Oil/grime on oil pump after replacement

[Subarunation 713]

I was changing the oil on my 99 legacy and my wifes 96 OBW. On the oil pump there are 2 round things that come sraight down. The one that is on the drivers side has a *slight* bit of grime. The other is bone dry and clean. When I replaced them I used all OEM parts. Everything else looks clean. I use 10W-30 motor oil. I change oil about every 4,000 miles (I am learning how to hug a tree) and this is the first I noticed it. When I changed the timing belt I changed cam seals, main seal, belts, hoses, thermostat w/gasket, water pump and oil pump w/O-ring. This is about 8,000 miles, 4 months, ago on the 99 (130,000 miles) and 4,000 miles and 4 months on the 96 (about 125,000 miles). This is light grime. Nothing dripping, nothing wet just some dirty grime.

Any thoughts,

Greg

[Legacy777]

If you clean it off, does it come back right away?

[Subarunation 713]

If you clean it off, does it come back right away?

I will watch it and check back in after about 2 weeks and see. What are those little deals that comedown?

[hohieu]

They're just drain channels for the oil pump -- allen plugs come out and allows oil to drain from the pump.

[porcupine73]

I think those things that come down, one is on the suction side and one is on the discharge side. I don't know the purpose. Sounds like maybe the one that gets the grime might have a slight slight leak, but I wouldn't worry about it at all. I have several oil fittings using JIC connections which are supposed to be excellent hydraulic fittings and I get grime around them all the time.

[avk]

The bottom plugs just close up openings that were needed for machining oil passages in the casting. It seems unlikely for them to be leaking. Any oil in that area would probably come from higher up.