It has been happening forever and it definitely won’t be changing anytime soon: Consumers tend to take a price-conscious approach when purchasing items. Non-genuine parts are not worth the risk, warns Cummins.
It happens in the trucking industry where genuine parts can be expensive, seemingly overpriced compared with non-genuine parts.
So, is there a difference between genuine and non-genuine parts? Is it really worth shelling out the extra dollars purely for genuine parts?
Powering more types of equipment in more markets than any other engine company, Cummins warns there is a difference and that non-genuine parts can have potentially serious consequences in terms of an engine’s lifespan, resulting in a blow-out of whole-of-life costs.
“When you look at the R&D put into the design and manufacture of Genuine Cummins Parts, the non-genuine suppliers don’t do that, so the risks are obvious,” says Jackson Meredith, on-highway aftermarket business development manager for Cummins Asia Pacific.
He points out that Cummins engineers conducted lab analysis and destructive testing on over 300 non-genuine overhaul kit components for ISX and N14 engines, including pistons, piston rings, piston pins, cylinder liners, main bearings, connecting rod bearings, head gaskets and injectors.
Of the over 300 non-genuine parts tested, none met all Cummins Design Specifications.
“Non-genuine parts are usually reverse-engineered with poor quality materials and loose specifications,” says Meredith. “They are not designed or tested to Cummins’ exacting engineering and quality standards, and this can lead to rapid wear, poor reliability, high fuel and oil consumption, excessive emissions and even engine failure.
“Non-genuine parts can also pose a safety risk if they are poorly produced or made of substandard materials. For example, fire risk or electrical failure may result from faulty components.”
He points out that while manufacturers of non-genuine parts may claim their products will work in a Cummins engine, the fact is they are not fit for purpose. Only genuine components are built to meet the original factory specifications while using the latest materials, component designs and manufacturing techniques.
“With Genuine Cummins Parts, customers know where and how they have been manufactured, so they can be confident in the quality, durability, and reliability of the parts. In the event of failure, Cummins takes responsibility in providing warranty.”
Joe Ribera owns Melbourne Diesel Repairs, a business well known for its focus on quality.
“Genuine Cummins Parts are important to the success of our business,” he says. “The parts are more expensive than non-genuine parts but if you want quality you have to pay for it.”
He points out that the parts warranty and extensive service support coverage provided by Cummins also “strongly favour” the use of genuine parts.
He confides he once used non-genuine parts when rebuilding a Cummins engine and it failed due to this. “The parts supplier didn’t want to know about it, they didn’t want to support us,” says Joe. “When something goes wrong like that it’s hard work for all involved – the owner of the truck or engine, the mechanical repair business. There ends up being a lot of unpaid labour.
“I learned from that mistake. When you buy non-genuine parts, you risk having problems.”
Click on the QR code below to view the results of our lab testing on heavy duty non-genuine parts for the on-highway market and see why there is a difference.
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