What inconsistency - many shops always recommend easy services that make lots of money. I can understand why shops suggest replacing the water pump when they do the timing belt - more dollars for them for little actual extra effort. There were certain vehicles in the past (80's Escorts with original CVH engine) where it was a reasonable idea. Not only was the water pump likely to fail before the belt needed replacing a second time, when it failed it was likely to take out the timing belt and valves/head when it did. For those Escorts the water pump was cheap and easy to replace when you did the belt, so I think it was a reasonable thing to do. In fact for those early Escorts, I think it was more import to replace the water pump at regulalr intervals than to replace the timing belt. After Ford eliminated the potential valve interference, the need for replacing the water pump when you did the timing belt was eliminated - at least in my mind (second year, or third?). For other vehicles, I agree it is not something worth while - particualrly if it is a noninterference engine.
Old habits are hard to break - especially when so many Toyota enthusiasts continue to blame all the sludged up engines from the late 90's on insufficient oil changes. I've finally broken the habit but one thing worries me. We have two I4 RAV4s in the family. They both have oil change indicators (5000 mile fixed interval indicators) which is good. - except, they both use more than a quart of oil in 3000 miles. So if the drivers don't check the oil, I worry thay might end up with less than 2 quarts of oil in the pan at 5000 miles when it is changed. My Sister is particualry lax about checking oil - the last time I changed her oil I only got around
2.5 quarts in the drain pan (I know some was in the filter and I spilled a little, but I am afraid the engine was over 1.5 qt low). Both my Sister and SO think the oil change indicator light relieves them of the need to check the oil at least occasionally. I hope they don't learn why this is a bad idea.Good tag line.
Ed