ebay/amazon counterfeit filters cautionary tales..

[Signal73]

Guys I see a lot of posts on here about buying filters from eBay and amazon, while those sites have lots of great stuff there are less than honest sellers as well. I follow a few Ram forums and Ram/cummins forums on Facebook. Occasionally observant truck owners will post stories about their purchase from some of the less than reputable sellers. Take all this how you wish, I’m just passing info along I’ve came across.

The latest one I saw comes from a fellow who bought fuel filters on eBay. He posted on the “5th Gen Cummins” group on Facebook. Here’s his tale:

Counter fit Mopar/Cummins fuel filters...

Back about 5 months ago I ordered "OEM" filters from ebay because I couldn't find anything anywhere. I'm hear to tell y'all there are counterfeit Mopar filters and you would never know if you didn't compare and look closely. Both Boxes look identical, even the barcodes work. For the upper/engine filter, the paper instructions are not wrapped under the plastic just incerted into the box. The filter itself is made of lighter and thinner paper. The paper on the OEM from the dealer that I picked up today is backed with a fiber mesh on the inside near the bottom, it also has Cummins/fleetguard on the top plastic along with part numbers. The knockoff has none of these. I could go on and on. I know the OEM filters are made in China, but another Chinese company is building these way way out of spec and selling them as OEM... You can almost look through the paper. Definitely a weight difference too.

The rear one has a napa gold filter in it right now. The dealer is out of stock and that's what they gave me a part number for. The knockoff was also very different and cheaper compared to the Napa gold primary/water separator.

 

[Signal73]

Story #2, same group:

First oil change on the Cummins. Pulled the oem filter off and compared it to the filter I bought on eBay. Matching part numbers, but build quality looked different. Mildly blurred text on the eBay filter. Different holes inside the filter. No date stamp on the eBay filter. Normally I buy from genos but they’re back ordered on everything. Anyone have a known OEM mopar filter they can check the inside of to see if it matches the eBay filter? Whaddya think? Counterfeit? Or just a different mopar factory?

Edit: thanks for the pics confirming it’s counterfeit. Thanks guys. We had another filter from my 5.9 That I put on. Good to go.

 

[seafish]

Maybe just buy your filters from Genos garage.... great customer service with fair prices...

just my .02

 

[AH64ID]

Maybe just buy your filters from Genos garage.... great customer service with fair prices...

just my .02

Intall a set and order another so that backorders aren’t an issue, or keep 2 on the shelf and order anytime you use one. If you wait until the last minute you may find yourself with fake stuff out of needing them and ordering from a counterfitter.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I never buy from eBay. Mostly rip offs etc. Amazon we have very good luck no problems at all and we buy a lot of stuff too

 

[Wiredawg]

I only buy from Chrysler/Ram/Dodge dealers on Ebay. No problems so far.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Same on Amazon. You need to know who your buying from.

 

[Larry Willard]

I noticed differences on Amazon last year when I needed oil, and fuel filters for my motorhome. I always get Fleetguard for oil and one fuel, the other fuel is a water separator I think a Freightliner subsidiary makes. I don't remember the difference but it was subtle in the packaging. I went to Freightliner for them and also found oil on sale I was having trouble getting.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Curious why you changed the filter thru the fender instead from the top as the 19's and up are EZ-PEE-ZEE front the top.

 

[Topzide]

Here we go again!

 

[Cummins12V98]

One hose to remove and it's right there!

 

[Turbo Terry]

Well on a 2022 there’s more than just the air box hose to the turbo which was very easy to remove on the old 99 two hose clamps and upside down filter which could be a royal pain .The 2022 definitely needs to go thru the fender opening . That’s what it’s for.

 

[NIsaacs]

Well on a 2022 there’s more than just the air box hose to the turbo which was very easy to remove on the old 99 two hose clamps and upside down filter which could be a royal pain .The 2022 definitely needs to go thru the fender opening . That’s what it’s for.

I doubt it is any different than my '21. Remove one turbo elbow and the filter is in your face.

 

[Regcabguy]

Look at all the "OEM" Cummins water pumps on Ebay.
My friend had a Gates leak in 15K so he just installed a Cummins from Genos.

 

[Wiredawg]

Bought a Gates thermostat once, but when I compared to the Cummins one, I could see the valve was a smaller diameter and could flow less. I returned it and purchased an identical Cummins one. There's some investments that are worth using genuine OEM replacement parts on. I have used Gates HD belts though.

 

[Topzide]

@Wiredawg, Gates products to me are belts and hoses. Only in an emergency would I use another Gates product on a CTD, than at the end of trip it would be replaced with the OEM part!

 

[Turbo Terry]

I will try to get a picture of it today to post. I have to go drag a very large fishing boat from a storage place thru the whitter tunnel at portage creek. And put in the water at whiiter harbor. He’s coming with another large boat across prince William sound from Cordova 100 miles in the dark. Meeting me there life in alaska. At least I have plenty of power with the ho right. Maybe some pictures of that also.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Happy Labor Day

 

[Wiredawg]

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to you too!

 

[Turbo Terry]

Here’s Big Red hauling a gillnetter!