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04-25-2020, 12:19 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 511690
Join Date: Feb 2020
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Counterfeit NGK Spark Plugs
Purchased some NGK Laser Iridium spark plugs for my 2015 Subaru WRX. These are NGK 90624/ILKAR8H6 plugs for the FA20 motor. Heard about counterfeits, so I thought I would investigate. Sure enough these were counterfeits. Wanted to share how to properly identify genuine NGK stark plugs. If you buy from Amazon or e-Bay, please check this out, and with NGK if needed, before installing.
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04-25-2020, 09:21 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 448185
Join Date: Jun 2016
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Essex County, New Jersey
Vehicle:2016 WRX DGM |
Man... I put plugs in over a year ago, same ones. Bought off of Amazon. Never crossed my mind they could be counterfeit. A little worried now, but its a large expense to do it again. Even larger if they are fake and it grenades my engine.
Would a tuner have noticed they're off when tuning? I installed and gapped them prior to a tune. |
04-25-2020, 09:40 PM | #3 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 511690
Join Date: Feb 2020
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Quote:
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04-25-2020, 10:10 PM | #4 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 432734
Join Date: Oct 2015
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Savannah, GA
Vehicle:2016 WRX Premium Crystal White Pearl |
Quote:
Same here, I replaced mine with Amazon NGK's last March, never thought they could have been counterfeits. So far they've held up 10k miles and gone through a retune. |
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04-25-2020, 10:18 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 233053
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I have to check my Nissan now! bought NGK plugs on Amazon last year and have been getting tuning issues ever since. Makes me wonder if they were counterfeit and the reason I am having issues.
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04-26-2020, 12:52 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 459394
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:2015 WRX Crystal White |
This is why everyone should buy parts from an authorized and reputable dealer. Amazon is the wild west of cheap/knockoff parts.
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04-26-2020, 01:10 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 402515
Join Date: Sep 2014
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX WRB |
It's not worth it to buy plugs from Amazon or ebay to save a few dollars. Buy the plugs from a reputable online store or shop.
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04-26-2020, 01:37 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 233053
Join Date: Dec 2009
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It's still possible for places like rockauto to be supplied with knock offs as well no? I'm sure they buy from other suppliers besides ngk directly.
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04-26-2020, 05:02 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 443545
Join Date: Mar 2016
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: SLC, Utah
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limited CVT Lightning Red |
Add me to the list of Amazon NGK buyers last year. Time to yank one and have a look.
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04-26-2020, 05:58 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 469678
Join Date: Jun 2017
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Canada
Vehicle:2010 STI hatch Silver |
Pretty good knockoffs... Thanks for the info. Definitely checking now
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04-27-2020, 01:50 PM | #11 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 446029
Join Date: May 2016
Location: 510
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I stop buying certain car parts form Amazon years ago. Too many shady sellers. Even if it's sold and shipped from Amazon I still wouldn't trust it. Who knows how inventory moves around in those robotic warehouse. It can easily get mixed up with the fakes. lol
it's not just NGK parts... Denso, Toyota, Motorcraft... all being counterfeited. Rockauto FTW |
04-27-2020, 03:25 PM | #12 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 70710
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Quakertown/AREA1320 391whp
Vehicle:2002 04STi Swaped RS w/PPGS & 02 Wagon w/PPGs |
They only copy the pricey ones. That's one of the many reasons why I don't use the iridium plugs in any of my cars.
Copper FTW |
04-27-2020, 04:16 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 495630
Join Date: Dec 2018
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anything that doesnt require scheduled replacement for 40,000++ miles I always get from the dealer. Otherwise if you get a fake or subpar part with lower longevity intervals your car will own your time replacing parts over and over
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04-27-2020, 07:01 PM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 494418
Join Date: Nov 2018
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Welp and I just replaced mine a few months that I bought from amazon before my tune. Looks like I’ll replace them once I retune later this year
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04-28-2020, 12:56 AM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 181064
Join Date: May 2008
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Bay Area
Vehicle:00' 2.5RS BRP |
If you search online, theres several company bulletins to help you identify counterfeit Denso, NGK, etc. plugs. There have been counterfeits on the market for years now. The manufacturer will also have a list of authorized distributors. If the price is too good to be true, then it most likely is.
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04-28-2020, 01:07 AM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 433589
Join Date: Nov 2015
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Texas
Vehicle:2016 WRX Premium WR Blue |
i heard about the counterfeit plugs from amazon for awhile now. Went through my second set (amazon) recently because of a re-tune. My tuner saw some misfire and recommended I replace my plugs. They only had about 18k miles on it. I always suspected something wasn't the same since I replaced my plugs that came with the car. So, I bought OEM plugs from the dealer and compared it with the one in the car currently (amazon), it's identical. As far as the description from op's vid, EXACTLY the same in my eyes. So I went and replaced all 4 with the OEM ones an hour ago. My car got it's grunt back! Car fells like it actually has torque now. Going to crack one of those amazon plugs open to see if it has a copper core tomorrow. btw, the current amazon plugs I took out has less than 2k miles on them.
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04-28-2020, 01:26 PM | #17 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 51901
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Vehicle:'04 WRX WRB |
Quote:
Platinum and Iridium plugs perform at a lower level than copper spark plugs, because they are less conductive and they tend to overheat. However, the overall longevity of these two types of metal is better than copper plugs. In reality, copper has the best performance of all three and the worst longevity. The shop I go to only recommends copper plugs for the above reason, plus they're cheaper...but interesting about the counterfeit plugs, I didn't know that was going on. |
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04-28-2020, 11:43 PM | #18 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 495630
Join Date: Dec 2018
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Quote:
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04-29-2020, 09:20 AM | #19 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 431550
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: South Florida
Vehicle:2016 WRX ALL THE STAGES |
Quote:
Unless you do not have a problem swapping out sparks more frequently, then iridium is best bang for buck mile for mile. |
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04-29-2020, 09:22 AM | #20 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 90539
Join Date: Jul 2005
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: SWLA
Vehicle:My BOV goes COVFEFE! |
We are talking 30,000 volts and above, at those voltages the electrical conductivity difference of copper and iridium is a non issue. If we were discussing a low voltage high current situation and were worried about losing a couple of volts in a 12v car audio system for example, we would use a copper wire vs something less conductive...because at that voltage level the devices will perform way differently if they lose a few volts. Keep in mind the core of the spark plug can still be copper, with only the tip being iridium, to keep efficient heat transfer.
You will see no performance increase running a set of copper over iridium tipped plugs. You will still have a super hot spark and they will last long enough that you won't destroy your spark plug threads from changing them plug so often. But yeah back on topic, make sure your plugs aren't counterfeit. If you must, get them at the dealer. There is a reason you can find plug so cheap online, and it's not because the dealer is out to rip everyone off. Yeah, they mark them up a good bit at the dealer, but they are guaranteed best quality and genuine. Considering they don't need to be changed often, it's a wise decision to make sure they are genuine and not risk engine damage for saving a little cash. |
05-21-2020, 10:37 AM | #21 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 514954
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:1999 Impreza OBS Green |
Counterfeit spark plugs, unbelievable! I think I got Amazon plugs a few months back just because of the Prime shipping. Dang it, I'll have to pull one out and inspect it.
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05-21-2020, 11:43 AM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 373868
Join Date: Nov 2013
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Queens, NY
Vehicle:'04 STi WRB |
I ordered a set of LFR7AIX from NGK direct web site online, $34 shipped. Should be here soon
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05-22-2020, 08:51 PM | #23 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 70710
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Quakertown/AREA1320 391whp
Vehicle:2002 04STi Swaped RS w/PPGS & 02 Wagon w/PPGs |
I have no problem changing plugs every 15-20k
In fact I check them probably every other oil change, as they are one of the best first indicators of a combustion issue |
05-26-2020, 05:32 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 373868
Join Date: Nov 2013
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Queens, NY
Vehicle:'04 STi WRB |
I just got my set of NGK 2309 LFR7AIX which is one step colder for all EJ motors. I ordered direct from NGK.
Here's a crapload of pics below. So far they match everything the video states. I think the most prominent identifier is the dimple in the very top. Hope that helps anyone else out who orders the step colder plugs and wants to ID check them as genuine |
05-28-2020, 11:34 PM | #25 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 514832
Join Date: May 2020
Location: New England
Vehicle:2010 Impreza 2.5i silver |
Why did you buy these from Amazon, as opposed to just directly from the store? I mean... why save pennies when it could cost you dollars?
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