Our Realtor customer 2018
We have a realtor customer who has 8 duplexes with an all-inclusive service of backup generators. He had been having problems with a few of their company vehicles. We tested the engine oil using the Lubricheck on the following vehicles:
- G-Wagon Benz, it had been recently serviced at a reputable service center, the oil was a 1. Oil used was a Total fully synthetic.
- Toyota Hilux also recently serviced, the oil was a 5. Oil used was a 20W50.
- Toyota Prado, it had been recently serviced at a reputable service center, the oil was a 1. Oil used was a Total fully synthetic.
While our engineer was on site our customer mentioned that one of his 60 Kva generators had knocked twice in a few months. We asked what oil was being used, it was one of the top 6, petrol station, engine oil retailers’ mineral diesel engine oil, that we had historically tested with the Lubricheck.
The original oil, brand new, was a 7 (so not a very good oil). We asked if this was the same oil used in the engine historically. The answer was YES! We asked if we could test the brand new oil. The keg was brought to us and the seal was opened. A few drops of the oil was tested by the Lubricheck which gave us a fast blinking 10 which meant the oil was not only bad but had a high level of contaminants.
We asked were the oil was purchased from and the customers’ driver said he bought it from one of the top 6 petrol stations. When we insisted he take us to the petrol station he confessed that he bought the oil from a roadside oil seller for almost half the price of the the same oil at the petrol station.
It was at this stage we knew that the oil was fake or adulterated and not fit to be used in the engine. We also confirmed that it was the same oil used for the earlier overhaul where the engine knocked with a big hole in the engine block.
The Lubricheck in this case prevented another expensive generator engine overhaul or replacement.