Fake oils discovered in Asia

Sindelfingen, 4 May 2017. The long-standing company BITZER warns users against imitation oils. In Vietnam and Korea, counterfeiters partly disguised their imitations with the logo and name of the specialist for refrigeration compressors. These forgeries can lead to compressor breakdown, in contrast to the use of BITZER Original Refrigeration Oils.

Product pirates not only sell counterfeit compressors, they also bring low-quality oils onto the market. In Asia, for example, counterfeiters partly disguised their imitations with the BITZER name and logo, presenting major risks. BITZER recently discovered several fake oils in Vietnam: a local company has illegally been declaring and selling containers with low-quality oil as original products from BITZER. According to the label, the high-quality oils B320SH, BSE32, BSE170 and B100 should be in the containers. However, they contained oils of inferior quality whose chemical formulation differs greatly from the high quality of the originals.

BITZER has investigated the counterfeiting and expressly warns customers against the possible risks associated with their use. The viscosity characteristics, moisture content and chemical formulation are very different from the original products.

Programmed damage

Using the fake product can lead to insufficient lubrication of compressors, chemical reaction, destruction of elastomers and thus to great damage. In the imitation oil of the type BSE170, the moisture content exceeded the permissible values significantly. It was three times higher than the permissible value. High moisture content in polyolester oils like BSE170 is particularly critical because it leads to hydrolysis with the result of acid formation in the refrigerant circuit. This in turn causes copper plating and thus damage of critical moving parts like roller bearings as well as possible motor burn-out. This can in consequence trigger very high costs for compressor exchange and measures for system dehydration and acid catching.

Original BITZER Refrigeration Oils

Original BITZER lubricants feature lowest moisture content (lower than specified in standards) and specific properties optimised for BITZER compressors. Their chemical compatibility is extensively tested including distinct compressor construction materials introduced for use with the latest low-GWP HFOs and HFO/HFC blends. Due to their specific tribological characteristics, BITZER oils guarantee highest service life of the compressors. The outstanding lubricity and superior viscosity/temperature behaviour ensure reliable compressor operation and sufficient oil circulation in the circuit. BITZER Refrigeration Oils are subject to BITZER Quality Assurance and are delivered in metal packages which allow no moisture to ingress, even after longer periods of storage. Furthermore, safety data sheets are available as standard in several languages for all BITZER oils.

Only originals are safe

The specialist for refrigeration compressors condemns product piracy and warns against the associated risks. The use of counterfeit oils has a negative impact on the performance, safety and service life of BITZER compressors. Users should avoid these risks. In the end, the consequences of supposedly cheap forgeries are by far more expensive than the expected savings. The Original Refrigeration Oils certified by BITZER offer users more safety and have positive effects on the compressor’s life. Customers who have concerns about the origin of their lubricant are invited to contact their local BITZER representative for advice.