What are these marks on my AC Delco parts?

[deleteitall]

Bought a new ACDelco fan clutch for my 1997 Astro on Amazon and was wondering what the different colored yellow, purple and black spray paint marks are for. Do these colors signify that the part met a certain quality grade from the factory? Or maybe to mark where to line up the fan or water pump shaft so there is better balance - the way tires have a balancing mark?

[DRZ]

Dunno, never occurred to me to ask.

[markmitch]

only time I have ever seen that was sometimes when you buy parts they mark it to know its from them like at a pick and pull close to me. They use a paint marker to put initials of the cashier.

[chevymaher]

It is how they are marked in the parts bin at the factory. Keep similar but different parts separated. That mass production thing.
At least that is how they did it when I did factory work.

[godmachine81]

like chevymaher said, it is a mass production thing. I worked at an Automotive Trans/Oil Cooling unit factory and I can verify that we made very similar marks to specify that the item was 'tested'. Each color represents a different test, and usually different people are assigned different colors and/or a unique stamp. It helps in the factory to make sure only good parts ship.

[deleteitall]

Ok thanks guys that's good to know.