Don't try to save money by getting off-brand spark plugs

LaRea

My dock neighbor with a really nice 32' express cruiser just destroyed both of his engines by replacing the spark plugs with cheap, off-brand plugs.  After installing them, he took the boat out for a cruise and started losing power, so he limped back in and started to do a compression check.  On a bunch of the plugs, the ceramic insulators had failed, dumping ceramic debris into his cylinders.  It caused so much damage that the engines can't be saved.  

Don't let it happen to you.  

69fastback

I'd like to hear the Paul Harvey version, aka the rest of the story. There's got to be some missing details here......

Liberty44140

Wow I am shocked to read this, that is horrible. What brand were they?

aero3113

It’s possible he bought the wrong plugs that were too long and damaged the top of his pistons.

skennelly

I can't imagine cheap plugs destroying an engine..has to be more to it

Willhound

Hmmm. I've seen ceramic crack if overheated but never seen it come right off unless smacked by a piston. And all of them?? I too suspect whoever cross referenced the plugs screwed up and went too long. Did anyone compare to the old before installing?

LaRea

I'm trying to get details.  He bought the plugs on Amazon, but they were not brand-name plugs.  I personally saw one plug.  The electrode was intact, so it wasn't a case of the plug being too long.  The ceramic insulator was just gone. 

The damage didn't happen until he warmed up the engines and got underway at cruise speed.  I guess it tore up the cylinder walls and rings, but I'm not sure what other damage was done.  At a minimum, he's looking at two short blocks.  

Obviously, the guy is not in a happy place right now.  I haven't seen him since it happened.  He's an experienced and knowledgeable boater, so it's a real shame to see this happen.  

Willhound

Well that sucks. Of all the things I might buy on Amazon, spark plugs never occurred to me since I can buy them at a half a dozen spots within a 10 minute drive. I don't even like cross referencing between major brands if the original is at all available.
A good lesson here for sure.

zaverin1

Ye
i would never buy off brand spark plugs lol
like wtf!
sorry for the guy but dang and deff something is off with the story 

Liberty44140

I still dont know what off brand is. I use Champion and NKG. Would auto-lite be an off brand?

zaverin1

No
but jin jum gum from North Korea would be lol

69fastback

Liberty44140 said:

I still dont know what off brand is. I use Champion and NKG. Would auto-lite be an off brand?

Autolite is all I run in my race cars, spraying them with copious amounts of nitrous. Autolite makes a good plug. 

Liberty44140

I guess an off brand is simple - a brand I've thankfully never heard of Oh and I've ordered Champion and NKG from Ebay and Amazon, particularly when I needed 12 - 16 plugs, with no issues but of course I read the ad's clearly to make sure there is nothing to cause concern like bad english or things that just dont make sence. Usually can tell when its someone that knows plugs that wrote the ad. 

Black_Diamond

I would have guessed Harbor Freight. lol. I bet the heat range was off on the plugs... or just pure junk from China for the price. Been an NGK guy since my motocross bike days. 

PickleRick

Ive never seen the ceramics on the inside of spark plug break but i have seen diesel glow plugs swell and break, usually upon removal they are so swollen at the probe it wont fit back through the head.  You find out ince you get the glow plug out and its missing the tip.

Also avoid any of those E3 spark plugs, even if it's going in your lawn mower or chainsaw, they sell them at reputable stores.  They make a good paper weight.  

Ngk and bosch for me, champion or ac delco if I can't find the first 2.  

zaverin1

I just got a Spank Plug brand from Ebay
seems legit