Failed Oil Pump or worse?

Tiny
QARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 BUICK LESABRE
  • 167,000 MILES
My 97 Buick LeSabre cut off on me after driving it for less than a mile. I noticed that the car was leaking oil in the driveway, so I was on my way to a mechanic when the oil pressure guage started fluctuating and slowly dropping. I put oil in the engine and when I checked the dipstick I found that the engine was full of oil, past the max point. So I proceeded to drive it, but not even 2 minutes afterwards the oil pressure guage continued to drop and I began to hear a knocking in the engine. I tried to make it back home, but the car cut off on me about a mile from my house.

At first the engine would turn over and then cut right back off, now it won't turn over at all. I recently replaced the camshaft position sensor and got a new battery. The oil pressure guage currently sits in the red. I don't have the money to take it to the shop, so I need detailed advice so I can fix it myself. Scraping the car is not an option. I have access to a DIY garage equipped with every tool I could possibly need. I have been told that the problem could be the oil pump. I want to make sure this is correct so I don't have to continue to spend time fixing the vehicle, I need it up and running by Wednesday. It's got 167K miles on it. Once I replace the oil pump, will the car be fully functional? Are there any other things possibly malfunctioning? If so, what else could be causing these problems and how do I go about repairing the car? Thanks for your reply.
Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 4:53 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Check the oil pressure first.
The knocking noise means you could have damage to the con-rod bearings and if that is the case, replacing the oil pump alone is not sufficient.
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Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
QARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The car has zero oil pressure.
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Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The gauge in vehicle could be wrong. You need to fit a pressure gauge to confirm.
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Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
QARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
What do you mean by fit a pressure gauge?
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Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
There are pressure gauges available that is fitted to the port of the oil pressure sending unit to test the pressure.
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Monday, September 10th, 2012 AT 5:44 PM

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