What does the oil pump do?

Before we can discuss the oil pump we need to understand the purpose of motor oil.  All engines need to be properly lubricated for them to work. Without sufficient lubrication the moving parts in the engine can damage each other. When two surfaces made from metal rub up and down against each other thousands of times a second damage is inevitable unless a way can be found to stop them from coming into direct contact with each other. Another problem with parts rubbing together rapidly is heat. Because of the heat generated by friction these parts can even become welded together. If this happens you engine is dead, this problem is known as seizing up. Not only does friction make things hot but it also makes the engine inefficient. Energy is wasted overcoming the friction when it should be channelled into the crankshaft to drive the car. The solution to all of these problems is motor oil. Oil forms a cushion between the components and by doing so allows them to slide against each other easily without coming into direct contact. In this way wear and tear and excessive friction are avoided. Motor oil is just one part of the lubrication system.

The most critical part of this system is the oil pump. The oil transfer pump sucks up oil from the oil pan (or sump) then circulates it around the engine. On the way it pumps the oil through an oil filter where larger contaminants are removed. In order to work the oil has to be kept under pressure and it is the automotive oil pump which provides this pressure. After passing through the filter the pressure of the oil is measured using an oil pressure sensor. This device sends a signal to the oil pressure gauge if there is a problem. From here the oil travels through tiny holes drilled in the engine to reach the pistons and other moving parts.

Not all engines have the same requirements. Sports cars need a high performance oil pump. When the engine can reach 7000 to 9000 revolutions per minute a conventional pump simply cannot get oil around the engine quick enough to maintain lubrication and cooling. The gears inside a performance pump art made from more durable materials and usually supported by extra axles.

Trucks use high pressure oil pumps. Because of the greater cubic capacity of the engine and the increased demands made on the oil because of this standard car engine oil pumps simply aren’t powerful enough to do the job.

Pumps are also used by other important systems in your car. The fuel pump forces gas from the back of the car to the engine. Strange as it may seem to was the safest place for the pump is inside the tank. If your car has power steering a hydraulic pump is used to amplify the movement of the steering wheel’