Water pump and front cover question

[lcdrjoe]

I'm replacing my water pump on an 87 interstate. When I took off the front cover probably a quart of oil came out. I've watched several videos and read several step by step tutorials, but none actually say whether there's supposed to be oil in there. The oil seals at the front of the oil pump and the rear of the water pump are obviously bad and need replacing (I have a kit to arrive tomorrow). My conundrum is whether that oil was supposed to be in there at all. It was dark, old oil, while the oil in the crankcase is clean and fresh. [It should be fresh as I've been adding a quart every 70 miles.] Here's what my thinking is. There's three aluminum 'sealing washers' on the three bolts holding the water pump onto the front cover that are supposedly there to seal out oil from getting to that weep hole below the water pump. That makes it sound like there's supposed to be oil on the other side of the washer (which would be the space behind the front cover). I looked pretty close at the oil pump and around it there seems to be space where oil could get in there from the crankcase. There's also the shifting mechanism stuff in that space between the front cover and the block that you'd expect would want some lubrication. However, there's also the gear indicator electrical switch in there that may not want to be submerged in oil. I'm sure you guys have done this job a hundred times. It's my first time. Thanks for any info you can provide.

[julimike54]

When I did mine there was oil in that area, don't know about a quarts worth.....

[lcdrjoe]

I've pretty much convinced myself that there's supposed to be oil in that space. I think I got so much because I didn't drain the oil out of the bike before I took that cover off. The oil that came out was probably dirty looking because there was a bunch of sludge in the bottom of there and it kinda carried some of it away when it flowed out. I've sprayed it down with carb spray or brake cleaner and it's clean now. Hopefully the new parts will be here today and I can reassemble it this week.

I was wondering if those three aluminum 'sealing washers' on the bolts that hold the water pump in place need some little bit of rtv on them to help seal. Nothing says to put any on there though.

[julimike54]

I didn't rtv those washers....

Maybe the amount of oil in there was due to sludge blocking the return port?