Oilers & Reservoirs

Oiler + Reservoir Selection — Quick Reference

Oilers + reservoirs = small often-overlooked components keeping machine tools + machinery + equipment LUBRICATED between major service intervals. Bottle oiler on lathe headstock + drip oiler on chain drive + gravity-feed reservoir on open gear.

Critical: Use CORRECT VISCOSITY oil for application — see oil viscosity chart. Bottle oilers + flexible spouts = workshop standard. Replace neglected oilers — empty reservoir = damaged bearings + machine downtime. Check reservoirs WEEKLY. Companion: grease equipment, lubricants, oil pumps.

Oilers and Reservoirs

Oilers and reservoirs are the small, often-overlooked components that keep machine tools, machinery, and equipment lubricated between major service intervals. A bottle oiler on a lathe headstock, a drip oiler on a chain drive, a gravity-feed reservoir on an open gear — each one delivers a measured supply of oil to a specific lubrication point, automatically and continuously. AIMS Industrial stocks the oiler and reservoir range for workshop, machine tool, and industrial maintenance applications.

The oiler types we stock

• Bottle oilers (sight oilers) — clear glass or plastic bottle reservoir, drip-feeds oil at an adjustable rate; the operator can see oil level and flow at a glance
• Drip oilers — fixed-rate or adjustable drip-feed oilers for continuous lubrication of slides, chains, and slow-moving components
• Gravity-feed reservoirs — larger oil tanks that supply oil to multiple lubrication points by gravity, often through a manifold
• Spring-cap oilers — push-down oilers that release oil when pressed, manual delivery to a lubrication point
• Wick-feed oilers — capillary-fed continuous lubrication using a wick to draw oil from the reservoir to the contact point
• Pressure cup oilers — for systems where the lubrication point needs oil at slight pressure, such as some bearing seals

Where oilers earn their place

• Machine tools — lathes, milling machines, grinders, and drill presses with manual or automatic lubrication
• Open gears and chain drives — where sealed lubrication isn't practical and ongoing oil supply is needed
• Slow-moving bearings — plain bearings, slides, and pivot points that benefit from oil rather than grease
• Older equipment — restored machinery and heritage equipment that uses traditional oilers

Mounting and threads

Oilers fit into machine bodies through threaded ports, typically BSP (British Standard Pipe), NPT (American National Pipe Thread), or metric. The thread spec needs to match the existing tapping in the machine — getting this wrong damages threads or leaves a leaky fit. Replacement oilers should match the original thread specification; for new fitments, the machine's design drawings (or measurement of the existing port) confirm the right size.

Oil selection

Match the oil to the application. Light machine oil for high-speed components, heavier lubricating oil for gears and slides, hydraulic oil for hydraulic system reservoirs. Manufacturer specifications for the equipment usually call out the right viscosity grade — substituting can cause poor lubrication or leaks past seals.

Service practice

Oilers need periodic refilling and cleaning. Sediment accumulates in bottle oilers and reservoirs over time; periodic cleaning prevents debris reaching the lubrication point. Adjustable drip oilers should be checked for correct drip rate quarterly — too fast wastes oil and contaminates the workspace, too slow fails to lubricate.

Need help speccing oilers for a machine restoration or maintenance setup? contact our team — we'll match thread, capacity, and oil type.