One of the leaks is more or less captured by a catch bucket. The other is in a place where I cannot collect the oil, and it is coating the liftway wall.

It is always a good idea to repair a fault than bypass it but you can wrap a rag around the piping then direct the 'wick' to a bucket to at least direct the oil from the shaft/pit! I don't think you have to bind the lift to the top floor just prop the lift above the bottom for access, then drain the oil out of the line.

Do it right or don't do it at all.