Notices
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain Everything from engine management to the best clutch and flywheel.

how do I know if my oil pump is broken?

Old Feb 12, 2006, 06:05 PM
  #1  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (54)
 
Derek888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
how do I know if my oil pump is broken?

Is there any way to check to see if my oil pump is still in good working condition without taking it apart? Will there be some kind of check engine oil pump light that might go on?
Old Feb 12, 2006, 06:44 PM
  #2  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (4)
 
VTEC Killer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The only way to know if its bad or going bad is if it leaks, makes noise or you have low oil pressure. Be careful, if it breaks and the gears lock up, your timing belt will almost certainly jump a tooth causing major engine damage.
Old Feb 12, 2006, 06:56 PM
  #3  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (5)
 
althemean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dude....if your oil pump goes out....be ready to replace your bottom end. A spun bearing will result for sure. Your heads will probably suffer damage as well.

You need an oil pressure gauge.

You should get low pressure warnings on the instrument cluster though if it starts going out.

I blew an engine in my 280zx for this same reason.
Old Feb 12, 2006, 06:59 PM
  #4  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (54)
 
Derek888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by VTEC Killer
The only way to know if its bad or going bad is if it leaks, makes noise or you have low oil pressure. Be careful, if it breaks and the gears lock up, your timing belt will almost certainly jump a tooth causing major engine damage.
i will be getting all necessary gauges but in the meantime how can I tell its leaking?
Old Feb 12, 2006, 07:25 PM
  #5  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
 
4G63>OOOO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh, that's easy. Just get a hammer, lift it high above your head and let it go, because you should NOT be going anywhere NEAR that engine bay.

The oil pump is belt driven. It is a simple gear that spins based on engine RPM and fills the engine with oil. If it is leaking, you will see it leak, but my suggestion to you is to take your car to a reputable shop and let them take care of it.

I don't know what else to tell you.
Old Feb 12, 2006, 08:47 PM
  #6  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (4)
 
VTEC Killer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree
Old Feb 12, 2006, 09:45 PM
  #7  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (50)
 
levo2nr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: pa
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
what is the chance of a pump going? with oil changes every 3000 miles or 3 months
and if i were to get a oil pressure gauge
how high of a psi r u suppose to see on the oil pressure gauge?(at idle)
Old Feb 12, 2006, 10:23 PM
  #8  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (10)
 
forum04pl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ma
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by levo2nr
what is the chance of a pump going? with oil changes every 3000 miles or 3 months
and if i were to get a oil pressure gauge
how high of a psi r u suppose to see on the oil pressure gauge?(at idle)
the chances have been seeming pretty good lately, i have heard quite a few horror stories about them lately including personal experience the other month. i would reccomend everyone to order an oil pressure gauge for thier car as soon as possible
Old Feb 12, 2006, 10:40 PM
  #9  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (50)
 
levo2nr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: pa
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by forum04pl
the chances have been seeming pretty good lately, i have heard quite a few horror stories about them lately including personal experience the other month. i would reccomend everyone to order an oil pressure gauge for thier car as soon as possible
damn
did it happen to u?
Old Feb 13, 2006, 03:20 AM
  #10  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (54)
 
Derek888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Do they just fail after a certain time and what causes the failures?
Old Feb 13, 2006, 03:41 AM
  #11  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (7)
 
smokedmustang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Indy
Posts: 6,591
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Hey Derek, send me your GT35R, and I will inspect it for oil deposits, and get back to you! .

I had my oilpump balance shaft out of sync for 4K miles, and no issues so far! I changed it to the correct position. good luck. I will let you know what the pressure should be after I look at it. 60-80? is my guess.
Old Feb 13, 2006, 05:51 AM
  #12  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (5)
 
althemean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
at idle is around 15-20psi

3k-4k rpm around 45psi
Old Feb 13, 2006, 06:19 AM
  #13  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Drifto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Alabaster, AL
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
What has happened that you would want to ask this?
Old Feb 13, 2006, 07:24 PM
  #14  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
 
4G63>OOOO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
By the time you notice that you don't have any oil pressure, it's probably too late to do anything about it.

An oil pressure gauge is worthless in a street car. If you can't tell that you're out of oil by driving the car, a gauge isn't going to help you.
Old Feb 13, 2006, 07:45 PM
  #15  
Account Disabled
iTrader: (172)
 
turboDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Derek888
Do they just fail after a certain time and what causes the failures?
No,they are designed to last the life of the engine.What causes failure is repeated trips over their designed rpm range(i.e. 9000 rpm shifts,constantly),also running vehicle very low on oil then alot of hard accelerating and braking/cornering,causing the pump to pump air and not oil due to the lack there of as they are designed to pump oil,which we all know is a lubricant,air is not
If you are "building" your motor and you dont replace your oil pump,just because the one that came out is good,you have no business "building" your motor to begin with
(exception would be stroking or building a motor in a fairly new car<10k miles),other than that if you are not going to replace something as important as an oil pump dont bother to build to begin with.It is always less expensive to do it Right the 1st time than it is to do it again.......
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
benIX
Evo General
2
Oct 16, 2016 11:28 PM
1sikmr
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
14
May 27, 2016 12:31 PM
CNOEVO22
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
0
Oct 19, 2015 10:03 AM
MRadjahoe
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
30
Jan 10, 2007 01:36 PM
kr1s
Evo General
15
Feb 2, 2006 07:32 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: how do I know if my oil pump is broken?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:51 PM.