Identifying a Fake HKS BOV
04-27-11, 08:29 PM
#1
Identifying a Fake HKS BOV
Hello everyone. I recently ordered an HKS BOV second hand. I know this always adds a risk to ensuring a product is genuine but when you're building a car from second hand parts and capitalizing on situations when people must liquidate you find yourself scooping up a lot of parts and then being curious if you really got the deal in the end.
The BOV I purchased was an HKS SSQV Black Edition. From what I can tell there are a number of easy ways to tell if the item is a fake, and then some harder. It appears this is dependent on who is selling. If the fake item is sold from the manufacturer, a wholesaler or "first party" supplier it is likely they will not go through the extra steps to ensure the product looks genuine. Mass quantities = less attention to detail.
For these items from what I gather it is rather easy to spot a fake.
Because I am still not sure if mine is real or not I will start with the list of easy things and then go to the hard things, and unknowns (at least to me)
The easy to spot:
Of course it is likely possible that the bov was purchased from a second supplier or intermediary. For example, what would happen if someone purchased a fake, realized it was a fake and then tried to sell it as genuine to recover their losses? Well. For one, the stickers would be glued on. This is an obvious sign, so just because the stickers are on does not make it genuine.
The harder to spot:
Now for my problem. I don't have an allen wrench to take it apart right now and check but there is one thing really bugging me. Firstly, it has the stickers. Which presumably don't matter because someone could have affixed them to a fake unit prior to selling it to me.
Secondly, it has the proper writing on the hard plastic ring located beside the purple bullet. There is no ridge on vacuum line, paint seems to be in good quality and the screws have very fine ridges. Never the less to me they still have ridges so it is hard to rule it out for that.
One thing really bugs me, it uses an orange gasket around the front housing that seems to me sort of out of place. However, it is next to impossible to find a picture of this bov that isn't taken at an awkward angle.
As for anyone else who is purchasing an hks bov. I have had a change of opinion and don't think this highly counter-fitted product is worth purchasing from anyone except a reputable supplier. However, I know that is far from reality. (look at myself)
The clubRSX writeup done by killertofupanada is where I started and likely a good reference for anyone curious about authenticity.
Secondly HKS offers a very reduced counterfeit identification page that points out the easily identifiable things.
If anyone else has some input, or can tell me if this gasket is supposed to be orange because I have a feeling its not it would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to add, and who knows.. I might just find an allen wrench and take this baby apart just to see.
- Daryl
The BOV I purchased was an HKS SSQV Black Edition. From what I can tell there are a number of easy ways to tell if the item is a fake, and then some harder. It appears this is dependent on who is selling. If the fake item is sold from the manufacturer, a wholesaler or "first party" supplier it is likely they will not go through the extra steps to ensure the product looks genuine. Mass quantities = less attention to detail.
For these items from what I gather it is rather easy to spot a fake.
Because I am still not sure if mine is real or not I will start with the list of easy things and then go to the hard things, and unknowns (at least to me)
The easy to spot:
- The inside ring should say Sequential Blow Off Valve (mine has a dot after the word valve can someone verify this?) (see note)
- The HKS stickers are already attached to the unit.
- The Centre bullet is purple
- The top ridge is raised higher than the outside cover.
- The HKS stickers are already attached to the unit.
Note: Club RSX research reveals this: The piston is written with the “SEQUENTIAL BLOW OFF VALVE” signature. A small dot that looks like the Japanese grammar period, 。, is located between “VALVE” and “SEQUENTIAL”. Because the signature is replicated so closely in font type and bold lettering, it is almost indistinguishable to the one found on an HKS piston. A small difference in the dot is the only clue in telling them apart
Of course it is likely possible that the bov was purchased from a second supplier or intermediary. For example, what would happen if someone purchased a fake, realized it was a fake and then tried to sell it as genuine to recover their losses? Well. For one, the stickers would be glued on. This is an obvious sign, so just because the stickers are on does not make it genuine.
The harder to spot:
- Ridges on screws. HKS genuine units have ridged screws, some fakes do not.
- Taking it apart is a sure way to tell because you can see the quality. The RSX post I read said that inside the fake bov the parts were actually assembled incorrectly.
Now for my problem. I don't have an allen wrench to take it apart right now and check but there is one thing really bugging me. Firstly, it has the stickers. Which presumably don't matter because someone could have affixed them to a fake unit prior to selling it to me.
Secondly, it has the proper writing on the hard plastic ring located beside the purple bullet. There is no ridge on vacuum line, paint seems to be in good quality and the screws have very fine ridges. Never the less to me they still have ridges so it is hard to rule it out for that.
One thing really bugs me, it uses an orange gasket around the front housing that seems to me sort of out of place. However, it is next to impossible to find a picture of this bov that isn't taken at an awkward angle.
As for anyone else who is purchasing an hks bov. I have had a change of opinion and don't think this highly counter-fitted product is worth purchasing from anyone except a reputable supplier. However, I know that is far from reality. (look at myself)
The clubRSX writeup done by killertofupanada is where I started and likely a good reference for anyone curious about authenticity.
Secondly HKS offers a very reduced counterfeit identification page that points out the easily identifiable things.
If anyone else has some input, or can tell me if this gasket is supposed to be orange because I have a feeling its not it would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to add, and who knows.. I might just find an allen wrench and take this baby apart just to see.
- Daryl
Last edited by 88durel; 04-27-11 at 08:36 PM. Reason: Clarity #1
04-27-11, 09:14 PM
#2
It also appears the plunger gasket that is next to the locknut is orange as well, the locknut has an orange nipple in the middle of the 4 dots. Part of post #13 on the fakes displayed on clubrsx. However, this leads me to believe that orange is not a tell tale sign as I had thought. Because the insert is orange, perhaps it makes sense to use orange rubber on other parts of the unit. Yet my bov has a yellowish color on the piece the rubber is surrounding. (sorry I can't think of the name)
Last edited by 88durel; 04-27-11 at 09:28 PM. Reason: added a little more description
