Question about oil pump.

Should there be some sort of fluid in it or does it have a hole somewhere that allowed the liquid to get into it?

If its messed up what would be the best way of fixing it, or do I need to replace it.

Thanks in advance!

Mark D.

You can locate the leak by immersing the float in a bucket of hot water. Air bubbles will appear from the leak as the air inside heats up.

If there's just a little oil inside the float you can safely leave it. However if it's like 1/4 full or more, best to get the oil out then reseal the float, or simply replace it with a new float.

To drain the float you can drill a small hole in it (ideally at the spot where the leak is) then submerge the float in hot water with the hole facing down to force the oil out, pull it out of the water to let it cool, and repeating until no more oil comes out.

Then screw a brass or unplated steel sheetmetal screw in the hole and solder around the screwhead to make it oiltight.

I've tried patching holes in oil pickup floats with JB Weld. But I find the stuff softens and deteriorates after a few years exposure to oil in the crankcase and the leak will redevelop.

It looks like someone may have already tried to patch a hole in it, as it looks like there is a little blob of jb weld on the top.