A car engine's oil pump pulls oil out of the oil pan and distributes it throughout the engine. The engine oil lubricates components, helps to cool the engine, and carries away particles and dirt to the oil filter before returning to the oil pan. A gear-driven device, the oil pump can eventually wear out and lose its ability to adequately supply oil to the engine. When an engine oil pump fails or becomes weak and its pressure decreases, replacing it with a new or rebuilt pump is the only solution.
Park the car on a flat, firm surface and block the wheels to prevent it from rolling while you are working underneath it.
Remove the oil drain plug with a crescent wrench and drain the engine oil into a drain pan for disposal.
Use a 3/8-inch drive socket and ratchet to remove the bolts holding the oil pan to the underside of the engine.
Drop the oil pan from the engine and set it aside. With the pan removed, the oil pump is now visible.
Remove the bolts securing the oil pump to the engine block with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet. After unscrewing the bolts, pull the pump straight down from its mount. A shaft drives the oil pump from a distributor gear inside the engine block. As the pump separates from the engine, the shaft will come out with the pump. Set the pump and shaft aside.
Reinsert the existing oil pump shaft into the distributor socket located at the center of the oil pump mount.
Position a new gasket onto the new oil pump mounting face and slide the oil pump onto the shaft.
Install the bolts to secure the oil pump onto the engine block with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet. The torque for the oil pump mounting bolts is 14 to 21 foot-pounds.
Insert the pick-up tube and screen onto the suction side of the oil pump if so equipped.
Install a new gasket onto the oil pan then mount the oil pan onto the bottom side of the engine.
Insert the bolts to secure the oil pan onto the engine and tighten the bolts.
Refill the engine with oil and start it to check for proper oil pressure.
