Counterfeit ACDelco Plugs

[Redbeard]

I wasn't looking for plugs, but saw this over at Amazon.
ACDelco 41-103 Professional Iridium Spark Plug (6 Pack)
$16.00
That works out to about @2.66 EACH. free shipping with prime

<Link removed>

In Stock.
Sold by <removed> and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.

 

[Mooseman]

Moved to proper section.

Good deal!

 

[littleblazer]

Yea. I just ordered a set.

 

[Mooseman]

Me too even though I just put in a new set. Can't pass these up.

 

[littleblazer]

Me too even though I just put in a new set. Can't pass these up.

I'm about 5k over due for them so it is a good deal lol.

 

[cornchip]

Still a good value with exchange and shipping to Canada.

Edit....ordered a set.

 

[Mooseman]

Hell yeah! But I had them shipped to MyUSAddress along with some other stuff, including a turkey deep fryer, which dropped from $119 to $99USD. It's $200CAD on Amazon.ca.

 

[Mooseman]

Looking at the reviews, they may be fake Chinese clones. And now I'm wondering if the last set I put in were fakes as well but from memory, they had the plastic protective sleeve rather than the cardboard on the fakes. Telltale sign would be the "ASSEMBLEDA" on the plugs. Some reviewers said they had major issues with them, maybe thread breakage in the head? Some had failures.

I've put in a request for cancellation. May be too late though.

Edit: Got confirmation mine was cancelled.

 

[Capote]

Fantastic deal! Nice find
Be sure to check them though, some of the reviews said they received counterfeit ones.

 

[littleblazer]

Looking at the reviews, they may be fake Chinese clones. And now I'm wondering if the last set I put in were fakes as well but from memory, they had the plastic protective sleeve rather than the cardboard on the fakes. Telltale sign would be the "ASSEMBLEDA" on the plugs. Some reviewers said they had major issues with them, maybe thread breakage in the head? Some had failures.

I've put in a request for cancellation. May be too late though.

Edit: Got confirmation mine was cancelled.

Well damn, mine are beyond cancellation because they are at my local post office. Guess I'll check them to my original set and see but looks like they'll be going back.

 

[Redbeard]

Sorry gentlemen. I never thought of looking at the reviews because I didn't need any plugs currently and I didn't even look at the reviews. I'l preview any other items I run across before suggesting it. Amazon is getting bad about letting clones coming in and with these plugs that was farthest from my little mind.

 

[xavierny25]

Looking at the reviews, they may be fake Chinese clones. And now I'm wondering if the last set I put in were fakes as well but from memory, they had the plastic protective sleeve rather than the cardboard on the fakes. Telltale sign would be the "ASSEMBLEDA" on the plugs. Some reviewers said they had major issues with them, maybe thread breakage in the head? Some had failures.

I've put in a request for cancellation. May be too late though.

Edit: Got confirmation mine was cancelled.

After seeing your post I went and searched for the set I bought a month or so back. Seems these are good to go in the Voy. I have to get a set of coils while I'm at it.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Sucks they are fakes cause its time for me to do plugs again

 

[Mooseman]

There are other deals on fleabay where I got mine last year.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I looked around and several at this price from foreign nations. Was also looking to see if the NGK version had any deals. I scored on my TA plugs awhile back at 8 real iridium ones for under 20. I guess i need to just keep my eyes peeled.

 

[littleblazer]

Mine say delivered but I can't find them. I'll let you know.

 

[littleblazer]

Mine came with a plastic tube. Box was wrong, different than other delco plug boxes. That being said they are delco plugs... sort of. They are actually stamped with another part number and a Japan stamp. Sure as hell they're actually NGK plugs. Going back tomorrow.

 

[Mooseman]

Looking on fleabay, there are a ton of fakes. Looking at pics of the real ones, you can see a difference in the space below the hex and the finish is chrome like rather than a satin nickel finish.



Now I'm wanting to rip mine out and see if I got fakes or not. I still have my originals to compare.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

SInce NGK makes the AC Delco, it may not be all bad if they are real NGK

 

[littleblazer]

I don't trust it

 

[Mooseman]

Have some pics of those @littleblazer ?

 

[littleblazer]

Have some pics of those @littleblazer ?

They look the same as the ones you pulled out of your truck in the miss thread. The number embossed is the same and it says japan. However the threads weren't super clean. If they are still home later I'll snap a pic but mom was going to send them back if she had the time.

 

[cornchip]

GM in the US (not Canada) has a rebate on spark plugs valid until 12/31/18. I gave it a quick read and think this purchase might qualify. Might be too good to be true. Amazon is as valid a place to buy these as anywhere else....so read the fine print. I can't see why not.

LINK HERE

 

[Mektek]

I was skeptical of the deal. Ebay has similar prices.
What I decided to do was get it from Advance Auto Parts. Started off with $42, but after all rebates and discounts came to $20 for six plugs. I figured that a retail national chain store was most likely to have the genuine article.

Green bugs store????? WTF???? I want auto parts, not insects

The old plugs were made in Japan. New ones are made in USA of Japanese parts.

I wasn't looking for plugs, but saw this over at Amazon.
ACDelco 41-103 Professional Iridium Spark Plug (6 Pack)
$16.00
That works out to about @2.66 EACH. free shipping with prime

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JQ2L5DS/?tag=gmtnation-20

In Stock.
Sold by Green Bugs Store and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.

 

[Mooseman]

Just saw this video and it really shows the difference between the real and counterfeit plugs.

I have retitled this thread to reflect its nature and moved it to tech discussion.

 

[Redbeard]

Thanks Mooseman for sharing this video! Any little difference we might see in a plug might go unnoticed, but as the YouTuber showed adding all the little differences together do makes a big difference. I checked the gaps on the last set of plugs with a dial indicator and they all dialed in perfectly and with what he saw going from .029 to .036" variences it does show who has good quality control. And it ain't the fake ones.

edit: I felt sort of stupid not thinking of going to the original manufacturer to see what they suggested about looking at fake parts. duh.

 

[Redbeard]

This was over at the AC Delco site. Notice the tip of the spark plug with a small circular area just about the center electrode? Same as the Youtuber pointed out.

Site Maintenance

 

[mrrsm]

Here's another "How to SPOT Counterfeit ACDelco Spark-Plug" Video:

With an "Honorable LINK" Back to GMT Nation:

Genuine AC Delco Plugs

*Edit: The purpose of this thread is to give a basis of comparison for others. Bought through Holden, I can only assume the security of their supply chain is assurance enough that these are the real deal. I’m not posting to compare costs at all. Yes they cost me a bit, but if that’s what it...

forums.justcommodores.com.au

 

[Mektek]

Laser etching of the part number on genuine plugs is probably the best indicator. Chinese knockoff factory is unlikely to buy the equipment needed to do that.

 

[JWO76]

View attachment 86789
After seeing your post I went and searched for the set I bought a month or so back. Seems these are good to go in the Voy. I have to get a set of coils while I'm at it.

Ever have problems with these? They are indeed counterfeit...

 

[Mooseman]

I think I remember someone showing that they wore out quickly. I imagine that the iridium tip is just plain steel and a little tip like that would burn off. I wouldn't leave them in there.

 

[JWO76]

Yeah never I stalled. Had 6 sent to via Amazon. Don't wanna return because they'll Just send to someone else.

 

[Sparky]

Funny thing, I put AC Delco plugs from Amazon in my 07 Silverado years ago. Dirt cheap, thought I got a steal. Truck's original plugs were rather crispy and well overdue for replacement, though it didn't run badly at all. After replacement, I noticed no difference in how it ran. Maybe they were fakes.. But, I never had a single problem with them, and they were still in the truck when I traded it in last fall with over 80k on them (probably pushing 90k). So if they were fakes, they still lasted ok.

Oh well.

 

[JWO76]

At least AC Delco fraud got back to me. Amazon was like "Yeah, So what. Send me back".

 

[Mooseman]

Saw this video that shows how to check and test real vs fake plugs. These were NGK but I'd imagine it would be the same for ACDelco plugs since NGK is their supplier.

I have to say that the fakes are getting better at looking like the real ones but their performance is still sub-par.

 

[Mooseman]

And another one again with NGK. A little different, probably from another fake maker.