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Waste oil storage/tank

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ATC

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Right now, I'm keeping all my used oil in three 5-gallon buckets and one old 5-gallon gas can. They take up quite a bit of floor space, and I'm looking to simplify and consolidate it. What I want to do, is find an old air compressor tank in the 20-30 gallon range, stand it up vertically and build a stand for it just tall enough to stick a 5-gallon bucket under it. On the bottom will be a ball valve, and the top will be a threaded bung with a funnel screwed into it. I will be able to just pour all my used oil into the tank, and once it starts to get full, I can drain it into a 5-gallon bucket to take to a parts store to dump.
I could also easily fill a cup from the valve to use on brush fires or in the burn barrel....easier than lifting and pouring from a bucket like now.

Anyone have something similar, or another idea for a tank? I have a 25/30 gallon metal grease drum with a removable lid I thought about using. I could weld a bung towards the bottom and thread a ball valve in it.
The 20-gallon oil tanks used under 2-post lifts demand a premium price for what they are. Hoping an old, dead air compressor will show up on Marketplace for cheap. What *****, is that I threw away an old 20-gallon air compressor last year that was no good. I was tired of kicking it around the corner of the garage...:bitchslap
 
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ATC

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Because one 5-gallon container just isn't enough storage. I don't want to have to run out and dump it in the middle of an oil change, or have to make a special trip otherwise. It's not overly complicated, as I'm already dumping the drain pan into the 5-gal bucket. The only thing that would change, is that I would be dumping the drain pan into the new container. The only "extra step" is turning a ball valve when I want to get rid of some. I think I can handle that.

I have 6 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, a skid steer, 2 lawn mowers, a Gravely, and a few other small engines to take care of. Hopefully a mini-excavator will be added to the fleet in the near future as well. This way, I will still have a buffer of my current 20-gallon storage capacity, and I can take oil off at my leisure...usually on my way to work.
 
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cannuck

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I use a 110 litre (29USG) plastic barrel kept in unheated side of home shop, as it is easy to move around by hand. At farm where things hold a LOT more oil I use steel 205 l. (55 USG) barrels that get dumped into a 500 gallon plastic tank (thinking of using a waste oil heater if new shop ever gets built). Problem with plastic stuff being outside (I have 3 x 1000 gallon fuel tanks) is the UV eventually gets them.
 
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PCustoms

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So get 2 buckets?

Idk, I've got probably 10 gallons right now, only because I forget to bring it with me when I head to town (advance auto takes it). If it was on my daily path it would be a lot easier to do a change and get rid of it within a few days.


Sounds like you want an IBC tote, but smaller.
 
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Lou's Garage

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I've been looking for a used compressor on marketplace for a while. Six months to a year ago they were very inexpensive, now that i'm ready to pull the trigger the price seems to have skyrocketed. You can find plenty of broken compressors but the owners seem to think they are worth more than just a used tank.

I was going to make the same suggestion as PCustoms but I see you don't think it will fulfill your needs. For practical purposes I consider myself a fleet garage as I service 10-12 vehicles and 3-4 small engines on a regular basis. I use one 5 gallon fuel jug for waste oil and don't find myself emptying it that often.

Good luck in your search. I think you are on the right track looking for a compressor tank. The metal grease drum also sounds like a good idea, especially since you already have it. If you have a nearby flea market, you might check there.

Lou Manglass
 
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tjansson

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I like the idea. How about you cut the top off and add a recessed grate for draining pans, filters, funnels, etc. The ball valve would make it easier to fill 5 qt jug up too. I take some of my oil back in the 5qt jugs because the disposal options are more convenient, but filling them can be a mess.
 
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yatg

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^^^ Cut the top off neatly and put a hinge on it. Weld/attach a strip around the top rim for alignment and keeping water, debris, etc out. Then you could keep the tank outside instead of in the garage/shop. There always seems to be a broken down 20gal Craftsman on CL or FBM.
 
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ATC

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zendriver said:
I just empty the oil pan into the containers that I’ve just emptied with the good oil. I dropped them off at Walmart that takes the container full of oil.

It’s really not too complicated
Click to expand...

Huge PITA to pour from a large drain pan back into a 4-5qt jug even with a funnel. Plus, my vehicles with 6-8qt capacity doesn’t use the whole 2nd 5-qt jug of oil to then use for the used oil.
Much easier to just take the drain pan over and dump the whole thing into one tank at one time.
 
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PCustoms

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ATC said:
Plus, my vehicles with 6-8qt capacity doesn’t use the whole 2nd 5-qt jug of oil to then use for the used oil.
Click to expand...

Was going to write the same earlier.

I try to grab an extra container (i.e. washer fluid) but lately that turned into a 3 gallon bucket after doing the tractor, truck, hydraulics and who knows what else. Did the truck a few weekends ago and realized I have the bucket, a gallon jug and at least 3 5qt containers. WTF, can only burn so much on a brush pile....

Used to be I could pour it into the tank at the transfer station, now afaik only place to bring it is parts store.
 
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rust in the eye

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Advertise to find someone that heats with waste oil. These guys typically will provide a barrel for you to fill and then they either will exchange when full or pump it out. MOST will have 55gl drums as they are easy to come by, a 30 you may have to provide yourself.
 
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budget76

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I like the idea, but I'm still with the guys saying "just drop off the bucket"

how often are you changing the oil on more than 3 vehicles in a day/weekend? 3 6qt oil changes will fit in a bucket with room to spare. if floor space is the concern, stack the buckets. I'm assuming you're using ones originally for hydraulic fluid or similar that are sturdy and have lids with pour spouts

if you fill a 30gal tank, you still have to transport it somehow. so that's keeping multiple dirty buckets around empty, or the old oil containers, or something to bring to the store.


it sounds like a fun project. I'm struggling to make it make sense though. I envision frustration when it's full with 30 gallons because you forgot to empty it and now you've got 30 gallons to get rid of at one time
 
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ATC

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JABgj said:
How about a 30 gallon steel drum? Stable and about the same footprint as a compressor tank.
Could weigh about 250 lbs. when full. Available with a removable lid or welded.
Click to expand...

I have one. Old grease drum, but clean inside, with removable lid. That is plan B. I can get them and 55-gal barrels free from work. The 55-gal drum is just too big.
 
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Firebrick43

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ATC said:
Yeah, I was hoping to do this for under $40.
Click to expand...
OK, find a tank and make your own? Use a 30 gallon up right compressor tank if you can find one

I built something similar for a coworker for his used oil cleaning/centrifuge system.

The first heavy gauge barrel was up right and a funnel was used threw the main ********* to fill. I drilled a hole and inserted two weld on bungs. The first was an 1/4npt for the air input. The input had a small low psi regulator (2 psi)

41PYY5ycwTL._AC_.jpg

The second 6" away was a jic -6. bored the center out slightly to accept a 1/4" od steel tube. Drilled a hole for the weld in bung and silicone brazed it in place. I then put the tube thru it till it touched bottom, and lifted it 1/2" and marked it flushed with the top of the jic bung. pulled it out and cut to mark and then ever so slightly started a flare on the tube to keep it from fall thru.

61jcwvAC0vL._AC_SX679_.jpg
I then silver brazed the tube inside the JIC bung and filed the protruding under formed flare off.

The flare fitting had a hose attached to settling barrels on a rack above

When he wanted to push collected oil to the tanks on the rack above he removed the funnel and closed off the main bung. He then opened the ball valve to the air to pressurize the barrel. The pressure pushed the oil up the tube and into the barrels above.
 
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PCustoms

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Firebrick43 said:
OK, find a tank and make your own? I built something similar for a coworker for his used oil cleaning/centrifuge system.

The first heavy gauge barrel was up right and a funnel was used threw the main ********* to fill. I drilled a hole and inserted two weld on bungs. The first was an 1/4npt for the air input. The input had a small low psi regulator (2 psi)

41PYY5ycwTL._AC_.jpg

The second 6" away was a jic -6. bored the center out slightly to accept a 1/4" od steel tube. Drilled a hole for the weld in bung and silicone brazed it in place. I then put the tube thru it till it touched bottom, and lifted it 1/2" and marked it flushed with the top of the jic bung. pulled it out and cut to mark and then ever so slightly started a flare on the tube to keep it from fall thru.

61jcwvAC0vL._AC_SX679_.jpg
I then silver brazed the tube inside the JIC bung and filed the protruding under formed flare off.

The flare fitting had a hose attached to settling barrels on a rack above

When he wanted to push collected oil to the tanks on the rack above he removed the funnel and closed off the main bung. He then opened the ball valve to the air to pressurize the barrel. The pressure pushed the oil up the tube and into the barrels above.
Click to expand...

Lot of work to avoid using a couple old 5 gallons buckets IMHO
 
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Firebrick43

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PCustoms said:
Lot of work to avoid using a couple old 5 gallons buckets IMHO
Click to expand...
Didn't take but 30 mins to do?

And trying to fill 5 gallon bucket by pouring a catch pan or other containers directly into the spout usually ends in oil on the floor either by over filling or plain piss poor aim.

Plus you have to invariably lean over for a while which ***** for your back.

I personally drain directly into an empty 5 quart container via fumoto valves but then take it to my old coworkers shop 5 miles away and dump it into the system so he can clean it and burn it in his tractor and diesel truck.
 
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NUTTSGT

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rust in the eye said:
Advertise to find someone that heats with waste oil. These guys typically will provide a barrel for you to fill and then they either will exchange when full or pump it out. MOST will have 55gl drums as they are easy to come by, a 30 you may have to provide yourself.
Click to expand...
This is what I would suggest, try to find someone that burns waste oil. I have a 30 gallon barrel and when it's full, drop it off at a guy's shop. Those that want the oil to heat with, will make sure get your barrel back or will provide you with a barrel.

The 30 fits right between the O/H doors, the 55 drum was a bit too big.
 
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Beerhippie

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Damn. I'm liking the idea of making one from a compressor tank. I'd weld on two lifting eyes so we could use the forklift to put it in the bed of a pick-em-up, run it down to the guy who heats with used oil and drain it straight into his tank.
 
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PCustoms

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Beerhippie said:
Damn. I'm liking the idea of making one from a compressor tank. I'd weld on two lifting eyes so we could use the forklift to put it in the bed of a pick-em-up, run it down to the guy who heats with used oil and drain it straight into his tank.
Click to expand...

How many gallons is a keg?
 
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zendriver

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ATC said:
Huge PITA to pour from a large drain pan back into a 4-5qt jug even with a funnel. Plus, my vehicles with 6-8qt capacity doesn’t use the whole 2nd 5-qt jug of oil to then use for the used oil.
Much easier to just take the drain pan over and dump the whole thing into one tank at one time.
Click to expand...
I own a couple of extra empty 4-5 qt jugs, so capacity is not really an issue. :headscrat

Dragging 5 gal buckets of oil around town and dumping (glug-glug-glug) is a much better solution.
 
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jblnut

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PCustoms said:
Yep, all our sound science came from the 50's
Click to expand...
Looking out 75yrs I wonder what people will look at what we’re doing and think “why in the world did they do THAT ?”

Things like DEF and other good intention but poor implementation things.

Or mustard on hotdogs. “Why on earth would anyone do that 75yrs ago is beyond me”. I can see that being discussed.

Anyway …… you can get 5gal pails that have gaskets lids instead of using pails with the silly pour spout. Take the lid off, fill the pail, put the lid on and stack them up until you want to dispose of their contents. If you must use the pails with a pour spout make yourself a stand with a chunk of pipe that comes off of some sort of funnel that goes into that spout and stays there until it’s full. Picture a funnel with a stand under it. It’d be solid and stationary and you should spill less. You can leave filters in it to drain as well.

I built a big version of that in my farm shop. Super handy. When doing an oil change on a tractor I catch the oil in a giant oil pan I built out of the bottom 10” of an IBC tote and I dump that right into an intact tote for storage until it’s full. When doing smaller volume changes I dump the pan right into the larger pan under the racking. I set the oil filter on the racking and let it drain as well. When that pan is full I drain it into my oil change pan and it all goes into the tote.
IMG_3118.jpeg
 
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Beerhippie

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PCustoms said:
How many gallons is a brewer's barrel (if you say 2 kegs...)
Click to expand...
Approximately 1/2 hogshead. Depending on which hogshead you use....

I have a slightly compromised compressor tank in the boneyard. No problem welding up pinholes in a non-pressurized tank. I'll stand it on end, make a stand, weld some fittings and lift eyes on and Bob's yer uncle. I'll probably cut the top off and make a lid from it as suggested above, with a grate for draining things without having to stand there holding them.
 
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PCustoms

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Beerhippie said:
Approximately 1/2 hogshead. Depending on which hogshead you use....

I have a slightly compromised compressor tank in the boneyard. No problem welding up pinholes in a non-pressurized tank. I'll stand it on end, make a stand, weld some fittings and lift eyes on and Bob's yer uncle. I'll probably cut the top off and make a lid from it as suggested above, with a grate for draining things without having to stand there holding them.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're on the right track for a BBQ, forget the oil can...
 
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jblnut

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Beerhippie said:
I'll probably cut the top off and make a lid from it as suggested above, with a grate for draining things without having to stand there holding them.
Click to expand...
Only suggestion is one I need to do as well. Make sure the grating is fine enough that nothing you care about can drop into the oil. I need to put something finer under my shelf rack as I’ve had some tools fall into the pan when it has oil in it and that *****. I was thinking of getting some fine expanded metal mesh and putting it over the shelf grating.
 
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Oregon rock crusher

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I was changing oil on heavy equipment at my home shop so I used what was handy to make a drain collection and storage tank. It uses a diesel truck oil pan with a hose leading down to a 60 gallon concrete mix truck water tank which has a good drain in the bottom. I have a mixer chute that covers the oil pan and keeps rain and dust out. I have a friend who burns oil at his shop so he comes by to collect a drum or so every year. The pics are several years old and the area has evolved but the oil collection method hasn't changed. Ed.
 

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