- A high volume oil pump uses long gear groupings, within a housing, to move oil from the crankcase through the oil filter and back into the engine. The pump is referred to as high volume since it uses more gears for moving high volumes of oil -- commonly 20 to 25 percent more oil than a standard oil pump. The excess oil creates more oil pressure and additional friction protection along the engine's internal components.
- An older high volume oil pump can become worn internally. The gears may not engage as well, reducing the overall oil output. In addition, the high volume oil pump's pickup line may not be situated correctly in the crankcase, pulling in air instead of oil to the pump's internal mechanisms, causing low oil pressure. A car typically has a low oil pressure signal light that illuminates on the dashboard to immediately notify the driver.
- It is possible for a high volume oil pump to provide too much oil pressure within the engine. In this case, the oil pump typically has a malfunctioning relief valve. A relief valve that does not open causes excessive pressure to build within the pump, possibly damaging the oil filter that resides in the pump. The entire pump may need to be replaced, if the valve cannot be replaced separately.
- The high volume oil pump's pickup line has a coarse filter at its opening. This filter prevents large debris from entering the oil pump from the crankcase. However, smaller particles can infiltrate the pickup line. Over time, the small particles may pack against the line's wall, creating a clogged area. This clog prevents oil from moving into the oil pump, creating low oil pressure. The best course of action is to replace the line, states AA1 Car. Debris may still reside in the line if it is simply cleaned.
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