Torque Test Channel: Testing for counterfeit NGK Iridium plugs on Amazon/Ebay
- Thread starter K.Aoi
- Start date
Yeah IMO this is a major issue. Modern Iridium plugs are perfect items to counterfeit because they're expensive, small, most likely people buying them online aren't professionals who have a bunch of other ones to compare to, and even fake ones generally work for a while. On the other hand, a counterfeit plug can cause major engine damage at worst or poor driveability at best which means you'll go down a rabbit hole of either parts changing or paying a mechanic to diagnose a problem that everyone will assume is not the plugs because they're new and the "correct" ones.
Even worse you could pay $$$ for them at your local auto parts store assuming you're getting genuine parts... only to get fakes ones because anyone can buy genuine ones in the store, buy fake ones online, and return the fake ones for a genuine priced refund at the auto parts store... and they'll either end up back on the shelf or go back to the warehouse who sends it to the next store. I have personally caught this once but I'd say I'm far more attentive to what's going on than most parts store employees.
You're going to laugh but if I didn't work at a parts store I'd buy my spark plugs at the dealership and still inspect them before I leave in front of the dealership parts employee.
Even worse you could pay $$$ for them at your local auto parts store assuming you're getting genuine parts... only to get fakes ones because anyone can buy genuine ones in the store, buy fake ones online, and return the fake ones for a genuine priced refund at the auto parts store... and they'll either end up back on the shelf or go back to the warehouse who sends it to the next store. I have personally caught this once but I'd say I'm far more attentive to what's going on than most parts store employees.
You're going to laugh but if I didn't work at a parts store I'd buy my spark plugs at the dealership and still inspect them before I leave in front of the dealership parts employee.
I went through this years ago on ebay with Motorcraft plugs. Within weeks FTM released his vid about fake Motorcraft products including plugs and ignition coils.
Much like TTC, my ebay seller was AlphaRule and they offered tons of allegedly Genuine OEM items for all makes. These ebay sellers are just whack-a-mole because if they're found out they'll shut down and reopen tomorrow as a different user name.
My gaps were all over the map, but TTC shows this may not always be the case.
Now I only order from RA or O'Reilly and am not aware of any problems since -- but yeah I really wish RA would stop throwing single plug boxes loosely into packaging.....although an O'Reilly delivery driver with individuals is no better!!
Much like TTC, my ebay seller was AlphaRule and they offered tons of allegedly Genuine OEM items for all makes. These ebay sellers are just whack-a-mole because if they're found out they'll shut down and reopen tomorrow as a different user name.
My gaps were all over the map, but TTC shows this may not always be the case.
Now I only order from RA or O'Reilly and am not aware of any problems since -- but yeah I really wish RA would stop throwing single plug boxes loosely into packaging.....although an O'Reilly delivery driver with individuals is no better!!
ebay/Amazon are worse than flea markets & garage sales to me. It's just not worth it for many times what is not even a price savings. I consider RA to be 2nd tier since they seem to deal with so many warehouse clearances. That's just a little too close to comfort for me personally. Parts stores like O'Reilly, Advance, AutoZone, NAPA, are 1st tier. Of course, dealerships might be considered premium 1st tier with no distinct advantage if it's truly the same part number.
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I buy some parts off eBay...mostly from Toyota, BMW or Ferrari dealers, so I know they are legit. The only independent eBay seller I buy from is PartsContainer...I have used them for over 15 years, they are an authorized retailer for most brands like NGK, Bosch, INA, Continental, ZF, MANN, Pentosin, Motul, etc. Sometimes they just drop ship from wholesalers like WorldPac. PartsContainer is legit and vetted as far as I am concerned. Every pack of NGK plugs I have bought from them I compared on this NGK website and confirmed they are real: https://www.ngkntk.com/newsroom/blog/emea/fake-or-not/
But certainly, if you are just starting out, eBay and Amazon is a literal minefield of shady sellers.
But certainly, if you are just starting out, eBay and Amazon is a literal minefield of shady sellers.
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This. You need to learn to navigate ebay (and Amazon, somewhat)
There are numerous legit Ford dealers on ebay. You have to read the "about" of the seller, see what they list as a physical address, look at fb and look at the seller's other items. Also Google the seller to see if there really is, say, a Sunrise Ford
No one of these things is foolproof (for example Quirk sells OEM parts for numerous makes) but if you have any degree of common sense you'll see red flags or get a good feeling.
Someone selling textiles, cribs and "OEM" parts = Chinese scammer.
If they advertise too much about "USA stock" = Chinese scammer
If they list the item location as Rancho Cucamonga, Hebron KY or whatever East Coast port they're now using = probably Chinese scammer (truly foreign auto parts might go thru ebay's international center at Hebron??)
I'm not arguing but another viewpoint: it's easier for the average Joe to stroll into a local B&M and return fakes (after first buying real ones).
Scammers are lazy and going through RA's return process, printing a label, boxing and shipping is more than they're willing to deal with.
Bottom line, there's some risk no matter what. It's about reducing it to acceptable levels.
I also reduce my risk of getting counterfeit plugs by not using NGK plugs. Fortunately my vehicles work fine with Autolite double platinum's. The part where he mentions in the video where he purchased the plugs was also helpful, but expected.
Weren't there questionable Champions, also?
- Joined
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I bought counterfeit Denso plugs on ebay back in 2019 for my 2012 Rav4 V6. The seller had over 60k+ good reviews, was selling for years and the price was not out of line (maybe a couple bucks cheaper than a brick and mortar store). About 19,500 miles later I started getting misfire codes. I pulled the plugs from the front bank and they were essentially worn down to nothing. I then bought genuine plugs from Napa. Went on to ebay to file a complaint and the seller was no longer listed. Now I only buy plugs from the local auto stores.
Yeah I was thinking about this too. I usually use NGK G-Power (single platinum) and was thinking of switching to a dual plug. I think you're right, the counterfeits will likely be going after the high $$$ parts.
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- Mar 10, 2025
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Was thinking about iridium being a rare earth metal and asked Gemini whether iridium spark plugs can be recycled. Supposedly precious metal iridium is around $257/gram or $8K/troy ounce. Led me to Noble6, a specialty recycler that might pay $2.50-3.50 per pound of iridium plugs. The math says it takes 9-10 plugs to make 1 pound. Gemini estimates it would take 150-200 NGK Iridium IX plugs to extract 1 exact gram of pure iridium. Denso iridium uses a smaller 0.4mm center electrode so contains less iridium than the NGK 0.6mm center electrode.
Perhaps BITOG can collectively send enough spent iridium sparks to someone to fill a 55 gallon drum and ship it off to the recycler. But we need genuine not counterfeit iridium plugs!
https://noble6.com/bulk-spark-plug-recycling/
Perhaps BITOG can collectively send enough spent iridium sparks to someone to fill a 55 gallon drum and ship it off to the recycler. But we need genuine not counterfeit iridium plugs!
https://noble6.com/bulk-spark-plug-recycling/
RR cats where I typically send old cats says they're now paying for O2 sensors. I don't know how many are necessary for it to be worthwhile, but now I'm throwing old O2s in a bucket
Why would the dealer be suspect? I always get my plugs from the dealer and never had issues.
Probably because you cannot trust anyone lately.. it's the old saying "Trust but Verify"
But going down that rabbit hole - how can you trust where you bought it from didn't swap it somewhere down the chain? This actually happened to an intel distributor years ago on newegg.com. I highly doubt a dealer has any incentive to screw you on some spark plugs. Verify if you want, but I feel that's getting into somewhat-silly territory.
See this thread someplace else from the whole fake Intel CPU scandal which was from a verified vendor and newegg was a trusted source for this. Keep in mind, this is 2010, before newegg started having 3rd party vendors all over the site: https://www.overclockers.com/forums...s-statement-regarding-fake-processors.636860/
Somewhere, someone swapped out a few hundred on a pallet with fakes.
Somewhere, someone swapped out a few hundred on a pallet with fakes.
I do remember that one with Intel.. just scammers everywhere. Most dealerships that I've bought parts from are 100% legit and honest. I have dealt with a scummy dealer for Honda parts about 10 years ago that tried to sell me parts for the Civic that clearly were not correct, plus they had this odd refund policy that one was quite obvious they were trying to scam then get restocking fees. But there's always one out there. I've opened up sealed boxes at the Toyota dealer, nothing ever wrong or odd, so for me, that builds trust in a new-to-me dealership. And that works for me.
