What component directs oil from the pan toward the pump in most engines?

• A. Pickup screen
• B. Oil cooler
• C. Oil filter
• D. Pressure relief valve

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how oil is moved from the bottom of the engine to the pump to start the lubrication process. The component that does this is the pickup screen and its attached tube. Mounted in the oil pan, it reaches into the oil pool and uses a suction path to feed oil directly into the pump inlet. The screen protects the pump from debris, while the tube provides a consumable flow path so the pump can draw oil even as the engine is running and oil sloshes around.

Oil cooler, by contrast, is placed in the oil path to remove heat after the oil leaves the pump. The oil filter sits downstream of the pump to clean the oil. The pressure relief valve is inside the pump to limit pressure by bypassing excess oil.