Should I replace car quest water pump for OEM?

About 4 months ago I replaced the water pump on my 2004 2.4l with a car quest water pump. As i educate myself more on repairs, I realize OEM would have been best.

My question is, is it worth buying an OEM pump, removing the car quest pump, and reinstalling? Or should I just let the car quest pump ride since it's already been in for about 4k miles?

Side note- the first car quest water pump I originally put in was actually a defect, there's a good one in now, but that just gives me more reason to want to get an OEM one in there.

 

Leave it alone. The chances that it fails catastrophically are low. It will likely leak first.

I’m a firm believer in, don’t fix what’s not broke. And that’s being said from someone that’s broken perfectly good stuff, “trying to make it better”. No more.
Learned my lesson.

 

I won't tell anybody if you dont!

 

HAHA ok sounds good. Thank you for giving me this piece of mind!

 

I agree with the others: No need to replace unless you're having issues. When you get around to replacing, you can buy OEM or instead by an Aisin pump for less. Aisin is OEM, but they have to grind the Toyota name off to sell.

 

general rule is if you're trying to keep the vehicle for a long time, go OEM. Especially on a critical component like a water pump.

 

not true at all but I know what you're trying to say

 

I told you not to tell anybody now you've riled the puritans!

 

Care to elaborate ?

My understanding is that Toyota has sizable ownership stakes in both Aisin (20%) and Denso (25%), which allows them more tightly control the quality of the parts intended for their assembly lines (as well as that old buying parts from our own company business chestnut). Many of the Aisin parts you can buy directly are obviously the original casting with the Toyota letters ground off.

 

Toyota Water Pump



Aisin Water Pump. Hmm - what did they grind off?

 

^^^This^^^ Leave it be for now. R&R of the aftermarket T-stat now, exposes you to leaks, and/or tweaking/breaking something else in the process of swapping it.

The current CarQuest pump will probably give you an ample early-warning sign that it's getting tired. (leaks or noises.)_

 

Wacky, never seen that before

 

in 2021, I received an Asiin pump from Rock Auto, it did in fact have the Toyota ground off...

 

If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

 

They do it for a lot of the stuff they sell that is also an OEM part. Oil pump for the 5VZ is the same way as is its water pump too.

 

Huh, several timing belts, never noticed