Dial 1-800 Ask Sven* and ask him.
Other than they have to test the system at the factory, I have no clue. ::: shrug::: this is just how they do it.
*Not a real phone number, this is just what I would tell my students when they asked why the factory did something a particular way, and I had no clue.
I suspect it’s because the pumps can be damaged if someone tries to run them with no fluid. cheaper and less foolproof to just put a couple of cents of fluid in there rather than risk damage.
FWIW, when I first read that, I thought you linked to the story because the captain was drinking all the fluid out of the reservoir, got hammered, and wrecked his ship. :smack:
Santo Since the captain was a Norwegian, I guess that is possible. What I am curious about is why did the wreck get hit twice more despite radio warnings, the presence of Navel vessels, and both lit and radar buoys. Perhaps the Captain of the Tricolor wasn’t the only one hitting the sauce.