Are there really 'Fake' spark plugs?

We regularly get asked 'are your spark plugs genuine?'. The simple answer is yes, we only deal with the manufacturers and/or official distributers of the brands we sell.

Let's address this issue as a set of further questions:

Q1. Is there such a thing as a fake spark plug?
A1. If you consider this literally, then no, a fake spark plug would be something pretending to be a spark plug which isn't actually a spark plug. The actual issue is manufacturers, usually Chinese, passing off their spark plugs as being manufactured by a well known brand.

Q2. Which spark plug brands are affected?
A2. The only evidence we're aware of to date is that of NGK spark plugs being copied. NGK is a well-known brand distributed by a global company named Niterra.

Q3. How can I tell if my spark plugs are non genuine, i.e. made by a manufacturer other than the supposed brand?
A3. The easiest way is to check the price against that of a known seller of genuine parts such as us, sparkplugs.co.uk. If you've found the same part at half price or less then exercise caution. It's unlikely you'll be able to tell by visual inspection. Even the official manufacturers have great difficulty in identifying non genuine copies of their own parts, but by inspecting the internal components it becomes more obvious. You may try comparing packaging if you have a known genuine part to hand; look for spelling mistakes, check the quality of the print on the part and the packaging, check the stamped numbering on the spark plug itself, check for poor finish such as rough threads or untidy welds. There are also less obvious differences such as the amount and quality of precious metals such as Iridium and Platinum used.

Q4. Does it matter, as long as they fit my engine and they work?
A4. Perhaps not, initially, but a poor quality copy is not designed to last and is likely not to be manufactured to the OE standards specified by your vehicle manufacturer, standards required to enable the spark plug to survive within your engine. A mechanical failure may result in parts of the copy plug breaking off and falling into your engine, this would be catastrophic, you will have no rights of recourse with the manufacturer (you can't make a warranty claim or apply for compensation for engine damage).

Q5. My spark plug packaging says it's made in Thailand/France/Mexico/Indonesia/India/China, shouldn't they be made in Japan/Germany if they're genuine?
A5. No. The nature of global businesses such as Bosch, NGK, Denso and Champion mean that they have various manufacturing facilities around the world. The facility used to manufacture a particular part will vary based on where there is manufacturing capacity, where raw materials are readily available etc. All manufacturing plants comply with the same quality certifications and therefore there should be no operational difference or variation in quality of any parts - regardless of where they are manufactured.

Q6. My NGK spark plugs say Niterra on the box rather than NGK, who are Niterra, are my plugs genuine?
A6. Niterra is a global company, previously referred to as NGK. The name Niterra is now used for the company that owns the brands NGK (spark plugs, glow plugs and other ignition products) and NTK (sensors and technical ceramics). You may find that some older stock may still be labelled as NGK with no reference to Niterra but all newly manufactured stock is supplied in Niterra packaging, though the NGK brand is also referenced.

In summary; the only way to ensure you are buying and installing a high quality, genuine product is to buy from an official outlet such as sparkplugs.co.uk. We've been in business for over 20 years, we certainly wouldn't risk our reputation on non genuine spark plugs.
As with many things in life, if it seems too good to be true it probably is. The price of modern spark plugs for modern lean burn engines is high, but then so is the quality of the manufacturing process and the materials used. If you've found it 'cheap' there is probably a reason. It really isn't worth risking your engine for.