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Oil Pump

The oil pump pressurizes and delivers engine oil to the engine while it is running. The oil pump is made up of a series of tight passages that increases the oil pressure as it passes through the pump. A pressure relief valve is located at the end of the pump for when the oil pressure gets too high. There are two kinds of oil pump designs: gear design and rotor design. A gear pump design features two gears on both sides of the pump. When oil is released, it flows around the diameter of both of the gears. In a rotor pump design, two rotors, one on the inside and the other on the outside, oscillate to pull oil into and out of the pump. In modern vehicles, the oil pump is turned by the crankshaft and pulls oil from the oil pan.

Signs of a bad oil pump

Oil pump maintenance

A failing oil pump can cause internal damage to the engine. Because of this, it is not safe to drive around with a failed oil pump, so be sure to have your vehicle towed to the nearest repair shop if you suspect oil pump issues. Assuming there is no significant engine damage, the oil pump can just be replaced by your car care professional.

The best way to get maintenance done on your oil pump is to book your appointment through CarAdvise. CarAdvise makes car care simple and guarantees that you’ll pay less than retail price on all car maintenance services.

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