I have gone back and checked the archives and read many opinions on here and other forums regarding oil pumps and their respective relationships with leaks, worn grooves, and life expectancy, but tonight I found something that I just had not seen anything referenced to. While it may always be an arguable opinion as to whether or not you should ever need to replace the entire oil pump or just the seal and O-ring, I think I need a new pump. After removing it from the vehicle and taking it apart I found the oil galley which leads to the surface of the aluminum v/s the splined crank "gear" to be cram-filled with an aluminum "curly-Q" shaving. Further inspection found the contact surface of the aluminum pump body to be chewed up a bit. Don't get me wrong, the pump still turns smooth and effortlessly but...... galled up surface? Anybody ever seen this and/or have any theories about how it happened? Thanks....

 

its worn out and eating itself alive?

edit - so it sounds like a new pump and FULL cleaning is in order

 

I think so too. By full cleaning, you mean removing the oil pan, screen, etc, and cleaning them before the obligatory oil change. Anything else that you can think of that I prolly should do? Thanks......
Steve