Does meets or exceeds OE specs mean anything?
- Thread starter Avery4
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Are you talking motor oil specifically? If so, you should look for official OE spec approval, as opposed to just "recommended for" verbiage.
The answer in either case (oil or parts) is, of course, maybe. It only means as much as the reputation of the producer.
Only the OEM knows what it is specifying to their suppliers and they don't make that information public. So in a strict sense since they don't know the specs then the answer has to be no.
For some parts you can buy them from the same manufacturer as the OEM (especially true for European cars). In that case I would say that they meet the spec.
Only the OEM knows what it is specifying to their suppliers and they don't make that information public. So in a strict sense since they don't know the specs then the answer has to be no.
For some parts you can buy them from the same manufacturer as the OEM (especially true for European cars). In that case I would say that they meet the spec.
The part may fail outside of official OEM specs, you have to trust the suppliers to build without cutting corner.
The part may also fail because it is not "tested" to the spec correctly if the supplier doesn't know how to test it right.
User may abuse it beyond factory spec, and whether it fails will depend on how much extra safety margin above spec the supplier build in.
For a part that has been around for a long time, successes and failures from the field should be a good indicator of whether it is good enough or not.
The part may also fail because it is not "tested" to the spec correctly if the supplier doesn't know how to test it right.
User may abuse it beyond factory spec, and whether it fails will depend on how much extra safety margin above spec the supplier build in.
For a part that has been around for a long time, successes and failures from the field should be a good indicator of whether it is good enough or not.
Originally Posted By: Avery4
Does that mean that it is at least as good as the part the car came with?
Not really, it's a fairly nebulous statement if you ask me. Unless they perform the same testing on said part as the OEMs do, and it demonstrates similar performance/reliability/etc (or whatever criteria they measure), then it's impossible to prove or disprove.
That being said, many of the OEM suppliers sell the exact same part without the OEM branding. In that case, it *should* be identical assuming they aren't changing anything else in it. An easy example is a brake rotor. If you buy replacement oil filters for my car at the dealer, it has the BMW logo and part number on it. But if you buy the same oil filter from Mahle (who makes the OEM part), it simply has Mahle's logo and part number on it instead. Exact same filter with the same construction, pleats, endcap, etc....for about 25% less.
Does that mean that it is at least as good as the part the car came with?
Not really, it's a fairly nebulous statement if you ask me. Unless they perform the same testing on said part as the OEMs do, and it demonstrates similar performance/reliability/etc (or whatever criteria they measure), then it's impossible to prove or disprove.
That being said, many of the OEM suppliers sell the exact same part without the OEM branding. In that case, it *should* be identical assuming they aren't changing anything else in it. An easy example is a brake rotor. If you buy replacement oil filters for my car at the dealer, it has the BMW logo and part number on it. But if you buy the same oil filter from Mahle (who makes the OEM part), it simply has Mahle's logo and part number on it instead. Exact same filter with the same construction, pleats, endcap, etc....for about 25% less.
It only means it's not a performance enhancing part. Whether it works, lasts, is a similar level of quality as OEM, etc., is still a [censored] shoot.
From my experience OE =/= OEM in terms of quality.
OE mainly refers to the specifications while OEM is the actual producer of parts for your vehicle maker.
If you were to remove a stock part, most often you will see OEM branding that is different from the vehicle make. A prime example is Toyota which has many parts produced by Aisin or Denso, or AC/Delco for GM vehicles. You may get identical parts that supplies to dealerships, without the mark-up.
OE mainly refers to the specifications while OEM is the actual producer of parts for your vehicle maker.
If you were to remove a stock part, most often you will see OEM branding that is different from the vehicle make. A prime example is Toyota which has many parts produced by Aisin or Denso, or AC/Delco for GM vehicles. You may get identical parts that supplies to dealerships, without the mark-up.
Most OEM parts have higher quality than aftermarket, but brake pads and some suspension components aftermarket may be better.
They tested OEM parts and improved it beyond OEM quality/performance.
They tested OEM parts and improved it beyond OEM quality/performance.
Mean, La garantia soy jo.
It could be better than OEM, but usually aftermarket parts aren't better than OEM.
The 2 parts I know of that are typically better are:
Fel-Pro gaskets for several types of GM V6 engines
Certain MOOG suspension parts for a variety of cars
The 2 parts I know of that are typically better are:
Fel-Pro gaskets for several types of GM V6 engines
Certain MOOG suspension parts for a variety of cars
The only times where aftermarket parts truly meet or exceed OE specs are wear items, high performance parts, and where they redesign a poorly-designed OE part.
With shocks, the name brand premium lines are at least as good as the OE parts, especially when you buy the OEM brand. However, the economy lines are inferior (Gabriel Guardian, Monro-Matic or Econo-Matic). Even though KYB GR-2 often has different valving than the factory shocks, the quality is still there (the aftermarket shocks are more firm than OE to account for wear in the suspension, such as sagging springs).
With shocks, the name brand premium lines are at least as good as the OE parts, especially when you buy the OEM brand. However, the economy lines are inferior (Gabriel Guardian, Monro-Matic or Econo-Matic). Even though KYB GR-2 often has different valving than the factory shocks, the quality is still there (the aftermarket shocks are more firm than OE to account for wear in the suspension, such as sagging springs).
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