Did I buy Fake Spark Plugs?

[Gull81]

Link to the ones I purchased - just now seeing all the signs pointing to them being fake - such as photoshopping the denso logo etc. etc. Security Measure

The item I bought: I thought they were DENSO plugs, came in the little red and white lexus/ toyota box. I have been having a misfire issue since then, and I have begun to second guess them.

I'm going to go ahead and pull one right now and check em.

 

[Gull81]

Pardon it being upside down - but you can see the difference in the checkering with the old and new plug, and the font of K16TR11. I think these are fake.

If someone could confirm that would be nice, but it seems likely that this is a "learn from my mistakes" type thread.

 

[eddielasvegas]

No clue on your plugs, but a correctly oriented pic might make it easier to tell.

Also, there is tons of info on this subject on the Interwebz. I recently had to tell with this for some NGK plugs.


Eddie

 

[HiLife]

I bought these from NAPA. These are that only ones I can take a pic at this time. Where you get these plugs also helps determining if it's fake or not.
Could be fakes it's coming from eBay, Amazon, etc.
Hope this helps.

 

[Gull81]

I bought these from NAPA. These are that only ones I can take a pic at this time. Where you get these plugs also helps determining if it's fake or not.
Could be fakes it's coming from eBay, Amazon, etc.
Hope this helps.

Yea, those look more like the old ones than the new ones. I may throw the old plugs back into the car and see if it fixes the problem. I didn't have issues prior, I just changed them out for preventative maintenance.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah parts stores don't sell fakes. Cheap aftermarket parts yes, fakes no.

If you are looking for a contact-less option, Rockauto.com is a site sponsor on here and they sell a ton of good parts for our 4Runners, including OEM replacements. I'd go with them if you are looking to re-order.

 

[jgue467]

..didn't have issues prior, I just changed them out for preventative maintenance.

Not one single Good Deed goes unpunished!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Pardon it being upside down - but you can see the difference in the checkering with the old and new plug, and the font of K16TR11. I think these are fake.

If someone could confirm that would be nice, but it seems likely that this is a "learn from my mistakes" type thread.

It also looks like the label is crooked


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[LittleCaesar]

My lesson learned, as I have been burned as well via Amazon, is to hit the parts store. My old local Napa though even received some fake plugs so open them up in the store for comparison FWIW.

 

[Kanoe]

One thing to keep in mind. Toyota oem densos used to be made in Japan. Now they are Indonesia or some nearby country. This is getting them from the dealer. The switch happened about a year ago. This may make them look a bit different.

 

[DaveSki]

Tons of fakes out there... I don’t know why anyone would risk ordering from EBay or Amazon. If the price is too good to be true it probably is lol. Just order from your local Advance or Orielly.


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[Gull81]

One thing to keep in mind. Toyota oem densos used to be made in Japan. Now they are Indonesia or some nearby country. This is getting them from the dealer. The switch happened about a year ago. This may make them look a bit different.

]

Do they say made in Japan on them still?

I switched the old plugs back in and boom, no more misfire.

I can't imagine it being anything else, but I think the ones I got are just straight counterfeit. I didn't think I would get burned on these - how much can you make on a counterfeit $5 spark plug: the fancy iridium ones sure, but these?

Looks like I was wrong.

 

[HiLife]

Not much per plug for us consumers.
Sell a couple of million counterfeit spark plugs and the counterfeiter is buying a new 2020 4runner cash every 2 months.

 

[Kanoe]

]

Do they say made in Japan on them still?

I switched the old plugs back in and boom, no more misfire.

I can't imagine it being anything else, but I think the ones I got are just straight counterfeit. I didn't think I would get burned on these - how much can you make on a counterfeit $5 spark plug: the fancy iridium ones sure, but these?

Looks like I was wrong.

No. The ones at the dealer now say made in Indonesia.

 

[Gull81]

Thanks - these say "made in Japan" on them. I'll probably go to the dealer and get new plugs and compare. Maybe the tooling has been changing and I just got a defective one, but I think they are probably just fake.

 

[brillo_76]

From post thread :

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-...information-5vz-fe.html?highlight=spark+plugs


The fakes are getting insane. :-(

I even have a link to a video showing users how close these plugs are:

YouTube

 

[O2RunnerSR5]

Tons of fakes out there... I don’t know why anyone would risk ordering from EBay or Amazon. If the price is too good to be true it probably is lol. Just order from your local Advance or Orielly.


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Eww. For an emergency only maybe. Expect to have to redo the job in a year with their Chinese brand parts. OEM only, especially for critical mechanical components!


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

 

[gamefreakgc]

Eww. For an emergency only maybe. Expect to have to redo the job in a year with their Chinese brand parts. OEM only, especially for critical mechanical components!


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

Yup, that's my rule of thumb. If it's a critical part (I ask myself: Will I be stranded or severely inconvenienced if it fails?) I go OEM from an online Toyota dealership like McGeorge Toyota or Toyota of Dallas with ok pricing. If it's non-critical like a metal bracket, trim piece, etc. I go aftermarket.

 

[brillo_76]

Denso and NGK are the OEM suppliers to Toyota. So as long as you get from reliable sources. You wont have a problem. I mostly pull the plugs from the dealership myself.

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[phattyduck]

Eww. For an emergency only maybe. Expect to have to redo the job in a year with their Chinese brand parts. OEM only, especially for critical mechanical components!

You do know you can get NGK parts at your local auto parts store, right? It isn't *all* crap - you just have to ask for the right stuff.

-Charlie