Generic or Unbranded Oils: These oils may not meet the specific performance standards required by your vehicle's engine.
Oils Lacking API (American Petroleum Institute) Certification: The API certification signifies that the oil meets specific performance and quality standards.
Brands With a History of Failed Tests: Some brands have had batches of oil fail to meet their advertised specifications or standards in independent or industry testing.
Expired Oils: Oil can degrade over time, even while sealed. Using oil that is past its shelf life can lead to reduced effectiveness.
Brands with Recurrent Recalls or Consistency Issues: Brands that frequently recall their products or have batches with varying quality levels can be unreliable.
Counterfeit Oils: Counterfeit motor oils are a real problem in the market, often packaged to look like reputable brands but failing to meet basic quality
Oils with Misleading Marketing Claims: Be wary of oils that make extravagant claims without industry-standard certifications or independent testing results to back them up.
Low-Quality Synthetic Blends: While synthetic blends can offer a good balance of performance and price, some brands use minimal synthetic content.
Oils from Brands with Poor Customer Reviews: Customer reviews can provide insights into the real-world performance and reliability of motor oil.