Oil Pump Chain Timing Marks

That said, I've been wondering for years just how you would tell when your oil timing is off...

 

Timing for an oil pump? Hooda thunk it?

 

It honestly makes me a bit curious. A quick Google for "oil pump timing" nets a lot of pages about Mitsubishi 4G63 engines, which have weighted balance shafts to be kept in the proper phase with the crankshaft, and a timing mark on the oil pump sprocket that is part of that scheme.

But as far as I know, our 2ZR oil pump is just a shallow little pump there, sitting at the front of the engine. I suppose they still could have tweaked its weight somehow for some sort of vibration-canceling effect. Does the New Car Features manual say anything about it? Anybody?

 

So the manual would suggest. For inquiring minds, the question is still (in the absence of Mitsubishi-esque balance shafts or the like), what difference?