I contacted Airflow Performance and asked about the oil that leaked out. He said it is preservative oil. He also said if the oil leaked out he "would recommend filling the pump with light weight oil or ATF, then recap for storage". I also asked how long I could leave the pump with no oil inside. He said "it depends on how much leaked out and the conditions it now sits. If just a little is left in there and it's mostly air, then it can dry up relatively quick".
Why no mention of this oil anywhere? This information should be on their website, in their FAQ's, in their manuals, included in the shipping box, etc. I certainly was not expecting oil to come out of the pump when I unscrewed the cap. I was under the false impression that the fuel system should be kept CLEAN. Now I'll be pumping oil through the fuel lines????? So now I need to know what kind of "light oil" I can use to refill the pump that won't contaminate the fuel lines. Also, how does oil dry up?
Sorry for the rant. Two days ago I completed the "big join". That was a good day! It was followed up by this fuel pump oil mess, trying to find Loctite 648 for the fuel selector valve screws and messing up one of the holes in the fuel selector valve cover plate while countersinking. Today will be better!