Melling Oil Pumps

Why Melling Is the Benchmark for Oil Pumps

Melling has been synonymous with oil pump engineering since the company's founding. Founded in 1946 as a supplier of quality replacement oil pumps for the automotive aftermarket, Melling has built a strong reputation for providing quality internal engine parts at competitive prices. What began as a small catalog operation has grown into an industry cornerstone — from a first catalog containing just 14 part numbers in 1948, Melling today offers over 350 oil pumps, 80 repair kits, and 170 oil pump screens. Their dominance in the market is no accident: Melling Tool Company is the only full-line oil pump manufacturer in the U.S.

Engineering That Goes Beyond OEM

What separates Melling oil pumps from the competition is a commitment to precision manufacturing and rigorous testing at every tier of their product lineup. All Melling oil pumps use the latest in gear and gerotor technology, with gears machined to close tolerances to ensure proper engine pressure and efficient pump operation, and end plates precision ground for maximum wear resistance. Before any pump leaves the factory, every Melling oil pump is individually tested for pressure and flow under conditions designed to duplicate actual engine operating conditions.

Melling oil pumps are manufactured from high-quality materials in either cast iron or cast aluminum as specified by the OEM engine manufacturer, with internal pump parts produced from sintered metal or steel. Manufacturing processes leverage state-of-the-art CNC machines and the latest phosphate coating processes.

The Melling Oil Pump Lineup: Something for Every Build

Melling's oil pump catalog is organized to match the demands of virtually any engine application — from a stock daily driver to a purpose-built race engine.

• Standard Replacement Pumps: Direct OEM-spec fitment for routine engine rebuilds, ensuring factory-correct pressure and flow.
• High-Volume Pumps: Melling high-volume oil pumps increase the amount of oil flow delivered to the engine by an average of 20%, accomplished by increasing the gear or gerotor set's volumetric flow rate. These are ideal for engines with additional oil demands relative to when the engine was new, including builds with increased bearing clearances preferred by performance engine builders.
• High-Pressure Pumps: High-pressure oil pumps increase the pressure required to activate the pressure relief valve by utilizing a stronger pressure relief spring, which delays the opening of the valve and increases performance at higher engine speeds.
• Melling Select Performance Pumps: Melling Select pumps are offered for increased oil flow, increased oil pressure, anti-cavitation capability, lighter pump weight, and performance when needed — available in cast iron, cast aluminum, or aluminum billet materials.
• Select Billet Aluminum Pumps: The flagship of the performance lineup. These pumps feature a lightweight billet 6061-T6 aluminum housing and cover with a protective anodized hardcoat, coated gears, and an extended chrome-moly drive shaft. The pickup screen is integrated directly into the pump body with stainless steel wire mesh, and each pump offers multiple pressure settings and is CNC manufactured to exacting tolerances and surface finishes. These pumps eliminate the potential disaster of the oil pump pickup falling off while offering smoother oil flow with less internal drag. The design is protected under Patent No. 5,810,571.

Application-Specific Engineering

Melling doesn't take a one-size-fits-all approach. Their engineers develop platform-specific solutions for popular engine families. For example, Melling re-engineered the Gen IV GM oil pump to increase its volumetric output 20% relative to the standard volume pump, with this pump engineered specifically for the performance aftermarket LS engine blocks. On the Ford side, certain rotor sets deliver 20% more flow compared to the standard volume pump, engineered specifically for performance applications that demand increased oil flow. For Chrysler Hemi builders, Chrome-Moly billet steel rotors are available to improve strength beyond what the stock casting provides.

Whether you're rebuilding a classic V8, refreshing a modern turbocharged platform, or assembling a dedicated strip car, Melling's broad catalog of oil pumps gives you the engineering depth to match the right pump to your exact application. Explore the full range of Melling engine parts to find complementary components for your build.