Beware fake platinum or Iridium Spark Plugs

speedzter · 10-10-2019, 02:40 PM

I recently bought a set of AGSF32fm Platinum Motorcraft spark plugs on ebay.
They came in an original looking box, with Motorcraft labeling.

I don't know why I was sus' on them from the start, but i decided to inspect them closely, and found they were sub-standard.

The platinum tips were just machined steel, and there was no internal resistor.
Looking closer, the graphics on the box was a bit off also.

The seller didn't believe me, and said he bought them in bulk from America, and had sold a stack of them, but he did agree to refund my money.

Apparently it's happening also with Denso and NGK plugs, and also O2 sensors. So keep it in mind

arronm · 10-10-2019, 03:21 PM

Buy from a Ford dealer. Plenty on Ebay. I use Adelaide parts.

Citroënbender · 10-10-2019, 03:35 PM

Where in Australia was the seller apparently located?

arronm · 10-10-2019, 03:38 PM

Darwin, but had to move, they said it snowed too much....

Vesper Martini · 10-10-2019, 04:02 PM

Search for AGSF32fm plugs on ebay and the first few hit are all ex china - there's one from Aus at twice the price.

you can zoom in on the pictures to see what your getting, so if its not identical your entitled to a refund. Id only select the Australian ones if it were urgent

speedzter · 10-10-2019, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arronm

Buy from a Ford dealer. Plenty on Ebay. I use Adelaide parts.

Actually , there's none on Ebay from Ford dealers that i could find (of this particular plug).
Local dealer is asking a crazy price.

This was an Australian seller with a shop front.

Itsme · 10-10-2019, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedzter

Actually , there's none on Ebay from Ford dealers that i could find (of this particular plug).
Local dealer is asking a crazy price.

This was an Australian seller with a shop front.

Australian seller with Chinese or Indian background, beware of Ebay sellers as there is a lot fake products & misinformation being given out by the dodgy sellers.

prydey · 10-10-2019, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arronm

Buy from a Ford dealer. Plenty on Ebay. I use Adelaide parts.

Bayford and Jefferson have pretty good stock also.

For something like spark plugs though, I'd just buy them from my local dealer. When I had my FG I just put genuine ones back in when it hit 150k. They were about $70 for 6 from memory, give or take. Not worth messing about online for some stuff.

**aussiblue** · 10-10-2019, 07:48 PM

I bought these: https://www.australianonlinecarparts...ba-bf-bf2-fg-a via ebay. I haven't used or checked them yet; perhaps I should.

Citroënbender · 10-10-2019, 07:59 PM

That’s the supplier I used most recently.

XR Martin · 10-10-2019, 08:42 PM

Toyota dealer got done recently selling fake Toyota parts.

Citroënbender · 10-10-2019, 09:24 PM

I spent a while trawling Google and found no mention of it?

**aussiblue** · 10-10-2019, 10:36 PM

Quote:

That’s the supplier I used most recently.

They are marked "Made In Japan" and look genuine to me.

Vesper Martini · 11-10-2019, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Toyota dealer got done recently selling fake Toyota parts.

I recall one of the big Ford dealers was selling fake parts a few years back and got caught out

https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=81342

prydey · 11-10-2019, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

I recall one of the big Ford dealers was selling fake parts a few years back and got caught out

https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=81342

From 2007...

Considering they are still in business and still selling on eBay I hope this issue was resolved. I've bought filters from them. Seemed legit. Had no reason to suspect otherwise so didn't really pay much attention.

My car was originally from Jefferson Ford. Hope it's legit

Citroënbender · 11-10-2019, 11:04 AM

It’s hard to find accurate information on exactly how much iridium (alloy) is in the plugs and how it’s incorporated. I’d presumed a surface depositing process but some promo guff infers a discrete tip - you’d think this compounds risk of it coming loose and therefore causing FOD.

Franco Cozzo · 11-10-2019, 11:25 AM

Stick to known resellers for any parts you are chasing, it's the same thing with Philips globes, assume everything on eBay are Chinese fake rorex specials.

The poor man pays twice!

Vesper Martini · 11-10-2019, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

From 2007...

Considering they are still in business and still selling on eBay I hope this issue was resolved. I've bought filters from them. Seemed legit. Had no reason to suspect otherwise so didn't really pay much attention.

My car was originally from Jefferson Ford. Hope it's legit

we & sell the genuine Ford parts labels. so get a fair idea

**aussiblue** · 11-10-2019, 11:40 AM

Quote:

we & sell the genuine Ford parts labels. so get a fair idea

Translation (or edit) please.

speedzter · 11-10-2019, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

It’s hard to find accurate information on exactly how much iridium (alloy) is in the plugs and how it’s incorporated. I’d presumed a surface depositing process but some promo guff infers a discrete tip - you’d think this compounds risk of it coming loose and therefore causing FOD.

It is only the precious metal tip that is fused to the center electrode.
Some plugs are "double platinum or iridium" , and they have a small disc fused to the ground strap.

http://densoautoparts.com/spark-plug...-platinum.aspx

**aussiblue** · 11-10-2019, 12:43 PM

This might help "How to Detect A Counterfeit Spark Plug" : https://www.ngkntk.com/press-media/s...to-avoid-them/

Also: http://www.ngk-sparkplugs.jp/english/techinfo/fake/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr9J3eQk-kE and

https://www.driven2automotive.com/bl...rk-plugs-2017/

and https://www.driven2automotive.com/bl...rk-plugs-2018/

**aussiblue** · 11-10-2019, 01:12 PM

It is too hard for me to readily to tell from a visual check; I think I will have to either buy some from my Ford dealer so I can compare or try and run the numbers by Ford. Apparently the genuine Ford ones are made by Denso per https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GENUINE-...frcectupt=true

Vesper Martini · 11-10-2019, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiblue

Translation (or edit) please.

we make & Sell

XC50077 · 11-10-2019, 01:42 PM

About 8 months ago I bought 2 x boxes of 4 these Motorcraft plugs from a Melb. supplier on Ebay. Compared to china suppliers they do have a different finish and boxes say AGS-432, AGSF32FM finewire platinum,electrodo fino platino. Made in Mexico and were about $90 for 8.Can't recall the seller.
Cheers.

XC50077 · 11-10-2019, 01:45 PM

Slight change, boxes say SP-432, AGSF32FM.

guzzis3 · 12-10-2019, 10:25 AM

Believe it or not I've been buying a bunch of stuff from repco lately. They have been running specials, but I have got in the habit of checking their website before I hit buy somewhere else.

Radiator cap $2.50, 2 gates hoses and clamps $14, bosch au3 discs I think were $55 each. I got a dizzy for the EL, I THINK it was about $110.

They seem to be in the habit of running stuff out or doing spot specials. A lot of it was half the $ I could get anywhere else.

roKWiz · 12-10-2019, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guzzis3

Believe it or not I've been buying a bunch of stuff from repco lately. They have been running specials, .

Used to like Repco.
Not long ago in Wangaratta (NE Vic) I can remember Repco being the only automotive store there. They never offered any incentive to buy from them because they thought they knew they had the market sewn up and could never lose. In fact from my own experience I bought a spare clutch kit for one of the trucks only to find a couple of years later they had the wrong part numbers on the box, which wouldn't fit my application and they wouldn't admit they sold me the wrong parts.
How things have changed with SCA opening up and now Burson's new store here.
Repco doesn't see a dollar of my money now. Apart from the fact they don't know what a 93 XF is.

Bill M · 12-10-2019, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officemanager

Australian seller with Chinese or Indian background, beware of Ebay sellers as there is a lot fake products & misinformation being given out by the dodgy sellers.

Also check the id of the seller, item located in Australia but seller located in China???

speedzter · 12-10-2019, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Also check the id of the seller, item located in Australia but seller located in China???

As I said earlier, this was an Australian based seller with a shop front, and they have pickup available.

Bill M · 12-10-2019, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedzter

As I said earlier, this was an Australian based seller with a shop front, and they have pickup available.

My comment was complementary to officemanager's post, not specifically to your issue. That is why I quoted him and not you.