Your vehicle's oil pump is not necessarily the largest part of your car, but is extremely important. If your oil pump fails, an inadequate amount of oil can be supplied to your engine while in operation, which can alter the performance of your vehicle and cause a number of more serious problems later on. Understanding what warning signs to look out for can help you have your oil pump replaced before it becomes a significant problem.

Noises

One of the most common signs of a failing oil pump is if there is a clanking or rattling noise coming from your engine while you are driving. This is because oil is used to lubricate the moving parts of your engine, and if an inadequate amount of oil is being supplied, than your engine will begin to make strange noises while running. This is not an insignificant problem: a lack of lubrication can greatly increase the amount of wear that your engine experiences, increasing the risk of damage occurring to another component under the hood.

Increased Engine Temperature

An improperly lubricated engine will create an increased amount of friction within your engine, resulting in higher engine temperatures. However, besides lubrication, engine oil is also used to transfer heat away from the engine and keep it within a healthy operational temperature range. If your engine temperature is climbing upwards for no apparent reason (such as a hot day outside or a long period of operation), a damaged or malfunctioning oil pump could be the culprit.

Difficulty Starting

If your vehicle experiences a great deal of trouble starting up, and turns over multiple times or needs to be started repeatedly before catching, you may have insufficient oil pressure. Check the oil levels of your vehicle, and add more oil to the reservoir if necessary. If your car still has difficulty starting, the issue is either with your oil pump or your ignition system. In either case, you should contact a professional to look at your car as soon as you can.

Leaking Oil

The last, and perhaps easiest to discern, sign of oil pump trouble is if oil is actually leaking out of your vehicle. Check underneath your car for pools of black liquid. If you can't determine the color of the liquid, you can use a piece of paper towel to blot it up and determine if its oil or another fluid from your vehicle.  

Contact a company like Hillis 66 Service for more tips.