Buyer beware

[wayhipcat]

I changed out the spark plugs at 46K miles. Got the plugs off Amazon. Drove the truck right after, experienced a shudder I never felt before. Check engine light came on. Showed that there were misfires in the 4th cylinder. I took the spark plugs to O'Reilly's, and long story short, they showed me how at least 2 of them were counterfeit.

But, if anybody is curious, here's what the spark plugs look like after 46K miles, over 4 and a half years.

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Wow - could you share how they showed you they were counterfeit? Others on here could benefit from knowing how to tell the difference. ?

 

[LaBalbe]

I changed out the spark plugs at 46K miles. Got the plugs off Amazon. Drove the truck right after, experienced a shudder I never felt before. Check engine light came on. Showed that there were misfires in the 4th cylinder. I took the spark plugs to O'Reilly's, and long story short, they showed me how at least 2 of them were counterfeit.

But, if anybody is curious, here's what the spark plugs look like after 46K miles, over 4 and a half years.

Sucks that you got stuck with counterfeit garbage. This is part of why I don't like buying online; I don't feel like there's nearly as much accountability, and I don't really buy that it's saving me, the consumer, all that much money. I know that I could get cheap crap just as easily at the store, but at least there's a place that I can go to and return it with less hassle than I tend to experience with online shopping, plus I feel better knowing that at least in terms of the employee wages, I'm contributing a little bit to the local economy, which I can never really know if that's the case with online shopping.

 

[Grumpaw]

How did the counterfeit plugs differ from the good ones...what gave them away ?
And, via Amazon, did the plugs come from a third party seller or from Amazon Direct ?
Wife and I purchase a lot of stuff from Amazon, and have found any problems we have had in the past came from third party suppliers...those that were outside of Amazon's direct warehouses.
Granted, Amazon has always take the items back, no questions asked, but curious as to your purchase....

 

[PltFX4]

I changed out the spark plugs at 46K miles. Got the plugs off Amazon. Drove the truck right after, experienced a shudder I never felt before. Check engine light came on. Showed that there were misfires in the 4th cylinder. I took the spark plugs to O'Reilly's, and long story short, they showed me how at least 2 of them were counterfeit.

But, if anybody is curious, here's what the spark plugs look like after 46K miles, over 4 and a half years.

Not good.... now tell us how to tell the counterfeits!!

(PS: like the photo but as I have a 5 cylinder Volvo in addition to the Ranger and have been working on the Volvo of late, my brain said "WOW, that cylinder 1 plug sure looks good for 46K miles." Then doouh, this a Ranger 4 cylinder old plugs and one new one... TIA.... LOL)

(PSS: 3 updates to the thread while I was composing this one... )

 

[wayhipcat]

I changed out the spark plugs at 46K miles. Got the plugs off Amazon. Drove the truck right after, experienced a shudder I never felt before. Check engine light came on. Showed that there were misfires in the 4th cylinder. I took the spark plugs to O'Reilly's, and long story short, they showed me how at least 2 of them were counterfeit.

But, if anybody is curious, here's what the spark plugs look like after 46K miles, over 4 and a half years.

When comparing the authentic to the counterfeit, the fake won't have as crisp of printing on the spark plugs, the shade of blue will be slightly off, the printed dot at the end where it connects to the coil won't be as crisp, and when you feelt it in your hand, the fake won't feel the same balance as the real (not sure how to describe that last part better). Essentially, focus on the printing and the shade of blue. Easier to tell when you have a comparison.

Purchased through Amazon, shipped from Amazon.

 

[OrangeStreak]

I changed out the spark plugs at 46K miles. Got the plugs off Amazon. Drove the truck right after, experienced a shudder I never felt before. Check engine light came on. Showed that there were misfires in the 4th cylinder. I took the spark plugs to O'Reilly's, and long story short, they showed me how at least 2 of them were counterfeit.

But, if anybody is curious, here's what the spark plugs look like after 46K miles, over 4 and a half years.

Your should be able to return them if you are in the 30 day window. I have found that Amazon is good about returns, even orders from most 3rd party vendors.

 

[Jason B]

Was the problem caused by counterfeit plugs? Because many people had issues with #4 after replacement because that COP is a bitch to get on correctly.

 

[Friday yet?]

I use Amazon as well. More than I should... even when making a conscious effort to use them less. However, there are some things that I just flat out will not now or ever purchase via Amazon. Spark plugs is a good example. Just no.

$45K vehicle and I'm going to try to save a few bucks on replacement plugs by using Amazon? Knowing the internet in general, Amazon specifically (JMO), is over run with cheap Chinese knock off shit in every category you can imagine? Nope, not in my world. For automotive parts I will gladly pay more to ensure the quality, and hopefully "Made in a non-f***ed up country" label on those quality parts.

Sorry, Chinese counterfeit shit just sets me off.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Thank you for the heads up. This is a great time to parrot my old story about how I once got a counterfeit ValvoMax oil drain from Amazon. Crazy stuff.

I've relegated Amazon to "stuff from whole foods or stuff that doesn't matter."

I bought a "Motorcraft" engine air filter from Amazon that I am 100% positive is counterfeit but it looked exactly like the one I pulled out - so I put it in. I figure this can't get... oh dear God.

*runs to garage*

 

[RangerPNW]

When it came time to do my plugs, I ended up ordering 1 step colder plugs from Mountune which come pre-gapped. I had good luck with the plugs I bought from them in the past, and so far that seems to be holding true.

 

[shovelhd]

I buy plugs, filters, suspension parts, etc. from Rock Auto. The shipping kills a lot of the savings but their parts are just what they say they are.

For plugs, I've had really good luck with NGK Ruthenium HX plugs in my tuned VW, and they are available for the Ranger. When its time, I'll try them.

 

[moorejl57]

Thank you for the heads up. This is a great time to parrot my old story about how I once got a counterfeit ValvoMax oil drain from Amazon. Crazy stuff.

I've relegated Amazon to "stuff from whole foods or stuff that doesn't matter."

I bought a "Motorcraft" engine air filter from Amazon that I am 100% positive is counterfeit but it looked exactly like the one I pulled out - so I put it in. I figure this can't get... oh dear God.

*runs to garage*

How did you determine your ValvoMax was fake? I am running one I got off of amazon.

 

[Msfitoy]

I experienced a similar shudder after a plug install...turns out I had a plug boot not seated properly...

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

How did you determine your ValvoMax was fake? I am running one I got off of amazon.

I was just examining the components when it arrived to see how it worked before I installed it and I noticed it didn't have a cap. So, I emailed some photos to ValvoMax support to ask them if the unit was correct or missing a piece. When they responded they let me know the cap was missing and wanted to know some details about the purchase which included sending them photos of the packaging. After sending the photos they let me know it was not a genuine unit and were willing to exchange me a genuine unit for the fake. So I mailed them the fake and received their unit in completely different packaging, a box vs a blister pack, and that was that. After seeing their packaging I realized that is what clued them in that the unit was not genuine. If my unit came with the cap I'm sure I would have never realized.

I thought it was such a bizarre product to counterfeit.

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