Fraud With Arla 32 Becomes Real Threat for Diesel Vehicle Owners and Raises Alarm Across Brazil

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 31/03/2025 at 23:06

Fraudes com Arla 32 crescem e ameaçam caminhões e meio ambiente

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Cases of Adulterated Arla 32 Surge in the Country and Already Cause Million-Dollar Losses. The Counterfeit Product Harms the Environment, Damages Engines, and Can Cost Up to R$ 20 Thousand in Repairs. PRF and Ibama Tighten the Crackdown, and New Technologies Aid in Enforcement.

What should have been a sustainability ally has turned into a headache for those driving diesel vehicles in Brazil. Arla 32, an essential fluid to reduce pollutant emissions, is being widely counterfeited, putting both the environment and the health of engines at risk, as well as the wallets of drivers.

Used in trucks, buses, vans, and even pickups, Arla 32 is injected into the exhaust system to convert toxic gases into water vapor and nitrogen. However, when adulterated, it fails to perform this function, generating more pollution and causing serious damage to the catalyst — a part that can cost over R$ 20 thousand to replace.

Fraud with Arla 32 is Now a National Issue

In September 2024, an operation by Ibama, PRF, and Inmetro seized over 48 thousand liters of counterfeit Arla 32 and 67 tons of agricultural urea used illegally in the production of the fluid. The operation took place in Mato Grosso do Sul and resulted in fines exceeding R$ 10 million.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

What Happens When Using Adulterated Arla 32?

Increased NOx emissions, highly polluting gases
Risk of catalyst SCR failure, essential for emissions control
Compromised engine performance, with loss of power and increased consumption
Possible electronic lock of the vehicle, if detected by the onboard system

In other words, the cheap option can end up being very expensive. In addition to the damages, using counterfeit products constitutes an environmental offense and may result in severe penalties.

Technology in the Fight Against Counterfeit Arla 32

PRF now utilizes new technology that analyzes the electronic history of vehicles, helping to detect fraud in the emissions control system. This includes changes to the software, use of illegal “chips,” or even complete deactivation of the Arla 32 system.

This monitoring allows for smarter enforcement and has already been used on heavily trafficked highways, especially in the South and Central-West regions.

Bill Aims to Protect Drivers

A bill is currently under discussion in Congress that shifts the legal responsibility for using adulterated Arla 32 from the driver to the vehicle owner, often the company. The idea is to prevent self-employed drivers from being penalized for decisions they did not make.

The proposal is under discussion and has the support of transport sector entities and deputies connected to the logistics sector.

How to Protect Yourself?

Purchase Arla 32 only from brands certified by Inmetro
Request an invoice and verify the batch and quality seal
Never accept fluid from dubious sources or at prices significantly below market value
Perform preventive maintenance and periodically check the emissions system

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Fraud With Arla 32 Becomes Real Threat for Diesel Vehicle Owners and Raises Alarm Across Brazil

Cases of Adulterated Arla 32 Surge in the Country and Already Cause Million-Dollar Losses. The Counterfeit Product Harms the Environment, Damages Engines, and Can Cost Up to R$ 20 Thousand in Repairs. PRF and Ibama Tighten the Crackdown, and New Technologies Aid in Enforcement.

Fraud with Arla 32 is Now a National Issue

What Happens When Using Adulterated Arla 32?

Technology in the Fight Against Counterfeit Arla 32

Bill Aims to Protect Drivers

How to Protect Yourself?

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Fraud With Arla 32 Becomes Real Threat for Diesel Vehicle Owners and Raises Alarm Across Brazil

Cases of Adulterated Arla 32 Surge in the Country and Already Cause Million-Dollar Losses. The Counterfeit Product Harms the Environment, Damages Engines, and Can Cost Up to R$ 20 Thousand in Repairs. PRF and Ibama Tighten the Crackdown, and New Technologies Aid in Enforcement.

Fraud with Arla 32 is Now a National Issue

What Happens When Using Adulterated Arla 32?

Technology in the Fight Against Counterfeit Arla 32

Bill Aims to Protect Drivers

How to Protect Yourself?

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Cambodia has started digging a nearly 180-kilometer canal to connect the Mekong River directly to the sea and reduce its dependence on the ports of neighboring Vietnam.

China has put millions of electric cars on the roads, but now faces the side effect: more than 1 million tons of batteries are expected to go out of use per year by 2030, while the government expands tracking and combats illegal dismantling with environmental risks.

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Images from NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite have revealed reddish slopes in the far south of Chile, but this is not colored snow; rather, it is the southern beech forests of Patagonia, which take on shades of red and orange in the austral autumn.

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