Spark plugs!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
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From: North tonawanda NY
Just mentioning again, theres a LOT of fake spark plugs being sold online especially NGK. on other forum people have reported the electrode blowing off and damaging the engine.
There are Many more videos and conversations on other forums
There are Many more videos and conversations on other forums
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
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From: North tonawanda NY
Le Mans Master
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
Supposedly the counterfeit issue with NGK was a couple years back.
Hopefully all those sets on the shelf are long gone, destroyed, or no longer being sold.
The first clue was the blurry ink writing on the porcelain.
Second clue was the engraving numbers in the steel.
Hopefully all those sets on the shelf are long gone, destroyed, or no longer being sold.
The first clue was the blurry ink writing on the porcelain.
Second clue was the engraving numbers in the steel.
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I don't recall if the counterfeits were found at mainline auto parts stores like NAPA, O'Reilly's, Summit, etc., however, the knowledge that fakes exist always leads me away from Amazon, eBay, and the other generalist retailers for ignition components.
Le Mans Master
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
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From: North tonawanda NY
Its still a thing.. lots of you tube videos a year or less old about it as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
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From: North tonawanda NY
I bought my last set of plugs from Rock auto and have no concern of getting fakes there myself. I buy a lot of auto parts on amazon and ebay and I cant really recall ever getting ripped off but I tend to try to use common sense and check feedback and forums for heads up like im trying to give here. YMMV sometimes things arent as they seem. Just look at all the folks who bought poly bushings from VBP thinking they were getting quality bushings and they turned out to be garbage the shrunk, hardened and cracked...
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Drifting
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From: Wisconsin
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Thats very true. But a lot of people shop online these days because the costs for many things at the autostore are generally higher and it can add up quick..
I bought my last set of plugs from Rock auto and have no concern of getting fakes there myself. I buy a lot of auto parts on amazon and ebay and I cant really recall ever getting ripped off but I tend to try to use common sense and check feedback and forums for heads up like im trying to give here. YMMV sometimes things arent as they seem. Just look at all the folks who bought poly bushings from VBP thinking they were getting quality bushings and they turned out to be garbage the shrunk, hardened and cracked...
I bought my last set of plugs from Rock auto and have no concern of getting fakes there myself. I buy a lot of auto parts on amazon and ebay and I cant really recall ever getting ripped off but I tend to try to use common sense and check feedback and forums for heads up like im trying to give here. YMMV sometimes things arent as they seem. Just look at all the folks who bought poly bushings from VBP thinking they were getting quality bushings and they turned out to be garbage the shrunk, hardened and cracked...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
Just because someone opts to buy from local parts store does not guarantee their sparkplugs are 100% the real thing.
All of them: AutoZone, NAPA, Advance Auto, O Reiley's could UNKNOWINGLY get plugs from the same supplier as Amazon unknowingly did.
Who is going to go through thousands of boxes and check the print on the sparkplug porcelain?
No one. That's who.
There are no guarantees in life. More importantly is that we are on to them, for making counterfeit and will be on the look-out.
All of them: AutoZone, NAPA, Advance Auto, O Reiley's could UNKNOWINGLY get plugs from the same supplier as Amazon unknowingly did.
Who is going to go through thousands of boxes and check the print on the sparkplug porcelain?
No one. That's who.
There are no guarantees in life. More importantly is that we are on to them, for making counterfeit and will be on the look-out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 1,359
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From: Wisconsin
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Just because someone opts to buy from local parts store does not guarantee their sparkplugs are 100% the real thing.
All of them: AutoZone, NAPA, Advance Auto, O Reiley's could UNKNOWINGLY get plugs from the same supplier as Amazon unknowingly did.
Who is going to go through thousands of boxes and check the print on the sparkplug porcelain?
No one. That's who.
There are no guarantees in life. More importantly is that we are on to them, for making counterfeit and will be on the look-out.
All of them: AutoZone, NAPA, Advance Auto, O Reiley's could UNKNOWINGLY get plugs from the same supplier as Amazon unknowingly did.
Who is going to go through thousands of boxes and check the print on the sparkplug porcelain?
No one. That's who.
There are no guarantees in life. More importantly is that we are on to them, for making counterfeit and will be on the look-out.
Some time ago on Amazon people were ordering hard drives and what were they receiving in the mail, a brick! A literal brick the same weight as a hard drive.... Wouldn't happen at best buy.
Last edited by Mdbirk; Jul 16, 2024 at 08:35 AM.
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Drifting
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From: Wisconsin
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New fuel system, new distributor, new coil and freshly rebuilt engine. Threw the old plugs in and had occasional misfire and hard starting. Tested the plugs with a multimeter and most of them read 3-5, replaced now and it resolved my issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 1,114
From: North tonawanda NY
I think you're wrong, Amazon or rather the "sellers" on Amazon buy cheap and resell. Some are reputable companies. Big chain auto parts store have a supply network, ie they buy and import ngk plugs from Niterra Co., Ltd (the company that makes the plugs).... Somehow someone would need to sneak in counterfeit plugs into the supply chain..... doing your homework is the best option. Look at the reviews, see if there's any pictures with those reviews, look for import info and mostly make sure it's backed by Amazon.
Some time ago on Amazon people were ordering hard drives and what were they receiving in the mail, a brick! A literal brick the same weight as a hard drive.... Wouldn't happen at best buy.
Some time ago on Amazon people were ordering hard drives and what were they receiving in the mail, a brick! A literal brick the same weight as a hard drive.... Wouldn't happen at best buy.
I am a member of amazons "vine" program and that en tales ordering, testing and reviewing things for amazon that im basically just paying tax on at the end of the year. They use these methods as well as others reviews and ? to determine what to carry and what not to allow. what I dont care for is the way they sometimes combine the reviews of multiple different products into one..
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 1,114
From: North tonawanda NY
and I believe the regular copper ac delco "branded" plugs are now made in china by autolite, denso or NGK depending on model for at least the last 7 years or so. possibly since GM went bankrupt and became an international company.