Oil pump brands

[samtj89]

Good evening
Chasing a low oil pressure problem. I've found that the oil pump belt is breaking down and partially blocking the oil pump strainer. Im going to obviously replace the belt. But also planning to replace the oil pump as a precautionary measure I'm thinking of genuine but are there any aftermarket brands that are just as good and reliable
Cheers

 

[DXX]

I’m not sure there’s a large enough market for pattern part oil pumps. Def’ stick to OEM in my opinion.
What engine code, year and mileage?
Have you physically seen the belt has broken up?

 

[samtj89]

Yeah theres quite a few different brands just wanted to avoid anything thats rubbish and wont last
Its the caab in a 2012 Transporter. 107000
Yeah theres bits of belt I've scooped out of the oil pump strainer. When you look at the belt you can see bits missing off of the teeth and when you bend it feels crispy.

 

[DXX]

Age more than mileage then I guess.
Any issues with bad injectors, fuel dilution of engine oil, missed oil services?

 

[samtj89]

Yeah id say so. Annoyingly I've only just bought it and wasnt aware of any issues.
I've taken an oil sample to see if there any contaminants in the oil.
Hopefully it hasn't done any major damage

 

[DXX]

I would expect the turbocharger and / or main bearing to suffer first in a lube failure, you could always pull a few main bearing caps off and do a Plasti-gauge clearance check.
I just had a look at Autodoc, really surprised to see so many pattern part oil pump options. EDIT: for my CFCA Pierburg is an option, they may well make the OEM, maybe there is a Pierburg mark on yours?
For those with engines with balancer shafts like my 2016 CFCA the oil pump is gear driven, one less issue to deal with.

 

[DXX]

Now you’ve seen the engine apart do you think it would be possible to get a good enough view of the pick up strainer with an endoscope via the sump drain plug?

 

[samtj89]

Now you’ve seen the engine apart do you think it would be possible to get a good enough view of the pick up strainer with an endoscope via the sump drain plug?

I've got the sump and oil pump off and now cleaned the strainer out from the fragments of belt that was in it. Nothing laying in the bottom of the sump which is good and relatively clean. Will wait for oil sample to come back before i make my next move.

 

[DXX]

Now you’ve seen the engine apart do you think it would be possible to get a good enough view of the pick up strainer with an endoscope via the sump drain plug?

I was thinking about endoscope access for others who might want to inspect the strainer

 

[samtj89]

Ahh i see what you mean, yes i cant see why not. To be honest if your handy with tools it only took me about 10 minutes to get the sump off