Oil Tanks & Accessories

What Are Oil Tanks & Why Do They Matter?

An engine's oil tank is one of the most quietly critical components in any lubrication system. Whether it's a Harley-Davidson Softail cruising down a country highway, a purpose-built race car pulling high G-forces through a corner, or an off-road machine hammering through rough terrain, the oil tank is responsible for storing, circulating, and helping condition the lifeblood of your engine. A compromised or undersized tank can lead to oil starvation — one of the fastest ways to destroy an otherwise healthy engine.

Oil tanks fall into two broad categories: wet sump systems, where the oil reservoir is integrated into or directly below the engine, and dry sump systems, where a remote tank stores the oil and a multi-stage pump actively scavenges it from the crankcase. Dry sump setups are common in high-performance racing applications because they eliminate oil slosh under extreme cornering, braking, and acceleration loads — conditions that can starve a conventional wet sump pump of oil at the worst possible moment.

Beyond replacement and restoration, oil tank upgrades open the door to better engine cooling, improved oil deaeration, and smarter packaging for custom builds. Accessories like breather cans, tank caps, drain plugs, mounting hardware, and sight glasses round out the category and are just as important for a reliable, well-organized build.

Key Considerations When Shopping Oil Tanks

• Application type: Motorcycle, street car, race car, and off-road vehicles each have different tank geometries, capacities, and mounting requirements.
• Sump style: Confirm whether your engine runs a wet sump or dry sump system before selecting a tank.
• Capacity: More oil volume generally means better thermal management, but packaging constraints in the chassis matter.
• Material and finish: Aluminum tanks save weight and resist corrosion; steel tanks offer durability and are often available in chrome or black finishes for show-quality builds.
• Baffle design: Internal baffles prevent oil surge during acceleration, braking, and cornering — essential for high-performance use.
• Fitment: Many tanks are vehicle-specific; always verify compatibility with your exact year, make, and model.

Top Brands in Oil Tanks & Accessories

Drag Specialties is a household name in the V-twin and Harley-Davidson aftermarket world. As the world's largest distributor of aftermarket powersports accessories, Drag Specialties offers oil tanks spanning decades of Harley models — from classic Sportsters and Shovelheads to modern Softail platforms — in both OEM-style replacements and custom chrome or black finishes.

Peterson Fluid Systems is the go-to choice for serious racing applications. Their dry sump oil tanks are manufactured using aircraft-quality components, with internal baffling that provides excellent deaeration of scavenged oil while maintaining a consistent oil column over the pickup. Peterson tanks are trusted by top racing teams across virtually every major motorsport discipline.

Moroso brings decades of motorsport engineering to its dry sump oil tank lineup. Moroso's tanks are designed to separate air quickly from returning oil, prevent foaming, and ensure a continuous oil supply to the pump under all racing conditions. Their racer-focused design features like removable billet aluminum lids and O-ring drain plugs make maintenance straightforward even under race-day pressure.

IMS is a respected name in powersports, particularly for off-road and motocross applications where durable, well-engineered fuel and oil solutions are essential for demanding riding conditions.