TOYOTA OEM VS ????????

[Gnarly4X]

I bought a LLNSEAUTO brand Corolla gas cap from Amazon $9.99.

2 days later the engine light came on and threw 3 leak codes.

I cleared the codes and tightened the gas cap really tight, beyond what the factor cap required, no engine light or codes.

I bought a Toyota OEM $20.88 from my local Toyota dealer, and it felt exactly like the original factory one, turn until it clicked and stopped.

The two gas caps looked identical, but they were not. 

Toyota is very proud of their plastic parts..... but they work.

Gnarls.

[sirdeuce]

Aftermarket has some manufacturers license and actually make really good parts, others just make knock-offs. Take your chances. A coop daiabase would be helpful, but the "coop" thing usually fails the effort.

[Gnarly4X]

Today I will pick up my 2 Toyota OEM Corolla plastic wheel covers at my Toyota dealer this morning.

I got a sr. discount from $99.93 each.  Total is $172.83!!

Toyota is SO proud of their plastic parts!!

Heck, I can buy a brand new alternator and 3 v-belts from Autozone for $160.00!!

These wheel covers are flimsy and the clips will break very easily.

If anyone, like Discount Tire, is going to do tire work, I always remove ALL 4 covers because they will break them.

Of course, I have stupidly smacked a curb too hard and scratched and broke one.

Gnarls.

[toyodaaddict]

It didn't take me long messing with aftermarket parts to figure out oem or oem supplier is the only way to go. I don't like buying parts/doing the job twice.

I buy enough stuff from the dealer that they set me up an account for a discounted price. Most the time though, these guys still beat it, by a little or alot https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/

https://toyotaparts.ourismantoyotaofrichmond.com/?referrer=toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_tyroIfjhQMVRw-tBh2Y-wbLEAAYASAAEgKPQfD_BwE


If you put in the work to figure it all out, you can find alot of Toyota oem supplier parts, aisin, denso, koyo, etc. from Napa (under their Altrom import line) or rock auto and elsewhere. I've purchased parts like timing covers and oil pumps with the Toyota ground off the casting. I've had great luck using these parts.

Here is an interesting article I saw on another forum https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2019/08/05/denso-oem-aftermarket-parts-from-same-manufacturer-not-identical/?fbclid=IwAR3gtUx7ddoUI-4GCrEQCkDFZ3VjHpZKjnjX-3X-hhxIghRj38sIDjxRRxQ

Im curious about these websites amayama and partsouq. I see alot of people online mention them But I'm not sure the parts arnt counterfeit. I think they are shipping out of Japan and India. I don't really remember.

[sirdeuce]

One way to save money on parts is to know the original manufacturer, Toyota doesn't make a lot of parts they put their name on, just like everybody else. Just have to figure out the who and what part number. Most of the time that requires a dimensional listing to go through.

[Gnarly4X]

It didn't take me long messing with aftermarket parts to figure out oem or oem supplier is the only way to go. I don't like buying parts/doing the job twice.

I buy enough stuff from the dealer that they set me up an account for a discounted price. Most the time though, these guys still beat it, by a little or alot https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/

https://toyotaparts.ourismantoyotaofrichmond.com/?referrer=toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_tyroIfjhQMVRw-tBh2Y-wbLEAAYASAAEgKPQfD_BwE


If you put in the work to figure it all out, you can find alot of Toyota oem supplier parts, aisin, denso, koyo, etc. from Napa (under their Altrom import line) or rock auto and elsewhere. I've purchased parts like timing covers and oil pumps with the Toyota ground off the casting. I've had great luck using these parts.

Here is an interesting article I saw on another forum https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2019/08/05/denso-oem-aftermarket-parts-from-same-manufacturer-not-identical/?fbclid=IwAR3gtUx7ddoUI-4GCrEQCkDFZ3VjHpZKjnjX-3X-hhxIghRj38sIDjxRRxQ

Im curious about these websites amayama and partsouq. I see alot of people online mention them But I'm not sure the parts arnt counterfeit. I think they are shipping out of Japan and India. I don't really remember.

Wow... that was very interesting information!

That Toyota dealer offers the best discount I'vd seen for Toyota OEM parts.

The Denso article makes perfect sense.

Affer working in the auto insurance industry for over 8 years, I fully understand the difference between an auto manufacturer's OEM windshield and an aftermarket brand.

The reasons and logic for use and selection of an OEM part versus an aftermarket part has so many variables, it's a very deep and wide discussion.

LC Engineering has their "high-quality Teflon-coated LC Engineering Head Gaskets."

Jim at 22RE Performance only recommends Toyota OEM head gaskets.  Why?

I have spoken at length to a local engine head shop here, the guys at the shop have over 50+ years working on and selling engine heads.
When I bought a new 22RE head, the owner recommended a Fel-Pro head gasket.  Why?

Over the years, I've had good luck and bad luck with aftermarket auto parts, but I do quite a bit of homework before I decide the level of quality I need and any dollar costs to consider.
Spending more money for a reputable and historically documented quality of a particular OEM part only makes sense.

However, the controversy goes on.

Gnarls.

[Gnarly4X]

One way to save money on parts is to know the original manufacturer, Toyota doesn't make a lot of parts they put their name on, just like everybody else. Just have to figure out the who and what part number. Most of the time that requires a dimensional listing to go through.

An auto dealership's reputation for quality can have a profound impact on their sales and success.

The reputation of an Autozone and its aftermarket products and quality probably suffers minimal impact on sales or success.

Gnarls.

[Gnarly4X]

Regarding aftermarket parts... I will only by a DNJ part if it is the only part on planet Earth, and then I will hate myself until I die.

Gnarls.