Are you tired of hearing your engine making noise? Does the noise sound like a ticking sound? The noise is common in most cars that has high mileage. The reason why cars with high mileage make this noise is due to engine wear and tear. Over time, parts inside the engine start to breakdown and some component may not function as it used to be. One of the component that normally fail is the oil pump. The oil pump helps engine oil circulate lubricating all mechanical parts.
One of the factor that cause ticking noise is a dry lifter. A lifter is a mechanical component in the engine that needs lubrication to function properly. The ticking noise occur when the lifter is dry. As the lifter is moving up and down, it is hitting another component of the engine. The oil helps dampen the noise and even prevent it. The oil pump is responsible for this noise. If the oil pump does not pump enough oil to circulate around the engine, it fails to reach to the top of the engine, that is where the lifter is located at.
A weak oil pump can be caused by debris and gunk trapped in the oil pump screen. The gunk prevents oil from entering the oil pump thus causing low oil pressure. There are engine oil pressure test kit that can check oil pressure. Oil pressure should fall within a range according to manufacturer specification.
A ticking noise is normally caused by low oil pressure. Oil pressure can simply be resolved by taking your vehicle to the mechanic to check oil pressure. If low oil pressure are found, it is most likely a clogged pump or the pump is starting to fail.