus and sulfur content, specially developed for PEUGEOT and CITROEN engines
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO EFFICIENCY 0W-30	LOW SAPS engine oil for gasoline and diesel engines. Very high level of properties. synthetic technology.
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO LONG LIFE 5W-30	New generation LOW SAPS engine oil developed specifically for VW engines. Optimizes the operation of catalytic exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, in particular the particulate filter.
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO FIRST 0W-30	Engine oil produced using synthetic technology. It is used as a first fill oil in PEUGEOT CITROEN vehicles and is recommended for after-sales service of these vehicles.
Engine oil QUARTZ INEO HKS D 5W-30	Synthetic technology engine oil provides the best engine protection against wear and deposits. Suitable for all operating conditions, from normal to heavy duty.

Check Total Quartz oil by barcode:

Appearance

Checking the originality of the product must necessarily include the study of the data on the packaging. The following parameters are typical for the original container:

1. The canister is made of high-quality plastic of the first grade. At the same time, it should not have mechanical damage, adhesions or casting defects. Also, the shade of plastic has certain differences. Original products are rich and deep in color. Copies are usually made lighter or darker.
2. The cover has a black tint and high-quality polished. In this case, there is a gap between the neck and the skirt of the container. Its size should be 1.5 mm. On the original canister, the lid easily scrolls in different directions. This is due to the special ring that holds it. With a fake cover, such a number will not work. Any strong movement to the side will open the container.
3. The bottom of the container is complemented by 3 parallel strips. The elements do not reach the extreme fragments of the bottom by 5 mm.
4. The surface of the canister must be additionally formed. At the same time, the plastic is not deformed on bending.
5. The lid can be opened without any effort. In this case, a characteristic click will be heard. Under the detail is a filler collar. The insert is made of a soft material that can withstand repeated use.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

All types of motor oils of this brand are available in plastic canisters with a capacity of 4 or 5 liters. For topping up there are bottles of 1 liter. To supply large stores or service stations, barrels with a capacity of 208 liters are used. There are also canisters of 60 liters. However, they are much less common.

It is possible to determine the authenticity of the oil by the article numbers that are given in the table. They differ in terms of capacity and type of product: 

brand	Large capacity article	Small container article
Total Quartz Ineo ECS 5W-30	151510	151510
Total Quartz Future NFC 9000 5W-30	183450	171839
Total Quartz 9000 Energy HKS G-310 5W-30	175393	175392
Total Quartz Ineo Long Life 5W-30	181712	181711
Total Quartz Ineo MC3 5W-30	157103	166254

How to check TOTAL oil for authenticity in "new sample" canisters

In 2019, the design of TOTAL and ELF oil canisters and technical fluids has changed dramatically. Canisters have become more convenient to use, they “hold in the hand” better, do not “gurgle” and allow you to more accurately dose the amount to be poured.

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The main change has occurred on the labels. Now they are more aesthetic and recognizable than before, allow you to immediately find TOTAL products on store shelves, and contain more useful information.

The most important thing for us is the presence of a special QR code, with which you can quickly and confidently determine the authenticity of the purchased product.

Before checking for originality, you need to make sure that the canister is safe and sound. On its surface there should be no traces of soldering, welding and burr. Seals, barcode and QR code - without damage and scuffs. The protective ring on the neck is unharmed, it forms a single whole with the lid, and the lid is wrapped tightly and holds firmly on the neck.

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If your smartphone has a function for reading QR codes, then everything is elementary! Activate the function by clicking on the icon of the corresponding application. Point the eye of your smartphone camera at the field with the QR code. Align it with the selected area on the smartphone screen, then “photograph” it, or everything will happen automatically (depending on the functionality of the smartphone). After 2-3 seconds, the message “Authentic product” or “Original product” will appear on the screen. So, you can buy!

If after 2-3 attempts the QR code is not detected or the message indicates that the product is not original, refuse to purchase: it is counterfeit or fake!

If there is no QR code reading function on your smartphone, then use the TOTAL ACF "proprietary" application to check the originality of products by clicking on the link https://acf.total/ and download it from Google Play or App Store. After installing the application, you can proceed to check:

• Activate the app. Position your smartphone horizontally. Find the QR code on the front label of the canister with the "eye" of the camera.

• The smartphone should be at a distance of about 15-20 cm from the canister.

• The plane of the smartphone must be parallel to the surface of the canister so that the QR code is not distorted.

• A virtual “Check” button and a “sight” zone for a QR code will appear. Click on the "Check" button.

• While moving the smartphone, align the "square" of the QR code on the canister with the "sight" area on the screen.

• If the flash fired, then its reflection must be placed in the "ring" shown on the screen.

• Automatically or after “photographing”, after a few seconds, the message “Authentic product” will appear on the screen.

• If a failure occurred while reading the QR code, then try again 2-3 more times.

In the event that the QR code is not detected or the message indicates a falsification of the product or a fake - refuse to purchase!

Oil cost

When buying Total Quartz engine oils, you should consider their cost.

A 1 liter canister will cost 500-700 rubles. At the same time, 4 or 5 liters of oil will cost 1400-2500 rubles.

The most expensive product from the line is Quartz Ineo Long Life. At the same time, Quartz Future NFC 900 oil has the most affordable price. If the price of the product is much lower than the average, it is better to refuse such a purchase.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

Store reputation

It is recommended to buy motor oils only from trusted sellers. A reliable store with an impeccable reputation will not risk it and sell fakes. Therefore, before buying, you need to read the reviews. If there are a lot of negative comments, you should not buy oil in this place.

The manufacturer does not advise buying the product in suspicious stores, in spontaneous markets or from hands. You can also find a list of suppliers on the manufacturer's website. Official dealers sell the distributor's products. This avoids buying a fake.

How to check the quality of total quartz at home

Even the original canister does not guarantee the purchase of high-quality oil. Quite often, counterfeit products are packaged in containers from real products. To find out its quality, you need to independently test the oil at home. To do this, you can use the following methods:

1. Pour a little composition into a glass container and leave in a dark place. The original product will remain homogeneous, while the fake product may develop sediment or noticeable delamination.
2. Apply 2 drops of engine oil to a clean sheet. After it is absorbed, it is worth evaluating the transparency of the stain. When contamination appears, it can be argued that it is a fake.
3. Place the composition in the freezer and leave for 60-80 minutes. If the mass is significantly thickened, we can talk about its low quality.

Of course, these methods can detect only very low-quality fakes. Most counterfeit products on the market easily pass these simple tests.

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

To accurately determine the quality characteristics of a lubricant, it is required to use a laboratory method. To do this, with the help of special devices, it is possible to evaluate the composition of the product and its key performance properties. These include parameters of viscosity, acidity or alkalinity, ignition and freezing points.

This information not only helps to identify a fake, but also to determine the condition of the oil in the engine during operation. To measure these parameters, special devices are used - testers, mini-laboratories, analyzers.

The principle of operation of the equipment is usually based on measuring the difference in the dielectric constant of the oil. This makes it possible to evaluate its consumer characteristics in accordance with existing standards.

Inexpensive testers today can be bought independently. To check the authenticity of Total oil, it is permissible to use the Lubricheck device. With its help, it is possible to identify a fake. There is no need to take samples to the laboratory.

What happens if you fill in a fake

With the constant use of fake material, there is a risk of such consequences:

1. Increase in sludge formations. Such damage is considered the easiest. They are observed when using high-quality fakes.
2. Increased wear of friction pairs, extraneous noise, overheating. Similar problems often arise when using common fakes.
3. Complete failure of the engine after 100-200 km of runs. Such consequences arise in the case of the use of the lowest quality fakes that are not intended for motors. There is also a risk of destruction of the block or some of its parts.

Where to buy

You can buy original Total Quartz Engine Oil here

It is recommended to buy engine oil from authorized dealers or trusted places. Do not do this in the markets or in dubious outlets.

Total oils are of high quality, and therefore are very popular with motorists. In order not to purchase a fake product, you need to contact a store with a reliable reputation and carefully examine the appearance of the package.

You should not make a purchase if:

• the packaging looks bad, but the seller refuses to bring another one from the warehouse;
• a suspiciously low price for 4 liters of the product is indicated;
• the seller does not respond to a request to show a quality certificate.

Video - Exposing fake Total quartz oil

 

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