Engine Oil Collection

[davevw]

I just moved and as a part of preparing, I decided I didn't want to take my disgusting old oil catch can/collector. It was just too gross, had a couple holes rubbed in the top, stuff like that.

I could bebop on down to Wally World and buy whatever, but I was wondering if anyone has found some great motor oil collection/storage device that is somehow surprisingly convenient or has some surprisingly great feature?

 

[Firebrick43]

5 quart oil bottles that you buy oil in. Put a drain valve with a hose like a short ****** fumoto valve and yo snap on a clear vinyl hose. Place the other end in an empty jug and drain. If you let it set for 20 mins or so it completely drained including the hose and no mess. Cap and take it to be recycled.

 

[Metal-Marc]

 

[ATC]

I use a 5-gallon bucket with a spout in the lid. Hydraulic oil bucket, motor oil bucket, etc... I've got about 4 of them I use.
Also, I have a old 5-gallon gas can that gets used as well.

 

[Sumboodie]

55 gal drums and 275 gal totes is what I use.

 

[racecougar]

I use the typical drain pan to catch the used oil, then pour it into the 5 quart container that the new oil came in. Once I have a few of those full of used oil, they get dropped off at the local auto parts store to be recycled.

 

[jwilson645]

5 quart oil bottles that you buy oil in. Put a drain valve with a hose like a short ****** fumoto valve and yo snap on a clear vinyl hose. Place the other end in an empty jug and drain. If you let it set for 20 mins or so it completely drained including the hose and no mess. Cap and take it to be recycled.

This doesn't work so well for those of us with trucks that hold 6 quarts and 8 quarts of oil.

I just bought a new catch pan/jug from Autozone. Drain, cap it and next time I go get oil for a change, I'll take the pan and have them empty it. My last one was over 10 years old but eventually got a hole rubbed in the bottom from sliding on the concrete drive.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I refill the empty oil containers and I save a few 2 1/2 gal def containers for any extra and small equipment changes. The 5 gal oil containers are nice to use also with the pull out spout.

 

[Firebrick43]

This doesn't work so well for those of us with trucks that hold 6 quarts and 8 quarts of oil.

I just bought a new catch pan/jug from Autozone. Drain, cap it and next time I go get oil for a change, I'll take the pan and have them empty it. My last one was over 10 years old but eventually got a hole rubbed in the bottom from sliding on the concrete drive.

So you get a 2 gallon oil jug then? If your around larger equipment hydraulic oil comes in 2 gallon jugs typically.

 

[jwilson645]

I have never seen a 2 gallon motor oil around here, only the 5 quart jugs.

 

[nadogail]

Do you know anyone who repurposes the oil as fuel or hydraulic fluid?

 

[u2slow]

I use 5gal buckets to collect from my trucks. They fit underneath by default, or jack up the truck just enough.

There are some shorter 2-3gal buckets (various paint coatings, protein powder, etc) for lower vehicles that hold less oil.

 

[Firebrick43]

Do you know anyone who repurposes the oil as fuel or hydraulic fluid?

I know a guy that cleans the oil with a centrifuge and adds a few gallons of the cleaned oil in his Cummins truck fuel tank every fill up.

Never heard anyone using it as hyd oil and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I bought one like this: (wheeled oil drain unit for use with lift)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR7TM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That holds 8 gallons, and my O'Riley Autoparts will only take 5 gallons per customer per day, so I try to never let it get filled up all the way before taking it in.

 

[no704]

Had a couple 30 gal plastic barrels that an old roommate brought home. Full, from friends and roommates doing changes. I was able to empty them into 5 gal buckets and take to orileys in one day. Manager said he knew was over the dayly limit but why wait till tomorrow!

I do not recommend 30 gal tanks

 

[PWC Repair]

I have never seen a 2 gallon motor oil around here, only the 5 quart jugs.

Really? All the Wal-marts I've been to have them in the diesel oils......bottom shelf.

I've used several different types of drain pans through the years but this one is the best-->https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...szvm34yVMoAB9q4BwHcaAjExEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
It's the catch pan AND the storage!!

Just take it to the parts store next time you get oil to get it emptied.

 

[Jlarson]

If you have any medium/heavy duty trucks, RV, equipment get one of those metal pans on wheels with the electric pump.

 

[BillK]

I use the typical oil drain pan from the parts store like Racecougar showed. As far as storage goes I use the 5 gallon "jugs" that the honing oil comes in that I use in my shop. I have attached a picture. See if there is an Automotive Machine Shop near you and ask them to save one for you. I have two at home. One for oil and one for coolant. I take them to the local recycling facility when they get full.

I think that cooking oil comes in similar jugs but maybe not quite as sturdy. You might be able to get those at a local restaurant ?

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I use a 5 gallon farm hydraulic fluid can with a permanent metal top, fill hole and a pour spout, I should probably use something else, as this is probably an antique, from the 1970's or so.

 

[38Chevy454]

5 gal cans for me as well. Couple are metal solvent cans, like from lacquer thinner. One is a 5 gal hydraulic oil can and is heavy plastic. They all have the pour spout lid.

I can fill up one 5 gal can when changing oil in my motorhome, big diesel engine that takes 20 qts (5 gal) on an oil change. Even my diesel pickup takes 11 qts for oil change.

If you clean the used oil, it can be used in diesels, technically illegal since you are not paying road tax. If you have a friend with a waste oil heater they will usually be happy to take it for their heating needs. I use some of the used oil as good fire starter for my brush burn pile. But most just get taken to the parts store for recycling.

 

[ATC]

I know a guy that cleans the oil with a centrifuge and adds a few gallons of the cleaned oil in his Cummins truck fuel tank every fill up.

Never heard anyone using it as hyd oil and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to.

Many skid steers spec motor oil for their hydraulic systems. My Case calls for 10W-30 motor oil with HTO additive for the hydraulic system.

 

[G1K]

I've used one of these for years, excellent pan

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3N51RL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

On sale at summit for $21.57.

Matrix Concepts M28-115 Matrix Concepts M28 Oil Drain Containers | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Matrix Concepts M28 Oil Drain Containers with qualifying orders of $125. Shop Drain Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

I lost the plug and was able to find the US manufacturer for the pan, and got a replacement for a few bucks.


edit: here is the manufacturer

GEO Plastics - Oil Recycling Containers – 15 qt.

Plastic Molding Technologies

geoplastics.com

Ryan

 

[Pluribus]

Wanted something a little less messy in either the back of the car or truck, so I bought one of the 5-gallon fuel jugs. There was recently another thread on here with the same subject/issue, and someone else had this great suggestion. Tractor Supply had the best price and was convenient for me to pick up. I used to transport oil for recycling in a 3-1/2(?) gallon pail and one of the drain pans with a screw on lid. They were impossible to keep clean, and there was always a risk of the lid not being secure. I'll still use the pail for draining the truck/equipment and the pan for cars, but I'll funnel them into the 5-gallon jug for transport.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/plastic-product-formers-5-gal-utility-jug-white-square-w-hose-3953

 

[Firebrick43]

Many skid steers spec motor oil for their hydraulic systems. My Case calls for 10W-30 motor oil with HTO additive for the hydraulic system.

Right, so does a lot of zero turn mowers use full synthetic mobile one or did until they started labeling as their own specific brand.

But they are very specific as to what the oil is.

So what viscosity and additives are still in used crankcase oil? Are there acids? Just a lot of unknowns to entrust to use in a many times obscene cost hydraulic system.

As a fuel your worried about only if it’s clean down to 2 microns as to not ruin the ejectors and get the water out. Most of the other attributes are immaterial if used in a non epa diesel mixed 50/50 or less with diesel fuel.

 

[brownbagg]

as i got older, i just use the quik lube shop, yes it $65 but ten minute later, Im done, no buying oil, no haulling oil. no enviro people protesting, no crawling under the car or looking for the filter wrench. once a year. $65 aint bad

 

[u2slow]

as i got older, i just use the quik lube shop, yes it $65 but ten minute later, Im done, no buying oil, no haulling oil. no enviro people protesting, no crawling under the car or looking for the filter wrench. once a year. $65 aint bad

Double price for a diesel... and that was an old 6.2 chev. Using 5-6L of oil and same filter as a 305/350 gas. Never used a quicky lube since.

 

[bigenos]

Don't buy the flotool containers. I did the exact same thing you did and chucked my open pans that were old and pretty gross, and also undersized for many modern cars. Thought one of those flotool deals would be great. Turn it on its side and drain, close the plug and now you have storage.

1. it's a huge mess to clean the drain area when you are done.
2. if your car drains really fast like my wife's edge it'll hit the pan and spray like a spoon in the sink. Made a big mess on my new driveway.

I'm gonna get a big open pan with an oil filter ledge and a spout and call it a day.

 

[Firebrick43]

as i got older, i just use the quik lube shop, yes it $65 but ten minute later, Im done, no buying oil, no haulling oil. no enviro people protesting, no crawling under the car or looking for the filter wrench. once a year. $65 aint bad

They just forget to tighten the drain plug causing engine seizure, over tighten it stripping the threads in the oil pan out, or forget to put the oil cap back on coating your car and driveway in oil.

All three has happened to my sister, different shops and cars. She still uses the quicklube shops.

 

[M6erfan]

I just moved and as a part of preparing, I decided I didn't want to take my disgusting old oil catch can/collector. It was just too gross, had a couple holes rubbed in the top, stuff like that.

I could bebop on down to Wally World and buy whatever, but I was wondering if anyone has found some great motor oil collection/storage device that is somehow surprisingly convenient or has some surprisingly great feature?

Bebop down to Wally World and pick up one of these

I've had one for years. $12, wide mouth makes filling easy, nice wide stable bottom for easy transport, and easy to pour out. Or just fill the old 5 qt oil containers as others have suggested.

 

[Skellyii]

This doesn't work so well for those of us with trucks that hold 6 quarts and 8 quarts of oil.

I just bought a new catch pan/jug from Autozone. Drain, cap it and next time I go get oil for a change, I'll take the pan and have them empty it. My last one was over 10 years old but eventually got a hole rubbed in the bottom from sliding on the concrete drive.

I have a couple of trucks, and also a couple of vehicles that hold 6+ quarts. My catch pan, which is so old, I have no idea where I got it from holds around 10 quarts, and the drain surface can be capped so that I can pour the used oil from the top spout into what ever vessel is handy..i.e. the container the oil came in, used antifreeze containers, empty kitty litter containers, etc.

The local parts folks take it in whatever container I bring in without complaining.

 

[mrpizza]

I use one of the 6 gallon "racing" fuel jugs to hold my used oil. When full I take it in.

My last one was over 10 years old but eventually got a hole rubbed in the bottom from sliding on the concrete drive.

I had the same issue with a pan, so I got a new pan and cut up some 1" strips from a rubber bungee cord. E6000 glued them to the bottom perimeter as feet so the pan can't wear. I'll take a pic next time I am in the barn.

 

[CJ7VFR]

As bad as this is, this is how my father disposed of old oil at our house for decades. I also did it for years, starting when I turned 17 and got my first car. We just poured it into the "hole with the rocks" in the back yard, as my dad put it.

Jim

 

[boxster99t]

1963 popular science?--come on man, that's very dated advice and very bad environmentally. Virtually every auto parts store and Walmarts with auto care centers will take used motor oil, and I live out in small town America with several stores that take it. I do all my own oil changes and my Porsche holds 9 1/2 quarts of oil.

I have the Harbor Freight 5 gallon telescoping oil drain, and take it down to one of the auto parts stores to dump it. I could also take it to the town's landfill that has tanks for used motor oil.

Please get with the 21st century and don't pour oil in the ground or dump jugs of it in the trash.

 

[racecougar]

1963 popular science?--come on man, that's very dated advice and very bad environmentally. Virtually every auto parts store and Walmarts with auto care centers will take used motor oil, and I live out in small town America with several stores that take it. I do all my own oil changes and my Porsche holds 9 1/2 quarts of oil.

I have the Harbor Freight 5 gallon telescoping oil drain, and take it down to one of the auto parts stores to dump it. I could also take it to the town's landfill that has tanks for used motor oil.

Please get with the 21st century and don't pour oil in the ground or dump jugs of it in the trash.

I think that poster was making a joke. Seems to be their M.O.

 

[evintho]

Our local garbage company takes my used oil for free. They also provide as many 1 gallon containers as I need. I pour it from my drainpan into the containers and set them out with the garbage on Tuesday mornings.