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So recently I’ve been actively trying to set up my fuel system, starting from the fuel tank. My plan was to use twin Walbro 255lph pumps, specifically the GSS342s. I bought one off a forum member here, used, and then found a guy selling one off Craigslist for cheap, new in the box. So I swooped that, too.
Trouble is, I put the pumps side by side and started noticing some slight differences. So I Googled a bit to see if there was such thing as a knock-off Walbro.
Sure enough, there is. But the generics are getting smarter.
As you can see, they’ve got the “W” stamped on it, plus “Made in USA”, a serial number in the xxxxx-x format, and “Walbro” itself stamped on it.
It’s the same shape, same orientation of inlet/outlet/electrical connector, same dimensions, etc.
The differences: there’s no numbering on the electrical connector.
The top doesn’t have the same molding marks as the real one.
The graphics stamped on the casing is shifted downwards…
…and is missing the relevant patent number.
And lastly, the real reason you can tell the difference:
Tada, the internals as viewed from the inlet (the bottom) reveals how shitty the fake one is.
Considering how catastrophic leaning out on a pull due to fuel pump failure is, I’m definitely not putting this one in my car. Might sell it locally to a Honda owner or something. But I’m definitely going to put more effort into buying a genuine pump.
Hopefully this helps someone else out! It’d be sad to see a 7 die such an ignominious death as getting starved by a Ebay pump.
