1999 Oldsmobile Alero Oil pressure

WESK

MEMBER
1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
94,000 MILES

Hello, I had a tapping noise in the top of my engine so I changed my oil and filter. Black goo came out of the filter. When I restarted the engine the oil filter exploded, leaking ALL my oil. Oil light came on and I shut engine immediately. My mechanic put a stronger oil filter and gasket in and got a VERY HIGH oil pressure reading. He said get rid of car or we could try an oil pump but there's no way he could say if that would fix it. He wants $500 to replace pump. My questions are 1: Is it the oil pump? And 2: If I buy the part for $100, is it that hard to change it myself? I'm willing to gamble $100, not $500. Thanks, Wes

1 Reply

DLOBI

MEMBER
125 POSTS

Black goo is oil that is way way over due for an oil change. Exploding an oil filter is major high oil pressure. Your oil pump is obviously working. It sounds to me like it is trying to pump oil through blocked passages thus raising the pressure. A lack of oil reaching the top of the motor caused the tapping noises. You might be able to save the engine with some type of motor flush added to the oil to break down the blocked passages. You might have to do it a couple of times.