7 Best Chevrolet Colorado Oil Pump | Oil Pressure Restored

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When you’re dealing with a 2016 Colorado’s oiling system, going with the GM Genuine Parts 12686433 is the closest you’ll get to a factory-fresh assembly without buying a crate motor. This is the exact pump GM designed for the 3.6L and 5.3L engine families, manufactured with the same Gerotor clearances and bypass valve calibration as the original unit that left the Wentzville assembly line. The metal construction resists the housing flex that cheaper pumps exhibit when the engine reaches operating temperature.

Real-world owners report that after installing this pump, cold-start oil pressure jumps to 60+ psi within 2 seconds, and hot idle pressure stabilizes at 22-25 psi with 0W-20 synthetic. The two-year warranty from General Motors provides peace of mind that no aftermarket brand can match. It’s a direct swap for the 12686433 part number, meaning your timing cover bolts align perfectly without shimming.

The biggest drawback is its premium price point and the fact that it’s a standard-volume pump—it won’t help if your timing chain tensioners are rattling due to stretched guides. For a pure, fade-free restoration of factory oil pressure, though, this is the undisputed leader.

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Melling’s M353 is the pump you’ll find referenced in virtually every timing chain replacement video for the 3.6L LLT/LGZ engine family—and for good reason. It matches the GM engineering specification for Gerotor diameter and gear lash, delivering the same 50-55 psi at 2,000 RPM as the original. The M353 comes with new mounting bolts, a detail that saves a trip to the hardware store and ensures proper torque-to-yield clamping force on the timing cover.

On a 2010 Camaro 3.6L, one owner reported that swapping to the M353 immediately raised oil pressure from a concerning 15 psi hot idle to 28 psi, confirming that the original pump had been slowly wearing its rotor-to-housing clearance. The fitment on the Colorado’s LGZ is identical—same bolt pattern, same pickup tube diameter. At this entry-level price point, you’re getting a pump that has been on the market since 2013 with consistently positive feedback.

The trade-off is that the M353 is a standard-volume unit with no provisions for a high-pressure spring. If your Colorado has over 150,000 miles and the timing chain is starting to slap, this pump won’t compensate for the increased clearances in the chain drive.

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For owners of the 2016 Colorado who have already replaced timing chains and tensioners but still see low pressure at hot idle, the Melling 10355 is the heavy artillery. The screw-in relief valve plug allows for spring swaps without replacing the entire pump.

Made in the USA, the 10355 uses a cast iron phosphate-coated cover that provides better thermal stability than all-aluminum designs. The included +20 psi spring option is useful for builds with larger bearing clearances or forced induction, but for a stock Colorado, the standard +10 psi spring is more appropriate to avoid over-pressurizing the oil filter bypass. Owners installing this on high-mileage LGZ engines report quieting top-end valvetrain noise almost immediately.

The extra pressure does increase parasitic drag slightly, meaning your engine may see a 1-2 MPG reduction in highway cruising. It’s also a tighter fit in the timing cover cavity, requiring careful alignment of the pickup tube O-ring to avoid dry start on initial fire-up.

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The AULINK M555 is an aftermarket alternative that targets the same 12686433 OE number as the GM Genuine pump but at a mid-range price point. Manufactured in a TS16949-certified facility, each unit undergoes 100% functional and leakage testing before shipping. This means you’re getting a pump that has been verified to hold pressure at 60 psi without bypass opening prematurely—a common failure point on budget pumps.

Its compatibility list is broad, covering the 4.3L and 5.3L engines from 2014-2020, but the 3.6L LGZ in the Colorado uses a different mounting flange. The AULINK M555 is actually designed for the V8 engine family, so Colorado owners should confirm their engine code carefully. For those with the 2.5L LCV, this pump is not applicable. The one-year warranty is decent but half the term of the GM Genuine unit.

If you own a 2016 Colorado with the 5.3L V8 (RPO L83), this pump is an excellent option. For the 3.6L V6, the fitment ambiguity creates risk—you may need to grind locating dowels or swap pickup tubes, which defeats the purpose of a direct replacement.

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This ACDelco Gold 252-962 is listed here not because it’s an oil pump, but because it’s a critical companion part during a timing cover job on the Colorado. When you pull the timing cover to replace the oil pump, the water pump is right there—and failing to replace it invites coolant contamination into your fresh oil circuit. The 252-962 features a bronze impeller housing that resists electrolysis and corrosion far better than the composite impellers used in cheaper pumps.

ACDelco’s Gold line sits between entry-level and premium, offering coated seals that maintain tension as the engine heat-cycles. The heat-treated shaft assembly prevents the wobble that leads to premature seal failure and coolant weep. For a 2016 Colorado 3.6L, this pump is a direct fit and comes with a 24-month warranty, matching the GM Genuine oil pump’s coverage period.

It’s important to note that this is a water pump, not an oil pump. If you’re exclusively shopping for an oil pump, skip this entry. But if you’re planning a comprehensive timing system overhaul, including this pump prevents having to drain and refill coolant a second time later.

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The DWLDMLWC assembly is designed for the 1.4L turbo engines found in the Chevy Cruze, Sonic, and Trax—not the Colorado’s 3.6L or 2.5L. It combines the oil pump, timing chain cover, and all gaskets into a single pre-assembled unit that bolts on in under an hour. The high-strength steel oil pump rotor and multi-layer silicone gaskets are engineered to cut leak risk dramatically, according to the manufacturer’s testing.

For Colorado owners, this product serves as a cautionary example: verify your engine code. The 1.4L Ecotec uses a chain-driven oil pump integrated into the timing cover, whereas the Colorado’s LGZ V6 uses a separate Gerotor pump mounted behind the cover. Ordering this for a Colorado would result in a completely non-functional oiling system. The one-year warranty is adequate for its intended application.

If you happen to also own a 2011-2015 Cruze or a 2013-2021 Trax and need a timing cover with a fresh pump, this kit is a smart buy. For the Colorado specifically, keep scrolling.

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The MDSAFM TCK018 is arguably the most comprehensive solution for a 2016 Colorado 3.6L that’s experiencing both low oil pressure and timing chain rattle. This 17-piece kit includes the oil pump, water pump with gasket, two timing chains, tensioners, guide rails, sprockets, and the timing cover gasket set. For a vehicle approaching 100,000 miles, this one-kit approach eliminates the headache of sourcing components individually.

The included oil pump matches the OE Gerotor design for the 3.0L/3.6L V6 family, which covers the Colorado’s LGZ. Owners who have installed this kit report that the oil pump alone restored pressure to 28 psi at hot idle, while the new chain and tensioners eliminated the cold-start rattle completely. The kit is manufactured to OE or better standards, with the water pump featuring a stamped steel impeller for better coolant flow than plastic alternatives.

The downside is the sheer volume of parts—16.91 pounds—means precision is required during installation. With two upper chains and two secondary tensioners, misaligning any sprocket will throw cam timing off. This kit is best suited for experienced DIYers or a professional shop. The one-year warranty covers all components.