Parting Thoughts

Tricky Part Numbers

By Brodie MacDearmid, Sales Representative 

Here at Marine Parts Express we often receive questions from customers who want to make sure they have identified the correct part numbers before they place an order.  This can be a valid concern, as part numbers don’t always match the original part number.

The concern over the right part stems from the source people reference when initially looking up their part. Often workshop manuals, shop manuals, or schematics, will have out-dated part numbers. This can be remedied by purchasing updated manuals and workshop bulletins.

However, when Marine Parts Express receives an order with these outdated part numbers we automatically correct the part numbers for you.  On your invoice there will be a note showing the older number and the new up-dated or “superseded” number.  These updated numbers supplied to us by Volvo Penta or Mercruiser and other companies are often referred to by us and on our website as: SUPERCEEDED, REPLACEMENT, or RPL numbers. Marine Parts Express receives updates when a number changes.

In addition, some parts or kits are listed as one number and sometimes supersede to multiple numbers or a direct replacement. This happens when a part is replaced by multiple parts to make up the complete part which originally was sold as one number. An example of this would be PART # 873350 (Cable Harness). This harness has (2) components which was originally sold by Volvo Penta as one part. This one part included the Cable Harness and the Relay. If you were to order Part # 873350, it would come up as RPL which means it has multiple replacement numbers or a single, direct replacement. Now, #873550 is replaced by part #’s 873744 (Cable Harness) and part # 8737470 (Relay) which are the updated parts.

In short, here at Marine Parts Express, whether you have a Mercruiser, Volvo Penta or any other type of engine, we will always check for part supersession history and will update you of any changes that have taken place or any other change that might affect your boat being out on the water. Most manufactures offer remanufactured parts for the more common and expensive parts.  Sometimes these parts are actually rebuilt parts, but at times they are new parts sold as rebuilt.

Volvo Penta is unique in that it offers “exchange” parts on bigger parts like Turbochargers and heat exchangers. These parts are called “exchange” parts and are actually, almost always, new parts. Volvo Penta determined it was less expensive and easier to sell new parts instead of doing the remanufacturing.

All “exchange” or remanufactured parts have core charges associated with them.  With the manufacturers that actually do reman their parts, the core charges are to encourage customers to return the old parts to keep the remanufacturing process line filled.  With Volvo Penta the cores are returned to Volvo Penta for tariff purposes.

These core charges are refundable when we receive your exchange item back at our facility. If for some reason you would like to buy an exchange part and cannot provide a core. We can still sell you the exchange part, plus the price of ½ the core charge.

Mercruiser and Quicksilver also can be confusing when it comes to part numbers. Often, in Mercruiser schematics, two different part numbers are listed for both Quicksilver Parts and Mercruiser Parts. Mercruiser and Quicksilver are identical parts which are packaged differently for dealers and customers. They are the SAME parts and both parts are OEM from Mercruiser.

Sierra and GLM manufacture aftermarket parts for a number of different company’s products.  Often Sierra parts have an “SIE” in front of the number or start with an “18-“ While GLM parts are often completely different numbers than the OEM parts.  Marine Parts Express only supplies OEM parts unless a customer specifically asks for an aftermarket part. If the part is only available in an aftermarket form (which is relatively rare) we will then offer those alternatives.

For all brands, many customers sometimes mistake a parts casting number for its part number. Although some part numbers are indeed physically casted onto a part. This is not always accurate and cannot be trusted for part identification.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding part identification. All of us here Marine Parts Express are happy to help you with any question you might have. You can also visit our PART FAQ page at http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/searchbypn.htm for additional information.

Categories: The Express, The MPE Crew

Tags: GLM, Marine Parts Express, mercruiser, OEM, part numbers, quicksilver, replacement, sierra, volvo penta

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