COUNTERFEIT NGK Laser Iridium Spark Plugs MODEL IZFR6K11

UPDATE June 2023: Some people have been telling me to check the resistance using a multimeter, so I did. Both the fakes and the real ones were in the 4k -6k range. The difference is that the ohms from the real ones were closer (4.1, 4.5, 4.7) as long as they're from the same box. A real plug from a different box (same model) showed 6.0. The fake plugs from the same box were less consistent in their readings (4.1 and 6.0).
***The reason why these specific model ones are fake, even though they say made in Japan, and NGK is a Japanese company.... the older legit versions of this plug going back about 10 years used to say made in Japan. The company updated this model to say, assembled in the US. I know this because I bought these plugs 10 years ago. The fakes are still copying the older plugs.
**The information in this video is specific to the NGK Iridium Plugs model IZFR6K11. Other model numbers may have real plugs that use a cardboard protector, may say ///JAPAN/// on the plug, and may be manufactured in Japan or Thailand.**
** FYI -NGK manufactures in Japan, US, and Thailand. Some models come with plastic covers and other models come with cardboard. Main places you should be worried about fakes is Ebay and Amazon 3rd party sellers.
For a full list of locations where NGK Manufactures spark plugs, click here:
www.ngkntk.co.jp/english/corp...
In the video, I show you how the real NGK plugs for this model number are engraved with the words, Assembled in USA from Japanese parts. During the pandemic NGK was also making this model plug in their Thailand plant.
Aside from eBay, these fakes are also sold on amazon through third party sellers. When you buy stuff on amazon, it tells you SOLD BY and SHIPPED BY. As far as I can tell the NGK Laser Iridium plugs on amazon are all SOLD BY third party sellers. Amazon has an FBA program where third party sellers can send stuff to their warehouse to sell on amazon and amazon will ship it out to the customer. Don't confuse the SHIPPED BY amazon prime as being SOLD BY amazon.
Known good Amazon 3rd party seller: AUTOPARTSAAA, CPS, OverStockDirect
Places to buy legitimate plugs: Auto Zone, Napa, Pep Boys, O'Reilly, Advanced Auto Parts, Parts Authority, Summit Racing, Parts Geek, Parts Plus, Rock Auto.
Visit my Amazon storefront to view products that I have reviewed. As an Amazon Influencer I earn a small commission on eligible products.
www.amazon.com/shop/miggyelite
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[@ChavezDIY]

***UPDATE - THIS INFORMATION ONLY APPLIES TO THIS MODEL, OTHER MODELS MAY VARY. CHECK VIDEO DESCRIPTION FOR CORRECTIONS AND MORE INFO***

[@Asian_Connection]

This is a really great video. think it one of the best on youtube. You should do another update. The new FAKES are so much better almost undetectable now. I compared my OEM precovid plugs with news OEM plugs, the new OEM from the factory looks like it was made in a garage. I think the dealers inventory might have some fakes mixed into it now. Given the parts shortage issue.

[@ChavezDIY]

***The information in this video is specific to the NGK Iridium Plugs model IZFR6K11. Other real model numbers may have real plugs that use a cardboard protector and may say ///JAPAN/// on the plug. If those two details are the only difference on other model numbers, they're likely real. FYI -NGK manufactures in Japan, US, and Thailand. Some models come with plastic covers and other models come with cardboard covers. Main places you should be worried about fakes is Ebay and Amazon 3rd party sellers. ***

[@ybrik5937]

I bought my NGK plugs (honda packaging) last 2019 from Honda dealership, they were 30cad each. Then just today, I decided to buy for my other honda on Part Source, but before I headed there, I came across your video. So this time it had NGK box and it's 20cad each. All of your description for genuine plugs checks out on what I have. But for the Honda, I still have it's Honda packaging but the sleeves/thread protector it came with was brown cardboard. I could have checked the plugs during that time if I knew there were fakes. But I think I still have genuine plugs as this is from Honda.

[@keithwollaver2307]

I also noticed that my NGK 93135 (DILKR7A11) plugs bought from CARID online do not share the same physical differences as the same known non-fake plugs. Mine do not say anything about USA on the plug, comes with brown cardboard thread protection not clear plastic and several other inconsistencies. I am going to call NGK to get the final word. I paid more than the fakes for these so soon I will know for sure.

[@ChavezDIY]

@@keithwollaver2307 Other model numbers may have some minor differences. Call NGK and they'll be able to confirm if they are real.

[@ybrik5937]

@@keithwollaver2307 I'd be interested to know if the brown cardboard thread protectors also came with genuine NGK plugs.

[@keithwollaver2307]

@@ybrik5937 I read comments from Miguel Chavez DIY that said yes, some come with the cardboard cylinder protectors. I am calling NGK on Monday to see if mine are real. Maybe you missed his comment in this thread?

[@dougrognlie8009]

I bought some NGK plugs a month ago. Haven't installed them yet & just saw your video last night. Checked this morning & was relieved to discover I'm good. My plugs fit your description of the real plugs perfectly. Thank you for your vigilance, Miguel. It's way too easy to be taken in by a well disguised fraud. And I'm sure I wouldn't even have considered fake plugs were a thing, even when my engine started to perform poorly. Wow!

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad I could help! Take care of that car man =)

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Well, if ya STOP buying ANY auto parts from ebay or amazon to begin with, and ONLY buy from reputable parts dealers both online or a brick & mortar business, ya won't have to worry & wonder if you bought fakes. By the way, ya can't use this single video of a single spark plug type to determine if your plugs "are real or not" because many NGK plugs that ARE REAL use the cardboard protectors over the threads. If everyone would STOP buying garbage off ebay & amazon, the crooks would give up on making such garbage because they can't sell it. But far too many people are so obsessed with "saving a few bucks" and/or "finding the best deal". Regardless of price, if any auto part doesn't come from a well known reputable dealer, I'm not buying it. But as long as people insist on "getting the best deal from ebay or amazon", the crooks will continue selling them fake garbage that can damage their engine or vehicle.

[@Allenw154]

Note, the cardboard tube does not necessarily mean fake. I got real ones from OReillys with cardboard, instead of plastic. Also, some production is Japan, so it's not a reliable indicator. The rest of the comparisons work fine.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's correct. I noted this in the video description and in the pinned comment.

[@miscthings2559]

Mine is assembled in Thailand, also comes with cardboard cover.

[@transfixleo]

Not so fast. In the early '80's while working as a mechanic at a Buick dealership, we had a run of bad carburetor fuel filters. Turns out they had been bought from some other source then GM. We were replacing them for some time after that. Remember, that was at a genuine new car dealership as opposed to a parts store,,,,

[@basavarajkv7091]

In India also we get original fitted with cardboard, & also the Name JAPAN is not engraved, this is because nowadays all are manufactured in Haryana, INDIA.

[@observenotify8604]

Please find out who is making the fake duplicate Spark plugs, and put them fine of 1 billion dollars and lifetime Jail without any bail.

[@ChavezDIY]

I agree with your sentiment.

[@atillaozturk7075]

Will do mate😂😅👍

[@anthonyramsumair4815]

Excellent video. The level of detail is exceptional and the presentation is concise and very comprehensive.✔✔ Full marks to you - 100%

[@ChavezDIY]

I'm glad it was helpful! =)

[@Nick-ud9hf]

This happened to me a few years ago. I was replacing the original NGK 7658 Iridium plugs that came with my Suzuki Grand Vitara when it was new. The car had 115,000 miles at the time. I bought six of the same plugs from Amazon and didn’t notice anything different or fake about them. Big mistake. After only 15,000 miles on the Amazon NGK plugs, my ignition coils started failing, one right after the other, resulting in a check engine light and misfire codes. The coils were brand new OEM units that I installed the same time I installed the Amazon NGK plugs. Coils usually fail due to sparkplugs with a gap that is too wide. This forces the coils to consistently produce a higher voltage for the spark to jump the wide gap, resulting in overheating of the transistors inside the coil or damage to the secondary coil winding. When I removed the Amazon NGK plugs to check them, it was obvious. The center electrode was completely gone after only 15,000 miles. This left a gap that was huge, at least four times what it should have been. This is what was causing my coils to fail. In comparison, my original plugs with over 115,000 miles had hardly any wear at all. Then I purchased another set of NGK plugs from Rock Auto. So far, it’s been about 30,000 miles on those. I checked them at 10,000, 20,000 and just recently at 30,000 miles and there was no wear. It’s obvious the plugs I had bought from Amazon were fake. The fake Amazon plugs cost me three expensive coils that I had to replace.

[@ChavezDIY]

Damn, that sucks! No doubt those were counterfeit plugs that damaged your coils. Coils are expensive too! When my coils were going out after 10 yrs I was surprised how much they cost, I bought them from Auto Zone because I needed them right away.

[@damiena9711]

count yourself lucky. cheap plugs can shatter and drop ceramic or chunks of steel right into your combustion chamber and its game over for that engine.

[@fubartotale3389]

The resistance rating of those fake plugs are way out of spec and vary wildly between individual plugs.

[@anonymousinc.7318]

Yeah, Sixity Auto is selling a set that appear to be these fake ones.

[@maskanatomica5241]

Why aren't auto pros suing Amazon? I'm a girl, just wondering? 😮

[@aamirahmedkhan7190]

Excellent video and you had cover all the details

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you! =)

[@094340]

Thanks for the vid, I was holding my breath because I just bought a set of 4 for my 2009 Accord, but I got them off Amazon. Luckily, they passed the test.

[@ChavezDIY]

Awesome! If you are ever in doubt, you can call NGK and give them the numbers stamped on the plug and they'll check for you =)

[@Mafiota10]

I got 40% discount on my NGK spark plugs and was not confident that they were real ones because of the big discount I even asked the seller the reason for the big discount. I checked them with you now and i'm pretty sure they match the real ones and are in fact REAL, Thanks a lot! I also checked the resistance and it matches!

[@ChavezDIY]

Awesome! Congrats on getting a discount! =)

[@PedroMartinez-nv7mz]

A very good explanation, thanks.

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad it was helpful! =)

[@hjholmes]

Thank you so much for this video. I didn't even know there was counterfeit spark plugs. This video helped ease my mind that the NGK's I bought are real. Thanks, bro! Good looking out!

[@ChavezDIY]

You are welcome! =)

[@seandang950]

Awesome.. your content is very helpful. The comparisons so details and informative.

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad it was helpful! There's a lot of details in making these plugs. After making this video I have more appreciation for NGK's manufacturing quality.

[@timtullock5440]

I just bought a set of AUTOLITE iridium plugs from Amazon that turned out to be fake. I installed them and when the engine was cold it ran well. But as soon as it heated up the car started missing so bad I barely made it back home. I finally figured out it was the plugs after checking my coils. Then I went to Napa and bought a different set. I installed those and the car ran great.

[@ChavezDIY]

Take good care of your car! =)

[@richardsmith4187]

Excellent video on the NGK fake vs real spark plugs !! You really hit it out of the park on this one with all the detailed comparison of each plug. I'm getting ready to replace my plugs in a few months and started to look online and the prices varied quite a bit with Ebay and Amazon usually having much cheaper prices. This should be a BIG red flag as quality real NGK iridium plugs are not cheap. I found some performance shops online and a set of 4 was near $ 79.00 which I suspect were real NGK plugs. I'm going to check with my dealership and see if they carry NGK, if not I will probably order from a performance shop or other retailer I can trust. Thanks again for the great video, you should continue doing videos on car part comparisons as there is lots of Chinese junk being sold online.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it! I do plan to make more videos on counterfeit stuff in the future.

[@richardsmith4187]

@@ChavezDIY Awesome, you do a great job !!

[@nimbusnation9584]

Phenomenal work brother on behalf of all motor vehicles owners and soon to be motor vehicle owners we thank you for your in depth investigation.

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome brother! =)

[@billycarpenter4740]

It appears I received and installed a set of these FAKE NGK plugs from ebay . I had installed them and the car ran rougher than the old NGK's that had about 130,000 miles on them. I chased "mistakes" on my part before I re-installed our old plugs back in. I thought "maybe" I had received "seconds" quality NGK's . Nope, I got fakes . Thanks to Chavez for this video.

[@ChavezDIY]

Damn, that sucks. I wouldn't buy anymore plugs from Ebay.

[@billycarpenter4740]

@@ChavezDIY I agree, next time Autozone for parts for sure. FYI, her original owner 2004 Honda Accord is at 396,000 miles on the original drivetrain. This was probably the 3rd time I've changed plugs in it. Her car looks and runs like a 5 year old car .

[@dis750frontdesk5]

Awesome job, thank you so much for the side by side comparison and explaining what to look for. I also got burned with an EBAY seller when I bout NGK Laser Iridium for my 2007 G35.

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad it was helpful! It sucks getting screwed with fakes. That's why I try to leave honest feedback on amazon and eBay when I can. I love the body styling on the G35, its a beautiful car =)

[@2kostasd]

BEST video I've seen on fake comparison - thanks! I just received a set of fakes from eBay, and that's what caused me to search online when I noticed inconsistencies in the finishes. Never realized they were making FAKE SPARK PLUGS!!!

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! Be careful with counterfeit stuff out there on eBay.

[@Edwin-E]

very informative video from packaging to the actual product. Well done!

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad it was helpful! =)

[@matthewvader8651]

Wish I had seen this before I bought a set for my 2011 Tacoma. I put them in six months ago and less than 15k miles I had a miss fire. I thought I had a bad coil because of that. I have used only these plugs on my Tacoma since they were OEM. The real ones last over 100k miles. I replaced all the coils and still had the problem. I pulled out the plugs and all the tips were gone. Definitely learned my lesson and will only go to the parts store from now on.

[@ChavezDIY]

Sorry to hear about your 15k spark plugs with blown tips, they were definitely counterfeit plugs. I was amazed that hundreds of these have already been sold on eBay.

[@costantineyoussif6679]

Same exact thing happened to me after 14,000mi my denso plugs start miss firing cylinder 1 &6 I bought them off eBay from “supposedly Lexus authorized dealer” when I pulled them out the tip was fouled and covered with carbon, i went to Lexus dealer and buy set of 6 and have peace of mind they’re definitely original and not fake lesson learned 🙌🏼

[@grumpycarlsworld]

You were fortunate to get that far. Put a set in my Neon and it was missing and hesitating by 5,000 miles. Same scenario, electrodes were burned down to the insulators.

[@user-ji6zw1oo1f]

The significant differences between fake spark plugs (in my case, this is DENSO SC20HR11 IRIDIUM) from the original are as follows. The central electrode did not have a laser-welded iridium washer/cylinder, and the side electrode had a stamped imitation of a "welded" resistance welding disk. These differences between the fake spark plugs and the genue spark plugs can only be seen using a binocular microscope.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks for sharing these details on your specific spark plugs. You're right about needing to get really close up in order to notice the differences.

[@virgilarce]

High power of observation friend ! 👏🏻👏🏻 Now with Sparks ( Denso ) please ! !

[@ChavezDIY]

I will add those to my list of future videos.

[@philc.9280]

I just happened to see a couple of these videos comparing fake to real NGK's. I've already installed probably the fake ones as they seemed pretty cheap on eBay. The car runs totally fine for now and I actually contacted the eBay seller. He promptly responded by saying he's sold hundreds of sets without any complaints so far. I guess according to your video I'll be changing them soon. At least the hyundai elantra is real easy to work on.

[@ChavezDIY]

What details of the plug or box do you see that make it a fake plug? Check the video description for additional information that I couldn't add to the video.

[@philc.9280]

@@ChavezDIY probably the price. They were four plugs for $16 I believe

[@ChavezDIY]

@@philc.9280 yup. That's barely enough for one genuine plug. They'll still work but they're not using iridium so they won't last. Some people say they get 8k to 10k miles with the fakes. Iridium lasts up to 110k mi. As the gap wears out on the fakes you'll get poor mpg and maybe a cylinder misfire.

[@LykeArgy]

update? @@philc.9280

[@yakshk4735]

Superb in-depth analysis. An expert view.

[@ChavezDIY]

Many thanks! =)

[@marcasswellbmd6922]

I have been wondering about these too.. I have NGK's for my Juke, and they make 2 different ones for my car.. I can use the all Iridium, which are a $100 for 4 spark plugs, or the cheaper set is still like $70 bucks tho.. My boxes look nothing like yours.. I always order mine from 2J racing in Atlanta and never thought about it. I have bought from them one time from AutoZone and spent like $120 with tax. In a pinch. I will be doing a plug change in September.. I am going to play with the boost a little and take her to the track just to see what the car can do.. I have used phone apps to get an Idea of my 0-60 and 1/4 miles times.. I have pulled off a couple 14's but mostly low 15's.. Look it's a Juke, it is what it is.. They aren't quarter Mile Car's at all.. Even when turned up over 400 wheel they don't do good number's at the track.. Seems like they would make great Rally cars because they are fast as hell from like 15 to 80 miles an hour. Once you get over 90 they turn back into regular 4 cylinder's. Thats what it feels like to me.. Don't get wrong, I am on a Tune making around 250 WT and I have a lot of fun with my Juke, they are nice sleeper's when turn up.. Warning though high maintenance cars, CVT's and Direct injection. They do have front wheel only Manuals, But when turned up to much they become sit and spins. It's a real catch 22 because the CVT's can't handle more than 250WT and once you go over 280 WT with out AWD, the car will pull you off the road and spin wheels the whole quarter miles.. Its sad..

[@ChavezDIY]

The use of iridium on the plug just makes the plug last longer than the other metals. Iridium can take more heat so they will last you about 120k miles. The three main metals used for the center electrode are nickel, platinum, and iridium. They should all really perform about the same, but they won't last the same. Nickel plugs will last about 30k mi, Platinum plugs can last about 60k mi, and Iridum plugs last about 120k mi.

[@Colin623]

Fantastic video, very conclusive and evidence based, great work.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you for the kind words! Be careful out there with the fakes.

[@dimitardimitrov5366]

Awesome presentation! Thank you for your efforts!

[@ChavezDIY]

My pleasure! =)

[@Grenadieros]

Thank you sir for all the informations, you would have helped a lot of people with this video.

[@ChavezDIY]

I'm glad it was helpful! There's so much fake merchandise out there, be careful.

[@larrylong7032]

tks so much guy

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome!

[@brianotieno4215]

This is very helpful, I once bought Denso K16TR11 and to my amusement these dealers have three different sets of the same plug. Then they have different prices. These guys are selling alot of counterfeit products. Those that I bought died after 2 weeks.

[@ChavezDIY]

To the untrained the fakes look good. I never thought I would have to be careful with fake spark plugs. It looks like eBay is starting to get tough on counterfeit products.

[@brianotieno4215]

@@ChavezDIY These guys are giving us a hard time and legit mechanics will actually tell you the real deal. Guess we have to be more careful especially with the labelling colors.

[@rlccar8518]

As a graphic designer, I applaud your attention to packaging detail. 😄

[@ChavezDIY]

Wow, thank you! =)

[@yigiterenler8233]

thank you

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! =)

[@infoman8]

Great job pointing out the differences!

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks! =)

[@joanespik]

Thanks!!

[@ChavezDIY]

No problem! =) check the video description for more information.

[@basavarajkv7091]

Excellent💯👍

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you! Cheers! =)

[@k24in31]

So that's crazy man, thank you for the info!

[@ChavezDIY]

Yeah, its crazy what people will do for money. I plan to buy some from amazon and see what I find. I also found some counterfeit OEM Honda parts on eBay (a couple of sensors). There's another guy on youtube, The Car Care Nut, that made a video about counterfeit OEM Toyota parts too.

[@eduardoben7106]

Excelente trabajo saludos desde Argentina

[@ChavezDIY]

Gracias! Saludos!

[@jfro5867]

Great work, shows how’s devious they are, cutting it open was the killer blow. Busted.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yes, they are devious, the untrained eye can't tell the difference between a fake and a real plug. I never knew until this year that people sell counterfeit OEM parts for Toyota and Honda online too.

[@Sean4real901]

I purchased a 6 pack of NGK 6994 from Amazon in 2018 around $60. I suspected they were fake and even contacted NGK and I asked if the Lot number was legit -F8YE. They said it was a Taiwan manufacturing location and they were in fact fake. The plugs have Japan engraved on them instead of USA from local auto part stores inventory. I cut them open as you did and I did see a copper core and they look identical to a real plug. Do you think I got lucky with real Japan NGK manufactured plugs?

[@MrHugemoth]

A Chinese motorcycle I bought years ago came with a fake NGK plug. The resistor disintegrated causing the center electrode to recede into the ceramic insulator. The bike didn't run well with a .1" gap!

[@ChavezDIY]

Yikes, that's terrible. That gap is very important.

[@rashidminhasbhatti9618]

Thanks

[@ChavezDIY]

Welcome! =)

[@kryptik0]

I bought some NGK plugs from NAPA. On some of your observations, they identify with genuine, but on at least one count, they appear counterfeit. For example, the plug has just NGK written on one side and part number on the other. There is no assembled in usa written on the plug. The box that it came in says assembled in Thailand. I am going to call NGK tomorrow morning to verify.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's interesting. Were you able to contact NGK to verify if they were real NGK plugs?

[@MrSFSTUDIOS]

Glad to learn my plugs were real!

[@ChavezDIY]

Awesome!

[@eugeniozanda7230]

Well done mate...! 👍😉

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks 👍 =)

[@Charlymorfin]

Thanks to this video, the ones I got from Amazon are authentic, I bought a set of 4 IZFR6K-11S for 47.84 including Tax, it had everything correct on the video, only difference were that they came with carboard protectors and it said Assembled in Thailand, the code on the spark plug was clear and started with "U22*", the seller was AUTOPARTSAAA

[@ChavezDIY]

Glad to hear your spark plugs checked out as good. I also bought from that seller on Amazon and received legit ones. It's unfortunate that amazon doesn't let you mention the seller in a review. I tried to give AUTOPARTSAAA a shout out in my review and it was denied, haha. The material used for the cover can change and is not consistent. I suppose that goes along with manufacturing location because right now we still have disruptions in the supply chain and production of products. NGK's Thailand plant generally manufactures for the asian market but I can see that if we have issues making them here in the US they'll need to make them elsewhere.

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

Very informative and detailed video, thank you! 👍

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@KathrynLiz1]

MMM... my last set of NGK Iridiums for my bike came via Amazon some 10 years ago, and they were Kosha. I got a set for my car a while back from a local dealer and they were the real deal too... both worked out around $14NZ each.... You get what you pay for. I went to Amazon for the first set as the local price here was $48 each, an obvious gouge, but the second set just 3 years ago from the local outlet was reasonable.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yes, you get what you pay for. A reputable seller will not be selling fakes. Ebay is getting better, but its on the buyers to report the fakes.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Since then boxes have gotten better can't go by that, also NGK themselves change the box from time to tiem and depending on where sourced for local manufacture so you can get 2 genuine boxes that are not the same.

[@scottsluggosrule4670]

Tested my new ones.. all 4-7 … good to go TX

[@ChavezDIY]

Awesome! 👍🏻😎

[@tayninh69]

Several years ago I purchased some "knock off" Champion spark plugs and installed them in a 90hp Mercury outboard engine. Almost from the start I had problems with them. I stopped buying the Champion brand plug and switched to NGK brand spark plugs. I use them in all my engines and I buy from the same source. It's getting to the point where you can't trust anything.

[@ChavezDIY]

You have to be cautious buying things on Ebay and from 3rd party sellers on Amazon. NGK has a list of authorized sellers. I would go with any of the companies on their list of authorized sellers. The link is in the video description.

[@mississippiarrowheads421]

Mine , I got today, has a little of each one you described

[@ChavezDIY]

If you have a different model number than the ones in the video you might notice a couple of things are different.

[@tahtahony]

Thank you for the great topic 👍

[@ChavezDIY]

My pleasure sir! =)

[@sapte62]

I bought 9 of those Iridium plugs over time from Amazon and used them in my car and motorcycle. All were done before the usual lifespan of a regular plug. And yes, I remember them having bad machining, at the time I thought that they just don't make them as they used to anymore. Bought Denso from another online parts shop and never looked back

[@ChavezDIY]

Its so wrong for people to sell fake spark plugs. The CarCareNut has a video on fake Toyota parts, that's where I got the idea to look out for fakes. I also found fake Honda sensors being sold on eBay.

[@48perkins]

Are the Rock Auto Parts NGK Iridum IX spark plugs real.Bought them a while back for my 85 Nissan 720.Mine have 2 types,intake and exhaust plugs.I was just looking at there parts and they had 4 of each left and had them marked down low. I just put them in today.12/25/2021.The plugs I took out are stock copper Ngk plugs.They are still good.

[@ChavezDIY]

It's likely they're real, Rock Auto sells legit stuff.

[@j0lla127]

Great content. Thank you for sharing.

[@ChavezDIY]

My pleasure!

[@82_KID]

Question. If the ones from EBay DO turn out to be fake, they were kind of a lower price... What do I then do? (They are coming this week I ordered them today. Never even thought about this.)

[@ChavezDIY]

If you want confirmation that they're real, call NGK and give them the LOT number that's on the side of the plug on the metal. If they're fake, tell the seller you want to return them.

[@xxshiftlockxx]

Check the resistance between the tip of the electrode, and the top of the terminal. If it's a 5,000 ohm resistor plug, the tolerance range is 3,500-7,000 or 3.5-7.0 kOhm

[@ChavezDIY]

I have heard that from other people but when I tested my fakes the resistance checks were "good". It's not a reliable way to check if they're fakes. Check the video description for more information.

[@xxshiftlockxx]

@@ChavezDIY This was one of the things given to me directly by NGK when I reached out to their customer support. I also sent them a bunch of up close pics of the boxes as well as the plug from multiple angles.

[@Cobra427Veight]

I had bought some from a website and I had a real one , same heat range , but on the fake the insulator was really different , I doubt that it would have had the same heat range.

[@mohamedh0786]

NGK is made in few countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, the boxes can vary, So the box design theory is out, Now lets look at the physical description, Yes the fake ones are a bit bigger, maybe a thread or 2, the printing is darker than OEM, the fake ones started to have lots numbers now, printed on one side of hex area like OEM, This is where they cannot duplicate , the resistance check, the fakes have a much higher resistance and all over the place, The OEM's numbers are a lot closer and very low resistance

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Other reviewers have found differences in ground electrode that are opposite to this video so don't go by that alone.

[@strumpeteer]

My laser Irrdiums came with cardboard protector which were purchased from Rockauto. I don't think they would carry fake stuff but who knows.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yours should be good. Not everything is going to match up perfectly. Check the video description for more information.

[@Peter-it2gt]

We need original identification tools on the package asap! I had fake plugs, the electrodes brake off after a few 100 miles, I was lucky it didn't destroy the engine.

[@ChavezDIY]

So far the only way provided by NGK is to call them and give them the Lot number stamped on the side of the plug.

[@dinhscot]

Great Review! You should get more love for such a good Video!

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks for the feedback! Stay alert, there are plenty of scammers out there.

[@dinhscot]

@@ChavezDIY I sub and will watch your future production if you make any

[@DrWenChannel]

Can you please also do a Denso Spark Plugs counterfeit comparison? Thanks!

[@ChavezDIY]

Eventually I will do that, but it will be a while. I have other videos on my list to cover.

[@EIRK2046Y]

Measure resistance between top of spark plug and center electrode - it must be between 4,5 - 5 kOhm. Use multimeter. This help.

[@ChavezDIY]

Actually the range is wider. I tested the resistance recently. Both the fakes and the real ones were in the 4k -6k range. The difference is that the ohms from the real ones were closer (4.1, 4.5, 4.7) as long as they're from the same box. A real plug from a different box (same model) showed 6.0. The fake plugs from the same box were farther apart (4.1 and 6.0).

[@EIRK2046Y]

@@ChavezDIY O.K Thank you.

[@cumshot247]

Damn, I bought plugs a year and a half ago. Now I have to pull em and take a looksy...

[@ChavezDIY]

If you have not had performance issues at this point I would say you're okay. If you are curious just pull out one plug and take a look at the center electrode tip. It should still have its original shape and not be rounded out.

[@cumshot247]

@@ChavezDIY Yes I'm curious! But I also haven't put many miles on the car because of the Covid situation and I only live 1.5 miles from work. When I put the plugs in, the car runs smooth but seems to have lost some torque when accelerating hard. So maybe...🤔

[@dougschmidt5132]

did you confront the seller ? Does Amazon vette their sellers ?

[@ChavezDIY]

The seller was from Ebay. I reported the seller to Ebay but Ebay does not follow with you on any action or what happens after the report is made.

[@lechen5540]

some one says that one of the best ways to tell is to measure the resistance, more consistent with the real ones. Thanks.

[@ChavezDIY]

I checked resistance. Two fakes from the same box were gave me readings of 5.1 and 6.0 Ohms. Three Real ones from the same box gave a reading of 4.3, 4.7, 4.1 Ohms. One Real one from a different box but identical model number gave me a reading of 6.0 Ohms. So I'm guessing as long as you're testing the plugs from the same box the real ones should get more consistent readings? It's not a practical test as its a lil challenging to get the leads to get a reading. You have to rub and try different areas of a very small space and it takes multiple tries just to get one reading. My engine has 4 plugs, I can't imagine testing 6 or 8 plugs, that's a lot of work. Just look for the white powder on the porcelain area and put the box under a light and see if its translucent.

[@jumpinjojo]

Also, if you check the resistance of the real plugs vs the fakes, you’ll find a huge difference.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks for the tip! Ill check it out.

[@ruslanantonov7544]

It's even weirder that there are fakes when the real thing isn't expensive.

[@ChavezDIY]

I agree. All the work and effort that goes into this makes me wonder about the profit margins for the counterfeiters. I guess if you are going to make fake plugs due to easy access to a spark plug plant, then Iridum plugs make a good target.

[@petebribble4651]

Missing copper is dangerous! That will change the heat range, making the plug much hotter. This could possibly lead to preignition or even engine failure.

[@ChavezDIY]

100% correct. Using counterfeit plugs is dangerous.

[@grumpycarlsworld]

Quite sure I got caught out. Cheap(ish) NGK Iridium plugs for my Chrysler Neon. After a mere 8,000km (5,000 miles) the car was hesitant and missing occasionally. I pulled the plugs to find the centre electrodes completely burned down to the insulator. 99.9% sure they were fakes now.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yikes! Definitely sounds like you had fakes, there's no way legit iridium plugs will blow out in 5k miles. There was no Iridium in those plugs.

[@sdjnwhyNZ]

NGK has a big factory in Shanghai. It costs about 700 cny (98.94 usd) to buy 4 DILKAR6A11 plugs straight out of the factory. No way this thing will get down below 20 usd per plug since it's duration is over 100,000 kms (I have those in my QR20DE engine for more than 7 years)

[@ChavezDIY]

Good point! =)

[@user-be4ur1td2w]

We needs more clarity between the real and the fake

[@ChavezDIY]

Check the video description for more information. If you are in doubt, call NGK and give them the lot number stamped on the side of your plugs and they will tell if they are real or fake.

[@tjet455]

I'm wondering if an NKG plug that was made in Japan vs a USA made one would have similar differences. For example, I have 2 Seiko watches. 1 was made in Japan, and the other in Malaysia. They have differences, but they are both real Seiko watches,

[@ChavezDIY]

The plugs made in Japan will say JAPAN on them and the ones made in the US will say Assembled in USA with Japanese parts. On this specific model of Iridium plugs, they are made in the US. There are difference in manufacturing depending on the model number. I want to cover more model numbers. I would only be concerned if you buy from an amazon third party seller or an eBay seller.

[@HERRERACREATION]

to be fair ngk spark plugs can also be made in Japan but if you're buying in the us it would be rare as there is also ngk factory's in the us

[@ChavezDIY]

This information is only specific to this model of plugs in the video during the time the video was published. There will be differences with other models. Yes, NGK manufactures in Japan, US, China, Thailand, and other places. For a full list of locations, check the links in the video description.

[@josevilla3709]

I got ngks from advanced, they have the paper protector. Are they fake?

[@ChavezDIY]

No. NGK uses both cardboard and plastic protectors on plugs. Check the video description for more information.

[@DaRuler66]

How do they perform - did you try out the fake ones

[@ChavezDIY]

No way I would put those in my engine 😂. Read the comments, some people say they can last like 2k to 20k mi and they start getting engine misfire and performance issues. The center electrodes were worn down or melted.

[@DaRuler66]

@@ChavezDIY fair enough yeah I wouldn't be putting them in anything except maybe some Chinese pit bike

[@yamaha226]

Are Rock Auto plugs a safe place to shop. I got mine off of them.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yes those are fine. It's the eBay sellers and Amazon 3rd party sellers you should be cautious about.

[@tobymagnus4527]

So where can we be assured of getting an original one?

[@ChavezDIY]

Places to buy legitimate plugs: Auto Zone, Napa, Pep Boys, O'Reilly, Advanced Auto Parts, Parts Authority, Summit Racing, Parts Geek, Parts Plus, Rock Auto. If you buy from an Amazon third party seller, ensure they have good reviews at least a thousand reviews. Known good Amazon 3rd party seller: AUTOPARTSAAA

[@lisab3396]

👍👍

[@denvernuggets007]

I ordered mine thru NAPA auto parts! They are legit but thanks for the video. 👍👍👍

[@ChavezDIY]

No problem 👍

[@ganuv]

Regarding the cardboard cover is not always true some original ones come with the cardboard covers too.

[@ChavezDIY]

Correct. It all depends on the model number of the plugs. With this specific model number in the video, they should not come with cardboard covers. Other models do come with cardboard covers, but I don't have a list of those that do.

[@82_KID]

I just bought some off EBay. NGK Ruthenium HX not these.. I think they cost like $48 ? Something like $11 or $12 a plug.. I actually can't wait until they come now. I want to see if I can tell if they are fake or not. I'll probably do a video when they do.

[@ChavezDIY]

Good luck with the plugs. Make a video if you find out they're fake.

[@82_KID]

I'll do a video and @ your channel when I do! I'll do a short and a full-length. @Chavez Hobbies cool?

[@82_KID]

@@ChavezDIY Oh .. only if they are fake? Or just looking at them anyway lol

[@ChavezDIY]

@@82_KID You can do either one, haha. But if they're fake definitely let people know.

[@enekaken]

Got fake NGK ones from Amazon. It blew apart during a road trip within a year.

[@ChavezDIY]

Damn, that sucks! I reported the eBay seller but I don't know what's become of that report. If I get fakes from Amazon I'm reporting the seller.

[@willsrestorations]

Never buy ignition parts especially spark plugs from Amazon unless they are shipped and sold by Amazon.

[@greg-lb3lr]

Nice one 👍

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks ✌️

[@Sammyzeelux_tv]

Thanks for the info boss.. Please how do i get the original plug?

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! The original plugs you can find at any of the major auto parts stores like Auto Zone, O'Reily, Pep Boys, Advanced Auto Parts, NAPA, or even online stores like Rock Auto and partsgeek.com

[@SilverHawk575]

Just purchased mine from Oreilly but they came with cardboard protectors and say made in Japan. I’m very confused

[@ChavezDIY]

What model number plugs do you have? The details in the video are for IZFR6K11. If the only thing that's different is the cardboard protectors they're real. I have noticed real plugs from different model numbers come with cardboard protectors.

[@dougrognlie8009]

Thanks!

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you for the support brother! =)

[@neoclectic]

great job.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thank you! Cheers! =)

[@thestarkster82]

I just bought a 4 pack from O'Reillys but they came with a cardboard cover on them🤷‍♂️

[@ChavezDIY]

As long as everything else checks out good, I wouldn't worry about the cardboard covers.

[@tichaonaenerstnyakuhwa7204]

So do the original plugs generates electricity as illustrated in free electricity vedios on youtube

[@ChavezDIY]

The spark plugs don't generate electricity, they have an electrical current that passes through them and the gap at the tip allows a spark to form which detonates the mixture of air and fuel in the cylinder.

[@jtjimenez05]

How good do these counterfeit work?

[@ChavezDIY]

The engine should run as long as the gap is good. But the question is, how long do they last? The Iridium tips in the genuine plugs last about 120K miles. The counterfeits use a cheap metal that doesn't last and fail when it melts and deforms. I don't know how long they last, but some people online report getting about 8k miles before they had engine performance issues. Personally I wouldn't use them.

[@jtjimenez05]

@ChavezDIY thanks bro, bought some last week, went ahead and returned them and bought some original ones elsewhere, not qorth the hassle and the risk! Great video!

[@nastysoda9212]

Bought 4 for my impreza from Rock auto, 1 was counterfit, sent them all back and will NEVER buy from rock auto again.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's weird! How did you know that one of the plugs was fake?

[@DezDav4]

I bought some on Amazon. They look like the real plugs. The only difference is these say "MADE IN JAPAN" on the box and "/////JAPAN/////" on the ring of the plug. They also came with a cardboard cover and a recycled cardboard box that does not allow light through. I will call NGK soon to check if they are real.

[@ChavezDIY]

Interesting! Let me know that you find out from NGK.

[@DezDav4]

@@ChavezDIY NGK confirmed they are real to their knowledge.

[@ChavezDIY]

@@DezDav4 Okay. What's the model number of the sparks plugs you bought? I have seen that other model numbers than the ones in the video can have cardboard covers.

[@DezDav4]

@@ChavezDIY Yes, they are different. They are the ILFR5T11 plugs.

[@willsrestorations]

@@ChavezDIY all NGK iridium plugs now come in a blue box with a cardboard protector and recycled cardboard boxes and they do say Japan on them because that's where they are manufactured if they say anything else as far as country of origin they are counterfeit. NGK only manufacturers their spark plugs in Japan and nowhere else.

[@shlomihazan6997]

The important thing is the residents if it not more than 7 kohm in cars that the oil consumption is high this plugs is enough

[@ChavezDIY]

These fakes actually did well on the resistance check. It may have worked with fakes in the past but I guess they're getting better at making fakes. Check the video description for more information on the resistance check I did.

[@jimnguyen1267]

No one can tell the fake unless we try them on, but why did we order and sell them in USA?

[@ChavezDIY]

The people that make the fakes do a really good job. If you wanted to be sure, you can cut one open and look for the copper in the core of the spark plug, but then you'll have to buy 1 replacement at your local store.

[@THISISYOURFAULTBRO]

heads up just bought a set on amazon and it HAD the clear cover but turned to crap after just a week of use. don't be cheap pay the extra 20 dollars boys

[@ChavezDIY]

Damn that sucks! Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon!

[@THISISYOURFAULTBRO]

@@ChavezDIY for sure good idea, they caused rough idle poor shifting and the whole time i never thought FAKEE PLUGS. I was happy had found an incredibly cheap deal on amazon. However, did notice the box they came in was recycled cardboard and the mini "welds" where the spark happens looked sloppy. plug was also a little too shiny way too CHROME. hard to tell but this video really helped

[@dmo848]

No way. This sucks now I'm nervous

[@sikoleyleyofficial4146]

Thanks form this video. I already have buy fake ngk laser. Many fake at online shopping. Please buy from trusted company that bring this spark plug in market..

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! Its unfortunate that people sell fakes online. Be careful!

[@stevenscott8653]

The listing does not say that they are NGK

[@ChavezDIY]

Good point. In the screenshot, the title of the listing doesn't say NGK. They did a great job of making fake NGK plugs, which is scary.