Oil Pump System
Operation Diagram
 The oil pump is the vital component that provides the circulation of oil which cools, cleans and
 lubricates internal engine components. In some engines, the oil pump also provides hydraulic
 power to valve lifters and valve timing components. Driven by crankshaft power, the pump
 creates suction to draw oil from the oil pan through the strainer. The suction by the pump
 creates the pressure where oil is driven through the oil filter, oil cooler, internal moving parts,
 provide hydraulic power, then collected back into the oil pan.
              Oil Pump                                                                    Oil Cooler
                            Oil Strainer
                                           Oil Filter                   Oil Pan
Drive Systems
 Various systems are utilized to transfer power from the crankshaft to the oil pump. The type of
 drive system influences the configuration and location of the oil pump.
  Direct Crankshaft Drive         Integral Unit with W/P       Chain Drive                  Gear Drive
                                      (Front Module)                              (Integral Unit with Gear Case)
                                                           2
                                                                                                                   Introduction
Structure and Components
The basic structure of the oil pump consists of a sprocket (drive rotor) which revolves within a
housing (driven rotor). The complex geometry of the rotor and the housing creates suction.
Depending on the type of oil pump drive system, the rotor can receive power through a shaft that is
connected to a pulley, a gear, a sprocket or directly into the crankshaft. When the rotor is revolved,
oil is drawn in from the suction port and expelled into the discharge port. This process creates oil
pressure to supply oil to the moving components of the engine. A relief valve is strategically
configured in between the ports to prevent excessive pressure build-up and maintain optimal
operating oil pressure.
    Oil Pump Configuration
    Chain Drive / Gear Drive                                                        Rotation
                                   Drive Rotor
            Shaft                                               Drive Rotor                                Shaft
                                          Driven Rotor
                                                          Driven Rotor
                                                                      Suction                        Discharge
                                                                       Inlet                          Outlet
                                                   Suction Port
                                                                                                           Discharge Port
             Relief Valve                                                                      Relief Valve
    Direct Crankshaft Drive
                                     Drive Rotor                     Driven Rotor
                                   Oil Seal
                    Crank Pulley
                                                                                          Crankshaft
                                                                                    Oil Pump
    Relief Valve Configuration                                                  The relief valve is configured to
                                                                                prevent excessive oil pressure.
           Discharge Port
                                                                                The excess pressure along the
                                                                                discharge port compresses the
                                                      Relief Valve
                                                                                relief valve spring to open the
                                                                                valve, relieving pressure by
                                                     Valve
                                                                                re-circulating the oil back into
                                                     Spring                     the suction port.
           Suction Port
                                                         Plug