Chevrolet Repair: metal shavings in oil filter, mile oil change, oil change intervals

Question
I have a 1989 Astro van with the 4.3 litre V6. It has 256000 miles on it and runs great and doesnt use any oil. I have always used Mobil1 5w30 since it was new. I use 2000 mile oil change intervals and change the filter too. I have one of those big plastic oil change pans to drain my oil and on the top there is a lip to set the filter on upside down to drain it. I think the Fram TG3980 filter has an anti drain back valve in it and so when the oil quits coming out of the filter I puncture the bottom of the filter to get the remaining oil out. My last oil change I punctured the filter and noticed that the remaining oil looked awfully sparkly. It only appeared in the filter and not the oil that came out of the pan. A guy at work suggested that it may be the oil pump wearing out or a bearing going bad. I always fill the new filter with oil before installing it so the pump doesnt have to fill the filter before lubricating the engine. I learned that little trick on a previous chevy I owned that always knocked a little after changing oil and filling the filter before installing eliminated the knocking. My engine doesnt knock at all so I am wondering if the pump may be going bad. I always figured the pump was the best lubricated part in the engine so I was never concerned about it but now I am wondering. If your advice is to change the pump should I stick with the OEM version? Seems like the after market ones I checked on the internet are only gaurenteed for 30 days. Also is the original pump high pressure low volume or low pressure high volume and does it make a differance. I sure appreciate your advice.
Thanks
Lee

Answer
Hello Lee, My answer to you is just drive the van and don't do a thing. The 4.3 engine is a great engine and you have taken great care of it. I can't think of anything in the engine that you would see in the filter. I have done many oil changes and if you get the light just right it looks like the oil is metalic. As for replacing the oil pump or even the pump wearing out, forget it because it doesn't happen. The only reason for engine failures is lack of oil and or oil changes every 10 to 15 thousand miles.

Have a Nice Day

Mark