Hydraulic Oil Filter Elements — Quick Reference (English)

Items: PL718-10-CN· PL-718-5EP

1) PL718-10-CN— Return-Line Filter Element (Longer Version)

What it is

A disposable pleated filter element installed in a pipe-mounted return canister (clamp-band bowl, flow arrow on the head). Oil has passed through the circuit and is on its way back to tank — this element guards tank cleanliness.

• PL718 = return-line housing family (different from PH718 pressure-side — "PL" = return, "PH" = pressure)

  
  

• 10 = longer length in the 718 family → higher dirt-holding, stays green longer

  
  

• CN = C = NBR (black/dark grey O-ring, mineral oil / HLP duty) + N = end-cap/bypass/structural variant — keep the "N" when ordering

  
  

What to check before fitting

• Read the filter head nameplate near the pipe ports: it should show PL718…, pressure rating (return class, often ~10–25 bar), port size, and a FLOW ARROW.

  
  

• Ruler-check the new element against the old one: height / OD / centre-hole must match.

  
  

• O-ring colour = black/dark grey (NBR). If the old seal was brown/red, stop — you may need the Viton variant, not "CN".

  
  

Replacement steps

1. Stop pump → open vent/bleed on the head until pressure reads zero.

   
   

2. Support the bowl — don't let it hang by the piping.

   
   

3. Release clamp band → lift element straight out (no prying against pleats).

   
   

4. Check bowl bottom for bright metal shavings (pump/gear wear warning).

   
   

5. Wipe sealing face → thin film of clean hydraulic oil on the O-ring (no grease, no sealant).

   
   

6. Seat element square on centre support tube → close vent slowly → ΔP indicator green, no seep.

   
   

Procurement wording (safe)

"PL718-10-CN — Return-line element for PL718-family housing (10 = long length, CN = NBR + N variant). Confirm against head nameplate model; require supplier to state OD / height / centre bore / seal compound before delivery."

2) PL-718-5EP— Return-Line Filter Element (Shorter / Different Seal Option)

What it is

Same PL718 housing family, but:

• 5 (sometimes printed as "05" — short dash often eats the zero) = shorter length than "10" → lower dirt-holding, clogs faster, cheaper

  
  

• EP = E = seal compound option (often points toward Viton/FKM or higher-temp compound in this family — the "P" is a variant marker)

  → if the old O-ring is brown/reddish, "EP" is likely the reason. Do NOT swap to a black NBR "CN" just because it's on the shelf.

  
  

⚠️ 10-CN and 5EP are NOT freely interchangeable — different lengths, possibly different seal compounds. The housing nameplate + old element ruler-check is the only safe authority.

What to check before fitting

• Head nameplate: must show PL718… (same family, but confirm which length your specific head is built for — some PL718 heads accept both 5 and 10, some don't; the bowl depth decides).

  
  

• Ruler-check: height especially — "5" is noticeably shorter than "10". If you force a 10 into a 5-bowl (or vice versa), the centre locator won't seat.

  
  

• O-ring colour: "EP" often = brown/red (Viton/FKM-type). If yours is brown/red, do not fit a black NBR "CN" without confirming fluid/temperature spec.

  
  

Replacement steps

Same sequence as above: vent → support → clamp off → straight pull → inspect → thin oil on O-ring → seat square → bleed → green & dry.

Extra note: if seal is Viton (brown/red), handle the O-ring gently — Viton is more temperature-resistant but can nick if dry; a thin film of the same system fluid (or compatible temporary lube) is fine.

Procurement wording (safe)

"PL-718-5EP — Return-line element for PL718-family housing (5 = short length, EP = seal/option variant). Confirm against head nameplate; require OD / height / centre bore / seal compound before delivery. Do NOT substitute with PL718-10-CN — different length and possibly different seal."

3) Quick Field ID (Don't Mix 10-CN ↔ 5EP)

One-Line BOM (copy-paste)

• PL718-10-CN— Return-line element, PL718 family (10 long length), NBR base + N variant, fits PL718 head nameplate only

  
  

• PL-718-5EP— Return-line element, PL718 family (5 short length, EP variant), fits PL718 head nameplate only — not interchangeable with 10-CN (check seal colour: EP may be Viton)

  
  

Field rule (stops the mix-up)

If two PL718 boxes sit on the same shelf, the length (10 vs 5) and seal colour (black vs brown) decide — not the "they're both PL718" gut feeling.

Write the ruler height (mm) of the old element on each lid, and you'll never force a 10 where the bowl expects a 5 (or vice versa — the centre locator won't seat and it can bypass unfiltered).