Reservoirs and accessories

A reservoir is not just a container. It stores the fluid, lets the contaminants settle out, separates entrained air and sheds part of the heat in the circuit. A reservoir that is too small ages the oil prematurely and makes the fluid foam.

For sizing, the usual rule on fixed installations is a volume of three to five times the pump flow per minute; on mobile plant, space constraints force smaller volumes, offset by a cooler. Always provide a baffle between the return and the suction, a submerged suction strainer, and a return line discharging below the oil level to avoid emulsion.

• Steel: robust, repairable, suited to high temperatures and to heavy mountings
• Polyethylene: light, immune to corrosion, practical on mobile power units
• Essential accessories: filtered filler-breather cap, level gauge, magnetic drain plug

The workshop supplies reservoir accessories individually and helps you identify the right thread for a level gauge or a plug from the part you have removed.