OEM vs replacement parts

[lockerc18]

I've had 2 experiences recently with Toyota that makes me ask this... are the replacement parts you get at a Toyota dealership the same parts as OEM?

I had my front brakes done at about 70K miles for the first time. Now I have 100K, and they need to be done again. I also got a little brake dust from the pads, too, though not a lot. But I didn't get ANY on the OEM pads. So naturally, I expected to get the same life out of the new ones as I did the original ones. No joy there.

The second thing was that I thought it was time to replace my serpentine belt. 100K miles on it, still looked good, no cracks or frays, but I didn't want to take any chances. So after reading about the Goodyear Gator and those problems, I figure I'd go to the dealer and get a real Toyota part.

What I got was a belt that was the same width and length, and it did fit OK. But it was a lot thinner than the original. The grooves on the inside were not nearly has deep, either. This thing was labeled Toyota Mitsubishi, so I figure it's OK, but it doesn't seem nearly as sturdy as the original.

And here's the kicker. I called them first to see if they had one in stock. They asked for my VIN, and I said, for what? It's an 04 Limited 4WD V6. How many belts are there for that? And he said, oh, there are so many options, like air conditioning and so on. That had me shaking my head. So I gave him my VIN, and he looked it up, and said they had one in stock.

When I got there, I got someone else, and he didn't ask for my VIN, so I don't know what the heck that was all about.

Anyway... to my question... are the parts you get at a dealership the same as the ones which came on the truck originally? I tend to think not in all cases, certainly not in the case of the serpentine belt.

I have done essentially nothing to this truck since I got it, except the normal maintenance things. And it runs like a real peach. I want it to keep running like that, so I only use Toyota parts on it. I do that with my Hondas, and it makes a real difference for them. But if the replacement parts aren't the same as the originals with Toyota, then to heck with that expense.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Not every part on your truck is going to be exactly the same as what as original, for example: all Toyota vehicles use a grey silicone sealant on the timing covers, valve covers, ect. Toyota does not provide this original factory sealant, instead we are provided with Toyota OEM FIPG (Form in Place Gasket) which is a black RTV essentially, works just as good, just a different color. Why? I have no clue at all...

But the same thing applies to our vehicles, parts get updated, redesigned, newer versions ect. The belts may actually be different grades, I know with some of our products such as batteries, we sell "cheapo" batteries rated for 54months and "better" batteries rated at 72months, the same may apply to other parts.

As for the reason why they ask for your VIN, it has more to do with tracking customer purchases and keeping a record if you ever decide to do business with the dealership. Not to mention that a lot of information is given in the VIN that the parts guy will use to look up what the vehicle needs. Some guys don't use the VIN, others use it all the time.

Many OEM parts will look different than what was originally on the vehicle, but should perform just the same. Toyota likes to use Denso as its main OEM parts supplier.

 

[jimithing]

Not every part on your truck is going to be exactly the same as what as original, for example: all Toyota vehicles use a grey silicone sealant on the timing covers, valve covers, ect. Toyota does not provide this original factory sealant, instead we are provided with Toyota OEM FIPG (Form in Place Gasket) which is a black RTV essentially, works just as good, just a different color. Why? I have no clue at all...

But the same thing applies to our vehicles, parts get updated, redesigned, newer versions ect. The belts may actually be different grades, I know with some of our products such as batteries, we sell "cheapo" batteries rated for 54months and "better" batteries rated at 72months, the same may apply to other parts.

As for the reason why they ask for your VIN, it has more to do with tracking customer purchases and keeping a record if you ever decide to do business with the dealership. Not to mention that a lot of information is given in the VIN that the parts guy will use to look up what the vehicle needs. Some guys don't use the VIN, others use it all the time.

Many OEM parts will look different than what was originally on the vehicle, but should perform just the same. Toyota likes to use Denso as its main OEM parts supplier.

You mentioned the battery - do the dealerships sell the exact same Panasonic battery that came with it from the factory?

 

[Uneek]

The battery, no. The battery sold at the dealer has the same specs and fitment as the OEM Panasonic, but IIRC, it's by True Start.

Another is the oil filter. The factory one is the 90915-20004 filter, sometimes referred to as the "Supra" filter. You can have the dealer order this filter, but it runs $10+ each. The dealer will commonly carry the 90915-YZZD3 filter, which is the same in size as the 20004 filter, BUT the filtering element is different.

A lot of the parts even though they are OEM come from different suppliers and/or different factories. The Denso filters depending on which country they're made in, will result in different element design.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The battery, no. The battery sold at the dealer has the same specs and fitment as the OEM Panasonic, but IIRC, it's by True Start.

Another is the oil filter. The factory one is the 90915-20004 filter, sometimes referred to as the "Supra" filter. You can have the dealer order this filter, but it runs $10+ each. The dealer will commonly carry the 90915-YZZD3 filter, which is the same in size as the 20004 filter, BUT the filtering element is different.

A lot of the parts even though they are OEM come from different suppliers and/or different factories. The Denso filters depending on which country they're made in, will result in different element design.

This is spot on, TrueStart makes our 12v Batterys, we still get Panasonics for the Hybrids though. I wonder how much better the element in that "Supra" filter is compared to the YZZD3's, I never got to cut one apart at work and I don't see them often. The part that will see a lot of variation seems to the cabin air filters, the factory ones seem to have a different design than the ones we replace them with, but they both are denso and function just as well.

 

[MikeInNH]

I RARELY buy OEM parts for ANY vehicle....There are many good aftermarket parts companies out there.

Never had a problem with Wagner brakes...They last as long or better then any OEM manufacturer.

Most manufacturers don't make all their parts....They are farmed out to other companies. Spark-plugs and filters is just one example. I can buy the Toyota spark-plug which is made by NGK or Denso for about $8/plug...or buy a NGK or Denso plug on-line for under $4...it's the EXACT SAME PLUG...

Oil-filters and air filters from companies like Wix or even Fram are as good or better then the OEM filters....

The one that gets me is the people who go to the dealer to have their windshield replaced....Toyota does NOT make glass. It's all farmed out to several different glass manufacturers. In fact near where I live...if you go to the dealer to have the windshield replaced..they call one of the local glass repair shops..they send one of their trucks over and will replace it at the dealer...and the customer will be charged an extra $200 instead of going directly to the local glass shop.

 

[Uneek]

I wonder how much better the element in that "Supra" filter is compared to the YZZD3's, I never got to cut one apart at work and I don't see them often.

There are a lot of comparison pictures and threads on it. But it's always when I need them, I can't find them. Here's one with the differences.

Comparisons of oil filters - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

 

[Uneek]

Most manufacturers don't make all their parts....They are farmed out to other companies. Spark-plugs and filters is just one example. I can buy the Toyota spark-plug which is made by NGK or Denso for about $8/plug...or buy a NGK or Denso plug on-line for under $4...it's the EXACT SAME PLUG...

Yes, chances are this will be the case with any manufacturer/brand for spark plugs.

Oil-filters and air filters from companies like Wix or even Fram are as good or better then the OEM filters....

Fram as good or even better? That will NEVER happen.

Toyota Oil Filter (Made in Thailand) vs. the competition - Tacoma World Forums Listen for his commentary in the video about the Fram Tough Guard filter. :lmao:

The one that gets me is the people who go to the dealer to have their windshield replaced....Toyota does NOT make glass. It's all farmed out to several different glass manufacturers. In fact near where I live...if you go to the dealer to have the windshield replaced..they call one of the local glass repair shops..they send one of their trucks over and will replace it at the dealer...and the customer will be charged an extra $200 instead of going directly to the local glass shop.

:iagree: 110%. One of the dealers I called to replace my Camry's windshield said the exact thing, none of the dealers in my area does windshields in-house. It's done by a glass contractor and it adds a couple hundred dollar mark-up that the insurance company eats.

 

[MikeInNH]

If there was any problem what-so-ever with Fram filters...then we'd be seeing TENS OF THOUSANDS of vehicles engines die every year because they used a Fram filter. Fram outsells it's next 3-4 competitors COMBINED. There's no problem with Fram or any other major oil filter company. I can personally show you many vehicles that have well over 300k miles on them that are in perfect running condition that have used nothing but Fram filters...The engines have never been opened.

I've read Bob-the-oil-guy before...Nothing new...and not really scientific either. Taking a filter apart tells you squat. In-Use test is the only tests I'd be willing to read about. In a controlled environment take a few hundred (or thousand) engines using different filters and run them through the same conditions and lets see the filtering and engine wear results after thousands of miles.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Our dealership contracts with local glass for windshields, we don't even touch them. Its much cheaper and easier to do in the long run than to buy the glass aftermarket and have the techs install it.

If there was any problem what-so-ever with Fram filters...then we'd be seeing TENS OF THOUSANDS of vehicles engines die every year because they used a Fram filter. Fram outsells it's next 3-4 competitors COMBINED. There's no problem with Fram or any other major oil filter company. I can personally show you many vehicles that have well over 300k miles on them that are in perfect running condition that have used nothing but Fram filters...The engines have never been opened.

I've read Bob-the-oil-guy before...Nothing new...and not really scientific either. Taking a filter apart tells you squat. In-Use test is the only tests I'd be willing to read about. In a controlled environment take a few hundred (or thousand) engines using different filters and run them through the same conditions and lets see the filtering and engine wear results after thousands of miles.

That is telling me that you are doing just as much an emperical evaluation as anyone else. Tear the engines down, check the clearances, look at the sludge and crap build-up. If that engine really is in perfect condition, it should be pretty damn close to factory specifications on everything even if you tossed it on a dyno.

Granted though, to test the filters, you could just do a flow test, particulate filtering size comparision, amount filtered over time, ect.

 

[415runner562]

BlackWorks, how about for bumpers? I went to a body shop in Signal Hill, CA and they gave Cabe Toyota in Long Beach, CA a call. They quoted a rear bumper extension (Driver side) for $184 and some change, unpainted. I looked up the exact part on partsgeek.com and it is manufactured by Action Crash for around $60.

Is OEM better in this case?

 

[Uneek]

OEM body parts have better fitment.

Aftermarket parts sometimes have poor finish which require additional prep before painting and a lot of times the fitment is off requiring modification to the get the panels to line up. An aftermarket chrome bumper that I had for my '90 Toyota pickup, I had to bend the brackets to get the turn signals to screw it.

Sometimes it could be refurbished if it's plastic parts. It could be an OEM part and refurbished. I had an aftermarket bumper like that for my Mazda. The textured black trim on the bumper was completely smooth instead of matted.

 

[MikeInNH]

Granted though, to test the filters, you could just do a flow test, particulate filtering size comparision, amount filtered over time, ect.

That's a start...Not necessarily perfect..but a start. You really need to see how it's effecting the engines. If one filter filters 10,000 particles per hour and another filters 20,000 particles per hour...does it mean it's going to make one iota bit of difference in the engine. Not going to know that until you tear into the engines.

 

[MikeInNH]

OEM body parts are usually a LOT better then many aftermarket body-parts...

Some are good..but usually those are for classic autos...not the vehicle average joe drives.