How to distinguish elf oil from a fake. Methods for distinguishing fake products from the original Elf oil Elf oil rn tech 5v40

Elf is a French manufacturer, they produce a number of engine oils Elf 5w40 reviews which and its properties will be discussed in detail in the review, ELF EVOLUTION FULL-TECH LSX 5W-40, EVOLUTION 900 NF 5W-40, EVOLUTION 900 SXR 5W-40 - these are products united by one SAE viscosity-temperature characteristic, but with different certification .

Synthetics Elf EVOLUTION FULL-TECH LSX 5W-40

Technical properties

TOLERANCES

• VOLKSWAGEN VW 502.00 / 505.01;
• PORSCHE A4;
• FORD Level FORD WSS-M2C 917-A;
• FIAT Level FIAT 9.55535-S2;
• MERCEDES BENZ MB Approval 229.51 (Backward compatible to MB-approval 229.31);
• BMW LL-04;
• GENERAL MOTORS Dexos2™.

SPECIFICATIONS

• ACEA C3;
• API SN/CF.

• Improves the parameters of catalysts;
• Possesses a strong package of antiwear additives;
• Suitable for the majority of modern motors;
• It is possible to work on an extended interval due to stable properties.

Who is Elf EVOLUTION FULL-TECH LSX 5W-40 suitable for?

The product is compatible with catalytic converters and particulate filters, it can be poured into high-tech modern engines. Of course, it’s better to focus on certification, or use oil selection services. The manufacturer indicates that this product is oriented and most compatible with the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen engines equipped with exhaust treatment systems. Elf's specifications and tolerances are high, he is a typical representative of high-quality modern motor oils made in France.

Reviews Elf 5W-40 EVOLUTION FULL-TECH LSX

Positive feedback about Elf 5W-40 EVOLUTION FULL-TECH most often does not have a clear emphasis on any particular property, but boils down to the simple phrase “good oil”. So it is - a standard engine oil additive package focused on modern engines and a good base. There are also negative reviews about Elf 5w40 40 EVOLUTION FULL-TECH engine oil, which are based on the fact that this engine oil has been rare lately, and sometimes low-quality fakes come across.

Elf EVOLUTION 900 NF 5W-40: reviews, properties, specifications

The product is similar to the previous one, but with a simpler certification, instead of ACEA C3, there is an ACEA A3 / B4 approval, which prohibits the use of this oil in car engines with particulate filtration - it will quickly disable systems.

Physico-chemical characteristics

• VOLKSVAGEN VW 502.00 / VW 505.00;
• PORSCHE A40;
• MERCEDES BENZ MB-Approval 229.3 (MB, Chrysler…);

SPECIFICATIONS:

ADVANTAGES (according to the manufacturer):

• Suitable for harsh operating conditions;
• A long replacement interval is possible.

Who is Elf EVOLUTION 900 NF 5W-40 intended for?

This product is suitable for gasoline and diesel engines with a turbine of the latest years of production. Its certification is simpler than that of the previous product of this line, therefore, before pouring this oil, it is better to use the oil selection service on the manufacturer's official website. In general, the product is well suited for foreign cars manufactured between 2004 and 2010, with one restriction on the particulate filter.

Elf EVOLUTION 900 NF 5W-40: reviews of motorists about engine oil

This engine oil from the Elf 5w40 line receives good user reviews, the consumer properties of the product satisfy users so much that almost 100% of motorists who use it would recommend this engine oil. Negative reviews about Elf 5w40 are associated, like the previous oil, with fakes that come across and low distribution in retail outlets.

Elf EVOLUTION 900 SXR 5W-40 review: reviews and specifications

A product with the same base as the previous two, but oriented to use in diesel engines. We will describe it briefly - the oil has few certificates, the certification is standard, and the niche it occupies among oils is highly specialized.

Physicochemical characteristics

SPECIFICATIONS:

• ACEA: A3/B4;
• API: SN/CF.

• RENAULT RN0710, RN0700.

How long can an engine run without changing the engine oil? The service books of modern cars indicate the maintenance interval with an oil change of 15,000–20,000 km. And synthetic manufacturers often increase the declared resource by another tens of thousands of kilometers. How justified are these figures? Will the "long-liver" harm the motor? Let's check in practice.

THROUGH EUROPE AND ASIA

15,000 km is very far! Approximately as from Lisbon to Vladivostok. Should I take a canister of oil for a change in such a run, or is a liter enough to top up? Instead of the beauties of Europe and the expanses of Asia, we will see the walls of the test box: they have their own charms ... And two identical engines will “go” at once - injection VAZ eight-valve engines. This is the only way to provide the tested oils with identical operating conditions throughout the entire “run”. In order to bring the VAZ G-8s closer to more modern engines, they increased the compression ratio by one and added an oil cooling system for the pistons.

The so-called full synthetics of the 5W-40 viscosity grade were taken for testing, and the most popular brands: Castrol (Castrol), Shell (Shell), Mobil (Mobile), Esso (Esso), BP (Bi -Pi"), elf ("Elf"), Total ("Total") and ZIC ("Zik"). This set covers approximately three-quarters of the market in this segment. According to the European classification, all selected oils belong to the high quality group - A3 / B3 / B4. According to API quality classes, the distribution is as follows: most oils are SM / CF, Castrol is SN / CF, the rest are SL / CF. In the photo and in the tables, the studied oils are arranged alphabetically. As usual, the oils were purchased from specialized stores in the two capitals. We were waiting for a long "run" lasting almost six months. We haven't done this yet.

AND ON THE PACIFIC

... finished their campaign. The rest of all oils are drained into canisters, the motors are disassembled, measurements and pictures are taken. 1. (Scheme on the left) comparison of the energy saving effect of the tested oils and the ability to increase engine power. All oils are fresh, just from the canister, and as a base, that is, the initial reference bar, is a simple mineral water 10W-40 of API SJ class (the diagrams open in full size by clicking the mouse) : 2. (Scheme on the right) and this is how the efficiency and power of the engines deteriorated when the oils “aged”. Here the base for each oil is the same, only fresh. Say, 4.5% increase in fuel consumption - a little? But consider fuel prices in Siberia and the Far East.

It's time to answer the questions. Interestingly, there were no intermediate oil top-ups - four liters of initial refueling was enough for each of the eight participants. But oil consumption was different. Least of all - in oils "Zik" and "Castrol": the motors ate them only 0.6–0.7 liters each. Other oils gave results from 1.2 to 1.5 liters, that is, taking into account the roughness of the measurement method (per drain), they are almost the same.

All the samples after the drain were black and ugly - still, so much to plow! But how much have their basic physical and chemical parameters changed? The well-known trends have been confirmed: the viscosity of all oils first falls, then grows, the base number decreases, and the acid number rises. According to the change in the base number and the content of active elements, all oils worked well: none of them gave rejection indicators. This means that all manufacturers use high quality additive packages. However, this is not surprising: additive manufacturers can be counted on the fingers, these are serious specialized firms. But in terms of viscosity, the picture is different. Compare: for the Korean Zik oil, the change in viscosity for “15,000 km of run” practically did not go beyond the measurement error. But "Esso" at the end of the "run", somewhere already "in Siberia", got out beyond the limits of viscosity change allowed by the SAE class. Of course, this did not kill the motor, but it significantly increased its voracity. Of the other oils, BP oil came closest to the forbidden border. And the change in the behavior of the motor on the control measurements confirmed this.

TOLERANCE FIELD

Dealt with the resource. And what about the rest of the parameters, especially those that automakers analyze when issuing permits? The main indicators of the operation of oils in motors - the level of deposits, the degree of energy saving and wear protection - are shown in the diagrams. All oils, as befits full synthetics of high quality classes, have shown their energy-saving functions. We did not find a big difference between them, but again a certain dependence of fuel consumption on high-temperature viscosity appeared. Again, it turns out that the motor likes some kind of optimal viscosity more, any deviation from it to a smaller or larger side leads to a deterioration in performance. And Castrol and Zik oils turned out to be closest to this optimum. But the power of the motor requires more viscosity, and this is understandable. In maximum load modes, friction units are in the most severe conditions, and here oils with high high-temperature viscosity provide them with better lubrication. Therefore, at least a small, but still noticeable bonus was received by engines running on Total, Elf and BP oils. Engine wear protection is determined both by the viscosity-temperature characteristics of the oil (its viscosity at high temperatures) and the quality of anti-wear components. To evaluate the oil according to this indicator, we examine the degree of wear of the engine after identical test cycles. The minimum weight loss of the crankshaft bearing shells and piston rings, taking into account the error of the method, turned out to be in engines running on Shell, Zik and Castrol oils. Indirectly, these parameters are confirmed by the analysis of data on the content of wear products in oil samples taken at the end of the tests. And here the leaders are the same, and the "Korean" "Zik" found significantly less metal than in other oils. High-temperature deposits of oils were examined by plaque on the side surfaces of the pistons. Points were set by experts, comparing the obtained deposits with a special scale. The principle is simple. Black deposits all over the surface - the highest score, six on the generally accepted scale. A clean piston without deposits - zero points. Typically, synthetics do not rise above 1.0–1.5 points in terms of deposits. We look at the results - everything is so. Slightly better than others look "Zik", "Shell" and both "Frenchman": "Elf" and "Total".

YOUR HIKING IS FINISHED

So, what did you think about “on the Pacific coast”? Have we done the right thing by not taking oil for a change “on the road”? And how much can you trust oil manufacturers who claim long service life for their products? We return to the original question: is any synthetic capable of passing the service interval? Consumers on the forums advocate for a more frequent replacement - in eight to ten thousand. Oilers, on the other hand, are talking about 30,000 km. Well, our tests have shown: in such regimes, "not all oils are equally useful." The same "Esso" after the finish line actually fell down exhausted, but the "Zik" would have withstood the way back. The recommendations of the SR are as follows. For fresh cars operated in the warm season, you can safely be guided by the results obtained. But as the engine wears out, as with active winter operation, the oil needs to be changed more often. The same applies to cases where runs are measured not so much in kilometers as in many hours of traffic jams. We will devote a separate article to this. NOT ALL SYNTHETICS ARE ABLE TO PASS THE SERVICE INTERVAL.

WHAT AND WHY WE CHECKED

Motor oil is a canister and something liquid inside, consisting of base oil and an additive package. The resource characteristics of the oil depend on the latter.

During operation in the engine, the oil comes into contact with the heated surfaces of the parts. Its film, left by the piston rings on the cylinder wall, is heated by gases and is subjected to high contact pressures. Oil does not like contact with crankcase gases: it is saturated with products of incomplete combustion of fuel, oxidizing and absorbing wear products and other dirt formed during engine operation.

The main indicator of oil is viscosity. If not everything, then a lot directly depends on it: the quality of lubrication of friction units, wear rate, friction losses. And also, indirectly, its consumption for waste, toxicity of exhaust gases and even the temperature of engine parts.

The working viscosity of the oil is formed both by the properties of the base oil and by the quantity and parameters of special additives - the so-called thickeners. These are polymers that change their properties under cyclical exposure to temperatures. The classic picture of the change in viscosity is as follows: first it falls, then it begins to rise. An excessive decrease in viscosity sharply increases the wear rate, and its growth significantly worsens the efficiency of the engine and its starting properties, increases the toxicity of exhaust gases and oil waste. The range of permissible oil viscosities for our SAE class is from 12.5 to 16.3 cSt. Therefore, the first criterion for the clinical death of an oil is the output of its viscosity at some stage of testing beyond the permissible range. An important function of the oil is to wash the engine and not dirty it. Appropriate additives are responsible for the quality of washing, and the ability not to stain is determined by the stability and quality of the base oil. It is customary to separate high-temperature and low-temperature deposits. The first are formed on the side surfaces of the pistons. They are the most dangerous, because they interfere with the work of the piston rings and can lead to a complete loss of their mobility, that is, to occurrence. And the fixed ring no longer works. Result - compression drops. And smoke on the exhaust - like in a football stadium after a goal is scored. Oil consumption starts to approach fuel consumption sharply. What about low temperature deposits? They are formed in the oil pan, and on the walls of the engine crankcase, and in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe camshafts. But the worst thing is the accumulation of deposits in the oil channels: they can become clogged. The washing ability of the oil decreases as it works - detergent additives are used up. This is partly controlled by the base number of the oil, and directly by the level of deposits formed after a long test cycle. The oil, absorbing in the process of operation products of combustion of fuel containing sulfur, nitrogen oxides and other "amenities", accumulates acids. They are neutralized by alkaline detergent additives only partially. A "sour" oil becomes aggressive towards the motor. Therefore, the value of the acid number of the oil is also its rejection indicator. In a completely neglected case, oil separation can occur - the so-called loss of an additive package. They remain in the sediment, and already fairly aged base oil begins to walk through the engine lubrication system. Naturally, it does not possess any functional properties necessary for the motor. This is also a sign of the death of the oil. All of the above makes clear our criteria for the end of oil life. 1. Viscosity outside the limits defined by the SAE class. 2. A sharp (more than twofold) drop in the alkaline number and a sharp increase in the acid number. 3. Loss of the additive package, induced by a sharp change in the content of active components in the oil - phosphorus, zinc, calcium. In addition, we evaluate the energy-saving functions of the oil, which characterize the level of friction losses in the engine, as well as the protective functions, which are estimated by the wear rates of the main parts. In principle, these are the main quality parameters that are analyzed when the oil is approved for use in specific types of engines.

REPRESENTATIVES

1. BP Visco 5000

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SL/CF, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 Approvals: VW 50200/50500, MB 229.1/229.3, BMW LL-98, Porsche Estimated price: 1100 rubles. for 4 l The cheapest of all tested synthetics. It justifies its price, it has withstood the mileage. But it came close enough to the resource limit. Great high-temperature viscosity secured a place in the group of leaders in terms of engine power. Good balance of price and quality. Fairly high aging rate. The level of deposits is slightly higher than that of the leaders in this indicator.

2. Castrol Magnatec C3

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4, C3 Approvals: VW 50200/50500, BMW LL-04, MB 229.31, RN 0700/0710 This oil is of the highest quality group according to API, which was confirmed by tests: both in terms of protection and energy-saving functions, it is on the first lines of the ratings. We noticed its aging, but it is still very far from rejection indicators. So 15,000 km of run is not the limit for him. Low waste consumption, good protective and energy-saving properties. Low result in terms of deposits.

3. elf Excellium NF

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SL/CF, ACEA A3/B4 Approvals: VW 50200/50500, MB 229.3, Porsche A40 Estimated price: 1380 rubles. for 4 l One of the two oils of a relatively modest API quality group is just SL. However, we did not find a fundamental deterioration in its properties compared to oils of a higher class (according to API). Moreover, in terms of resource indicators, elf clearly outperformed most of them. Good resource indicators, high washing properties. It is logical to expect better wear protection. Yes, and too expensive.

4Mobil Super 3000

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SM/CF Estimated price: 1620 rubles. for 4 l The most expensive synthetics purchased. The oil was in the group of leaders in all major indicators. And it burns a little, and it washes well, and everything is in order with the protection of the motor. Resource indicators at the level. Low waste consumption, good cleaning properties, good resource indicators. The price compared to other oils is too high.

5 Esso Ultron

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SM, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 Approvals: VW 50200/50500, MB 229.3, Porsche A40, BMW LL-01, GM LL-B-025, RN 0710 Inexpensive high quality synthetics. But this is the only oil that asked for a replacement at the end of the run, its viscosity fell out of the SAE class. However, this did not kill the motor. There are large reserves for other rejection parameters. Price. A good option for seasonal operation with an oil change during the transition from winter to summer and vice versa. Good cleaning properties and low tendency to deposits. The resource against the background of other synthetics turned out to be small.

6. Shell Helix HX8

Approvals: BMW LL-01, MB 229.5, VW 50200/50500, RN 0700/0710 Estimated price: 1350 rubles. for 4 l Another representative of the group of leaders, which was included in the totality of the results shown: good washing ability, excellent protective properties, high resource. Oil for 15,000 km of plowing has not changed its pour point by a single degree. This is a sign of a very good base. High resource, excellent protective characteristics. In terms of oil consumption, the indicators are not the highest.

7. Total Quartz 9000

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SM/CF, ACEA A3/B4 Approvals: Peugeot Citroen B71 2296, VW 50200/50500, MB 229.3, Porsche A40, BMW LL-01, GM LL-B-025 Estimated price: 1320 rubles. for 4 l This "Frenchman" has one of the best performance in terms of resource. A high rate of high-temperature viscosity pulled him into first place in terms of engine power. It washes well, but not everything is in order with the waste. And this is also a consequence of a significant viscosity in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bpiston rings. Good power performance, low deposits, high resource. Large waste of waste.

8.ZIC XQ

Classification: SAE 5W-40, API SM/CF, ACEA A3/B3/B4 Approvals: MB 229.5, VW 50200/50500, VW 50301, BMW LL-01, Porsche Estimated price: 1250 rubles. for 4 l On this oil, one could turn around in Vladivostok and go back to Lisbon without any topping up. In all respects, it differs significantly from the rest. The freezing point is 10-15 degrees lower than others. There is much, in some cases, much less metal in the oil. And this is an indisputable confirmation of the protective properties. And the viscosity of the oil "in Vladivostok" turned out to be almost the same as "in Portugal". The leader in most positions, while the price is very moderate. What if you need to fill the engine with not four, but three liters? An opaque metal canister will force you to do it at random.

QUESTION ANSWER

What does the need to add oil in the interservice period indicate - about the imperfection of the engine, the wrong oil, or about a technical malfunction of the engine?

Depending on what kind of oil and how much you add. Oil consumption is inevitable. The oil film left by the piston in the cylinder is heated by gases and evaporates (waste). How much oil will fly into the pipe depends on its properties, operating modes, temperature overboard, and the degree of engine wear. In the instructions for the car, data on the regular oil consumption are most often given, but they are indicative. For most modern engines, consumption up to a liter per 3000–4000 km of quiet city driving is quite normal. Some cars have regular consumption - up to a liter per 1000 km. The preposition "before" is important here. Now, if more, welcome to the service.

Almost any motorist knows such a manufacturer of motor oils as Elf. It is a French brand mainly aimed at the European market. Although owners and Renault are considered the main consumers, Elf working fluids are suitable for many cars of European, American, Asian and Russian production. The Elf brand is positioned as inexpensive, affordable and of high quality. This is not a top company among the world leaders, but the cost of the liquid is fully justified by the quality and technical characteristics. Since it is inexpensive and widespread, it opens up a huge space for fraudsters to make fakes. To protect against counterfeit products, the company has developed a number of protective measures. With their help, when buying Elf formulations, fake oils can be easily identified.

What to look out for

Although the company creates a number of protective measures to prevent the purchase of counterfeit products, a lot depends on the buyer. To the great regret of literally all manufacturers of motor and who value their reputation and name, it is almost impossible to completely get rid of fakes. New clandestine workshops appear every day, counterfeiting methods are regularly developed, making it possible to bring counterfeit products as close as possible to the original. Therefore, car owners who purchase consumables for their car on their own must understand how to distinguish Elf oil in the original from a fake. Having the appropriate knowledge will allow, without outside help and advice from far from always qualified sellers, to find the oil that really suits your car.

When buying Elf products, you should pay attention to the main criteria:

• price;
• canister;
• certificates.

Each criterion has its own characteristics and nuances. Although the manufacturer places the main emphasis on packaging when creating protection, the purchase still begins with questions about the price and the availability of documents.

Certificates

Everything is very clear here. If the seller has documents, then he does not deal with fakes. Elf always issues a complete set of permits, which confirms the authenticity of the products sold and gives the legal right to trade in goods. Moreover, an important distinguishing feature of documents is the presence of the so-called wet seal. Now ask the seller a question about whether he has certificates and other papers. If there is not even a banal photocopier, then it is better not to come here for consumables. Look for another store where you can easily provide any papers on demand.

Remember that you have every legal right to require the production of permits. If the seller claims otherwise, he is either not sufficiently qualified and knowledgeable in the business he is engaged in, or there is simply nothing to show. In any case, there are a huge number of other stores where you can buy Elf products.

Issue price

The next point is the cost of production. Agree that very often we, in pursuit of savings, happily respond to announcements of promotions and sales of goods. This also applies to the question. Yes, manufacturers themselves arrange promotions, discounts and sales quite often through their official dealers. Genuine stocks, when the price goes down, usually serve several purposes:

• sell goods that are poorly sold;
• conduct an advertising campaign for new products;
• draw attention to your brand;
• increase awareness;
• spread the word to a new audience.

This is marketing that is justified and necessary even for big-name companies like Elf. Competition forces regular promotions. But there are other situations where discounts are made. They are associated with the sale of counterfeit products. Due to the reduced price, a large number of potential buyers are attracted. All this is served as a special offer from the dealer or the Elf company itself. You can always find out about current promotions on the official websites. All other special offers are on the conscience of the seller.

Remember that various stores and other points of sale always sell oils at approximately the same cost. The difference is no more than 15%. If you are offered oil for 500 rubles, which costs 1000 - 1500 rubles, then categorically refuse it. There is a very high probability that you are being offered a fake.

Quality and distinctive features of the canister

Now let's move on to the most important question. When the price is adequate, corresponds to the average cost of Elf products, and the seller himself is ready to provide you with some kind of copier, you cannot fully rely on these two facts. The packaging always gives out a fake. If you carefully consider it and study all the distinctive features of the original packaging, then Elf will not be difficult for you.

When studying containers, a fake and an original are distinguished by:

• cork;
• canister shape;
• measuring scale;
• labels;
• inscriptions;
• workmanship, etc.

To identify fake Elf oil, you just need to take the canister in your hands and examine it from all sides. This will not take much time if you know the key distinguishing features of this packaging from Elf.

1. Lid. It all starts with a simple visual inspection of the lid. But already by the cork you can understand whether the fake is in front of you or the original. To do this, study the quality of its polishing. Original lids are always carefully cleaned and polished to a smooth and glossy finish. But if it is a fake, then the caps are usually uniform, rough and matte. The sides and top of the cap are identical. This is a clear sign of Elf counterfeit oil that you should avoid.
   
2. The top of the cap. Again the cover, then here you are already looking at its surface. In real canisters, the top of the cork will be slightly convex. This is a characteristic feature of the original. In the case of fakes, the surface is flat.
3. Side of the container. Not a bad way to find the differences between the original and the fake. To do this, you can use an improvised measuring tool. Over the entire surface, the height is the same and is 7 millimeters. This container is distinguished by a closer location of the side part to the neck. Plus, it is narrower, the width is only 4 millimeters.
4. The cap and the main part of the container. Here it is important to look at the distance between these components of the capacitance. In the original packaging, you should get 1.5 millimeters. If you have fake Elf products in front of you, then this distance may be completely absent.
5. The bottom of the canister. On it, if you have real Elf brand oil in front of you, you will see three convex stripes. A certain equal distance is provided between them. Also, the extreme strips are located at a distance of 5 millimeters from the edge of the package. The distance to the edge should be the same on both sides. If there are more stripes, they are denser between themselves or not at the same distance, then you have a fake. It is better to refuse this container with engine oil.
   
6. Label. There are paper labels here. Moreover, a distinctive feature of the Elf company is the use of two-page labels. Although it is not so difficult to fake a paper sticker, it can be used to identify the original. These labels have 2 pages, which open like a book. For fakes, it often turns out that it is difficult to open the label. It begins to tear, stick or tear off with the second page. So if you find a similar problem, be sure to return the canister. This is an obvious fake.
   
7. Dates. Buyer care issue. When car owners buy oil, they try to choose the freshest, which is quite logical and understandable. But here it is important to understand what dates are printed on the packaging and how they can be related to each other. The original Elf engine oils provide for the date of manufacture of the container and the filling of the working fluid itself. And here, be extremely careful, since the date of packaging of the oil cannot be earlier than the date of manufacture of the container itself.
8. Date marking method. Information about when engine oil was poured into the container is applied to the back of the canister. For this, a special laser is used. Any other methods of application indicate the falsity of the Elf products offered in the store.
9. Rigidity of plastic. If the container is very rigid, it is likely that you have cheap plastic in which fake products with Elf brand labels are poured. Real packs use a strong but softer polymer, which makes it feel less hard to the touch.
10. When opening the container, pay attention to how the seal behaves. The seal itself is not so difficult to fake. But when it peels off along with the lid, this is a characteristic sign of a fake. Even if you have already bought a canister of oil and cannot return it, then you should not pour an incomprehensible liquid of unknown origin into the oil sump of your engine.

You yourself perfectly understand that any defects, irregularities and flaws on the canister should be absent. At real Elf production plants, careful quality control is carried out on the casting of containers into which oil is poured. For this, special modern automated complexes are provided, which exclude the presence of burrs or any other defects. Even if, according to all other signs, you have an original in front of you, but you have doubts about the quality of the container, do not take risks and refuse to buy.

If there is any doubt about the originality of the proposed Elf engine oil container, it is better to play it safe and look for additional signs that indicate a potential fake. You must understand that the use of low-quality oil, which is poured into counterfeit canisters by scammers, entails serious consequences. At first, you won't feel a difference. But as the car is used, various problems will begin to appear, the lubricant will not be able to perform its functions, severe wear of parts will begin, which will lead to final breakdowns and costly repairs.

We offer a few more distinctive characteristics with which you can understand where the fake is and where the original Elf oil is.

1. Canister shape. It will not be difficult to repeat the common features of containers for manufacturers of counterfeit oil. But at one point, scammers often make a mistake. It is associated with a relief edge, which, in the case of real oil, should protrude by 4 millimeters. The scammers did not foresee this moment, because they got a protrusion equal to 7 millimeters.
2. Bottom part. On the bottom of the canister there are special convex-shaped strips that we talked about above. It is not difficult to visually distinguish an original from a fake, since in the first case only 5 millimeters should remain to the edges, and on fakes, the distance is 13 millimeters. If you do not quite trust your eyes, take a ruler and measure the distance from the strip to the edge of the container.
3. Measuring scale. An excellent tool that allows you to control the amount of Elf working fluid poured into the oil sump. But it's also a good way to recognize a fake. In real canisters, the measuring scales are applied on the side and are made in a homogeneous structure. There are no deformations. If you have a fake in front of you, then the measuring strip may turn out to be uneven in color, unevenly placed.

To reduce the likelihood of buying fakes, try to buy goods in trusted and certified stores. It also happens that the oil is changed at a car service as part of scheduled maintenance or simply when the car owner himself does not want to do it himself. Here, too, it is important to choose a service that you can trust. Indeed, most of the counterfeit motor and transmission oils, including Elf products, are sold through service stations and shops at car services.

In 2003, the French oil and gas company Total formed its structure and has not changed it to this day. It is currently the 4th organization of its kind in the world. Before the final formation, the company went through a difficult path of structural changes.

Total, then called Total Fina, last merged with another French company, Elf Aquitaine, in 2000. After the merger, the Elf brand of motor lubricants appeared.

Elf engine and transmission oil is now 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.

Technical characteristics of ELF oils

Like any representative product of large and well-known brands, Elf engine and transmission oils have lubricants in their range that are suitable for various previously produced and currently produced cars.

Let's briefly consider the generally accepted global characteristics of lubricants in relation to Elf products.

SAE classification

Regarding Elf lubricants, everything is simple here: there are all possible combinations of winter and summer viscosity indicators. But not all options are easy to find.

Elf oil classification according to CAE

For example, Elf sports synthetic motor oils with an SAE 0W-20 class are very rare. At the same time, Elf offers motor lubricants with the most popular viscosity parameters, for example, 5V-40, in a wide range for any type of engine.

Lubricants suitable for this classification are suitable for obsolete and even obsolete vintage cars and modern cars.

API classification

For example, for gasoline engines of obsolete cars, it is easy to select Elf oil of SH class according to API. It will be the simplest cheap mineral water with a minimum set of additives, but with a high-quality base. Synthetics Elf has the latest API classes for both gasoline and diesel vehicles.

ACEA classification

The European Motorists Association commends almost all Elf lubricants, whether they are 100% synthetic or semi-synthetic. For gasoline engines, the vast majority of oils are assigned class A3, for diesel engines - B3 and B4. Lubricants from Total also have other tolerances that are less common.

Automaker Approvals

Unlike other global brands, Elf oils cannot boast an impressive list of approvals from automakers. Often on the canister you can find 3-5 marks on passing tests in the laboratories of automakers.

These are mainly European concerns such as Mercedes, Volkswagen and Renault. Oils are produced separately, which are designed specifically for the engines of the French automotive industry.

In general, lubricants under the Elf brand have established themselves as quality products from the medium and high price categories. The widespread use of Elf oils in Russia is largely due to a balanced price / quality ratio.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any brand, regardless of its quality and reputation, Elf motor oils have advantages and disadvantages. Let's move away from the traditional scheme and start with the disadvantages.

• A high percentage of fakes on the market, which are often bottled in high quality canisters, which sometimes does not allow even professionals to identify them with a high degree of probability.
• Several large manufacturers whose product quality is somewhat different (even with identical tolerances, the consumer properties of the oil may vary, but not critically).
• Subjectively, many drivers believe that the price for the quality provided is too high. Especially against the backdrop of domestic lubricants that have been fired recently.
  The advantages of the considered oils are greater than the disadvantages. However, all the advantages apply only to original Elf lubricants.
• A wide range of. You can choose Elf oil for almost any engine and for any operating conditions.
• Developed dealer network. If you wish, you can buy guaranteed original products from Total in almost any region of the Russian Federation.
• Stable quality. Information that someone has acquired a frankly bad original Elf oil is unlikely to be found. All problems begin with the purchase of counterfeit goods in stores with a dubious reputation.
• Good interaction with exhaust gas treatment systems. Additives in Elf lubricants have a balanced composition to work with catalytic converters and DPF filters. Naturally, with the appropriate permission.
• Stable long-term operation of Elf oil in engines operating with increased loads. Unlike some other lubricants, the base of Elf products is of high quality, regardless of whether it is mineral water or synthetics. The oil stably fulfills its resource and does not require early replacement due to accelerated degradation.

To the merits, some car owners also attribute a reduction in waste consumption in engines with a solid operating time. While some other lubricants burn out pretty quickly and you have to constantly top up, Elf oils do not suffer from this drawback.

However, the opposite view can also be found. Therefore, we will not attribute this item to either advantages or disadvantages.

Elf's popular oil lines

It makes no sense to list the entire range of Total products, because you can find almost any Elf engine oil with any characteristics. We will describe only in general terms the popular lines.

Elf Evolution Full-Tech

100% synthetic high performance motor oil. It has high protective, extreme pressure, antioxidant and energy-saving properties. Pretty expensive. Mainly used for new cars. It gets along well with engines built according to the EURO-6 standard. Available only in 5W-30 format.

Evolution 900

High quality synthetic lubricants. They are produced in a very wide range of viscosity indicators (from 0W-20 to 10W-60). The variant of the 900 series Elf 5W-40 is the most popular in the Russian Federation.

Evolution 700

Good, reliable semi-synthetics. Great for most domestic and used foreign cars. Just like the previous series, it is produced in a wide range of viscosities.

Evolution 500 (400,300)

A line of good mineral lubricants. Scope: used or retro cars with unpretentious engines. A good base, a minimum set of additives and a low cost allowed these oils to find their buyer.

Total also produces gear oils. However, there is no such wide choice as in motor lubricants.

How to distinguish a fake

Elf counterfeit motor oils are one of the most serious problems for this brand's products. According to some information, at least 3 underground manufactories produce counterfeit products.

A similar conclusion was made on the basis of the analysis of existing fakes. Moreover, it is difficult to distinguish a high-quality counterfeit from the original. Only rather obscenely executed fakes can be identified on your own.

fakes have stripes on the bottom

So, a few signs by which you can distinguish a fake Elf oil.

• Lid. By far the strongest argument. In the original, the edge of the cover is polished to a shine against the background of the general roughness. Its surface is slightly convex. The lid does not fit tightly to the base of the canister, but with a small gap of 1.5-2 mm. After unscrewing the protective ring remains on the neck.
• On the original, three parallel stripes in the back of the bottom of the canister do not reach the edges by about 5-7 mm.
• In a fake, the front label is pasted crookedly and has obvious defects. The back double sticker does not separate, or is separated with difficulty. The text underneath is poorly printed.
• On a counterfeit canister, in the area of ​​​​the measuring scale, the tides of the canister relief protrude by more than 5 mm.

How to distinguish fake oil using the example of two canisters in this video

Today, a more or less reliable way to distinguish counterfeit goods is to carefully examine the cover. The remaining moments appear only in very bad fakes.

When buying Elf motor oils, the most important thing is not to run into a fake product. Further, the selection algorithm does not differ from the standard procedure. In the case of Elf lubricants, there is a dependence inherent in world brands: the higher the price, the higher the quality.

The selection procedure implies compliance with the following conditions:

• viscosity required for a particular climate;
• compliance with manufacturer's approvals according to API, ACEA or ILSAC;
• availability of recommendations and approvals;
• assessment of the base required for a particular motor (synthetics, semi-synthetics or mineral base).

Following these simple rules will allow you to choose the right Elf oil for your car.

When choosing a lubricant that will serve in a car until the next change, you want to be sure of the quality of the lubricant used. Now, unfortunately, there are a lot of products in stores that do not fulfill the characteristics declared by the manufacturer.

And because of the abundance of brands, making the right choice is becoming increasingly difficult. A motorist is forced to shovel mountains of statistical and analytical pages, not knowing for sure where he will finally be lucky.

Today we will talk about Elf 5w40 oil, which, while not standing out from the general range of other manufacturers with any magical nano-additives and miracle supplements, nevertheless deserves special attention. First of all, due to the fact that this manufacturer is already more than ninety years old, and it is Elf who pours the French into formula one racing cars, year after year, getting decent results.

About company

A bit of history. During its existence, the concern that produces oils, which we know today under the Elf brand, changed its name several times, going through various mergers and acquisitions in the common market of fuel and lubricants manufacturers.

Despite this, the total experience of this enterprise dates back to 1924, almost constantly developing and raising the quality of lubricants.

Undoubtedly, the use of the brand in formula one race cars can only give a positive characteristic. Part of the Total Group of more than 1,600 brands, Elf retains his French identity while remaining true to the old school tradition.

5w40 oils, general overview

Let's talk in detail about oils with the 5w40 index, and in particular, consider Elf 5w40. All motor oils with this index belong to two large groups: synthetic and semi-synthetic oils. Here is the main difference between these groups:

• Semi-synthetics are made from motor oil obtained by classical hydrocracking distillation with the addition of a modern additive package that gives it enhanced performance;
• Synthetic oils, produced using a more complex multi-level technology, differing in molecular structure. With the same base stock, synthetic oils, although more expensive to produce, have improved starting performance before the introduction of additives.

Important to know: The main advantage of synthetics is increased fluidity and frost resistance, all these properties begin to work from the index 0w40, 0w50, 5w50 and similar indices.

Where is it needed? First of all, increased fluidity is needed for racing engines, where the quality of lubrication at high speeds, and therefore the quality of the engine as a whole, depends on the specified parameter.

If we are talking about engine oil for an average engine, then sometimes 10w40 will be enough, while the 5w40 index is a little more than complete, it performs all the necessary work in the engine.

engine oil

What distinguishes Elf engine oil from the general range of engine oils with the 5w40 index, making its purchase more interesting than buying other brands:

• Production technology. This is the base that gives odds to many other manufacturers of motor oils. Elf engine oil is produced using the company's own developments with more than 90 years of experience in the production of fuels and lubricants;
• The right combination of additives. In addition to the additive technology itself, which deserves a separate article, it should be noted that Elf 5w40 is distinguished by a properly selected ratio, which, in turn, allows you to get excellent fluidity in the cold, while maintaining high detergent properties;
• Versatility of application. The company did not make two different oils for diesel and gasoline engines, instead offering to fill it in both diesel and gasoline engines. Characteristics were not affected by this, it has tolerances for both types of engines;

• Reliability. Even if you miss the replacement interval, you can be sure that the Elf will give you the necessary head start. It will continue to work without losing its characteristics, like a Cinderella shoe on a fateful night. Do not worry - you will have time to replace, without negative consequences for the motor;
• High base number to keep your engine clean throughout the life of the oil.

Finally, the quality of this brand is evidenced by the fact that there are even fake Elf oils on the market. It is difficult to disagree that not all manufacturers receive such an “honor”. Oil from the Elf company was awarded. Not counting all kinds of diplomas, certificates and awards from specialized forums and events in which the company takes an active part.

If you are afraid to purchase a fake, do not worry, it is quite simple to protect yourself from this - purchase lubricant only in large specialized stores, preferably with a certificate confirming that they are a dealer of this brand. And of course ask for a certificate for the motor oil itself. These simple precautions will completely protect you from counterfeit products.

Finally