Need help choosing Oil Pump!

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SoobyToo58
Scoobytruck Master
Posts: 112
Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:35 am
Location: South East PA

Need help choosing Oil Pump!

Post by SoobyToo58 »

I'm installing a Timing Belt Kit with the Water Pump because my existing Water Pump is failing and I figure I'll replace the whole Timing Belt system while I'm at it.
I'm choosing an AISEN kit because my understanding is that AISEN manufactures the OEM parts for Subaru so they are identical to the OEM Subaru branded parts but much less expensive. I learned this from the YouTube channel, MrSubaru. MrSubaru is a certified Subaru mechanic and I trust him because I've found his advice to be very dependable the past few years that I've been watching his videos.
I also want to install a new Oil Pump while I have everything apart but I don't know which one to choose. I prefer an OEM pump but I don't want to buy from Subaru because the lowest price I've found is more than twice the price of others I've seen online and elsewhere.
Can anyone recommend a high quality Oil Pump?
20Baja06
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Re: Need help choosing Oil Pump!

Post by 20Baja06 »

Based on your post history, I’m assuming SOHC?

If so, from the options available on Rock Auto, I’d lean at the Melling, then EngineTech, then SKP.

That said, is the couple extra hundred dollars saved worth the risk of one of these pumps taking out your engine? I do not know a lot about Subarus and their aftermarket yet, but in other car circles I dabble in, quality in the aftermarket sector for oil pumps is not great. Based on that experience, I would go OEM on such a critical component if it were me. But your car, your choice.
-Brian
SoobyToo58
Scoobytruck Master
Posts: 112
Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:35 am
Location: South East PA

Re: Need help choosing Oil Pump!

Post by SoobyToo58 »

20Baja06 wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 12:27 pm Based on your post history, I’m assuming SOHC?

If so, from the options available on Rock Auto, I’d lean at the Melling, then EngineTech, then SKP.

That said, is the couple extra hundred dollars saved worth the risk of one of these pumps taking out your engine? I do not know a lot about Subarus and their aftermarket yet, but in other car circles I dabble in, quality in the aftermarket sector for oil pumps is not great. Based on that experience, I would go OEM on such a critical component if it were me. But your car, your choice.
Hey 20Baja06,
I apologize for not acknowledging your response sooner. I just saw it now.
Because I could find no other good/reliable information regarding aftermarket oil pump quality I ended up going with the OEM Subaru Oil Pump. I ended up paying $135 for it which was $35 cheaper than any Subaru dealer or distributor was charging. I would have payed more if that's all there was available because of the simple facts that it's such a labor intensive job to replace it AND a poor quality or faulty aftermarket oil pump could potentially end up causing a lot of other costly problems down the line.
Some parts might be worth taking the gamble that they might be low quality but not for an oil pump.
Thank you again!
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