By m.mcarthur (203.97.2.243) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 02:57 am:

I believe the oil pumps break in these models, any idea why??
how can this be avoided if at all?
interested in comments on this one please.

By Adrian (Civicguru) (165.228.11.61) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 03:07 am:

The oil pumps don't break, the oil pump drive gear wears out. Usually started by oil starvation to the head or very bad/dirty oil. As soon as you see wear starting on either the drive gear (on the cam) or the driven gear it's time for a replacement as once it starts to wear it'll wear out very fast. Not a good idea to replace a driven gear without replacing the cam or vice versa as they wear in together (i.e. always try to keep the cam and driven gear together as a pair.)

By BritCivic (128.243.220.26) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 06:19 am:

My oil pump drive went on my EB3, after dismantling and inspection I found the pressure relief valve on the oil pump to be seized, which meant at high revs the backpressure on the pump was high, hence putting a larger load on all of the drive components. Mine went after 2 hrs at 75 mph in top (4th), all of the teeth on the camshaft stripped, the drive gear was fine, which was a little annoying since the retail on a camshaft over here is about £600, I bet the drive gear is significantly less!
I think that the increased load on the gear teeth caused prenmture failure from cylclic fatigue...

So i reckon checking the oil p relief valve is not a bad idea if you've just got the motor! I drove mine for nearly a year before the camshaft went, I think if I'd replaced the oil pump body and valve the camshaft would never have failed.

P.S. one of my piss-taker workmates wants you all to know: 'You can't polish a turd'.....flippin' GTi drivers eh??

By John S. (207.94.232.96) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 04:42 pm:

Oh, you can polish one sure enough, it just won't hold a polish very long.