PETALING JAYA: Veteran cabbie Zailani Isa Usuluddin has seen it all when it comes to recycled engine oil and his message to consumers is – don’t let the cheap prices fool you.
“It does terrible damage to the engine and it is just not worth the savings in the long run,” said Zailani, who is the Klang Valley taxi drivers action committee president.
Recycled oil may cost between 40% and 60% lower than the original, but consumers will have to pay more to repair the engine that it damages.
Zailani, who has been a taxi driver for over 38 years, has lost count of the number of oil changes he has done and he has seen first-hand the effects of using recycled engine oil.
“While we know that genuine oil offers proper lubrication and full protection, recycled oil would turn black and clumpy after days and weeks of use.
“Even the engine would sound different, often noisier,” Zailani, 59, told The Star.
He added that it was often hard to distinguish between fake and genuine oil.
“The packaging of both genuine and fake ones is identical and it is hard to tell which is which, but the viscosity and quality of the latter is far inferior. Even the colour is different.”
Zailani said he plays it safe by buying his engine oil from petrol stations and avoids buying from unfamiliar vehicle spare parts shops.
“Certain spare parts shops sell recycled oil for a steal. They don’t disclose it is as recycled oil.
“When we ask why the prices are so low, they tell us that they get it cheaper because they buy in bulk.
“However, car owners should be suspicious when the prices are very low and refrain from buying,” he added.
Zailani also urged the authorities to carry out regular inspections at spare parts shops to weed out the practice.
“They just need to take samples from unscrupulous sellers who promote this inferior oil and send it to the Chemistry Department for testing.
“Car workshops are also selling their used oil to certain quarters. We are aware that there are oil recycling factories that operate secretly in the Klang Valley,” he said.
Two other taxi drivers, who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity, said most cabbies who use their own taxis never resort to recycled engine oil as they are aware of its dangers.
“Those who use recycled oil are the ones who rent from taxi companies. More than 10 years ago, it was highly sought after because it was so cheap,” said one.
Zailani said recycled engine oil for motorcycles is also being sold by some workshop operators.
