Help with Fleet Oil Changes

[superchargedv8]

Ive been servicing a small fleet on the spot at whatever location vehicles may be and am trying to be a bit more efficient and save time during oil changes. Currently I just take oil I bought by the box (6 individual quarts) and pour them in one at a time...very time consuming. Any ideas on how to speed things up? I wanted to buy 6 quart sealable containers to pre-pour and take exact amounts with me but no 6 quart containers can be found. What else can I do to speed things up?

 

[homebuilt burner]

Do you have compressed air available? I have seen guys use and an old air compressor tank. It is filled with oil and marked on a sight gauge on the side for each quart. Then you open a valve on the bottom forcing the oil into the car. It only takes a few psi like 5-10 to move oil. You can speed up the process and move into bulk oil at the same time.
One place I worked we changed oil in equipment on site. We used gas/diesel cans in different sizes for oil.
The ultimate would be 55 gallon barrels with air operated pump, but it does not sound like you are to that level yet.

 

[superchargedv8]

Do you have compressed air available? I have seen guys use and an old air compressor tank. It is filled with oil and marked on a sight gauge on the side for each quart. Then you open a valve on the bottom forcing the oil into the car. It only takes a few psi like 5-10 to move oil. You can speed up the process and move into bulk oil at the same time.
One place I worked we changed oil in equipment on site. We used gas/diesel cans in different sizes for oil.
The ultimate would be 55 gallon barrels with air operated pump, but it does not sound like you are to that level yet.

Yes I have a cargo van that has air on it but I dont have the space to put in a metal container. I thought about buying a vacuum operated oil extractor but going by the specs they seem pretty slow. Right now I think my best bet is to find 6 quart sealable jugs like I said to take exact amounts but can't find any; maybe small fuel containers?

 

[infinite97]

Why wouldn’t you just use 1 five quart container and 1 one quart container?

put a bulk barrel in your service truck and buy a dispenser handle with a built in counter

 

[mike93lx]

Why wouldn’t you just use 1 five quart container and 1 one quart container?

This

 

[The Cobbler]

2 gallon gas cans?
I see several used 1-1/2 gal gas cans on ebay

 

[tyyost]

I just bought a six quart container from Walmart (USA made) for doing oil changes from the boxes of oil they sell. If I were in your position I would either do the bulk barrel in your truck and fill one of these or keep the bulk barrel at your shop and fill a smaller container like a 5 gallon jug to refill the six quart container.

 

[demarpaint]

Why wouldn’t you just use 1 five quart container and 1 one quart container?

put a bulk barrel in your service truck and buy a dispenser handle with a built in counter

+1

 

[haveissues]

I just bought a 6 quart box of oil from walmart the other day. It was a bag inside a cardboard box and was cheap-$20 for 6 quarts of full synthetic.

 

[DSLTECHMEDIC360]

Look into Macnaught pump/dispensers. Find a bulk oil supplier who sells the oil in 5 gal pails or get a 55 gal drum and put it into your own 5 gal. buckets. https://www.macnaughtusa.com/product-category/fluid-handling/bophv/

 

[MarkH]

What is the type of vehicle you are using when you go and service the units? That makes a difference in what will work.

 

[johninct]

I think quarts are quicker. Larger containers do help you get the oil in faster but the time needed after I end up spilling some and cleanup make the job even longer.

 

[KnurledNut]

Would a funnel filling kit help?

 

[bcschief]

For your waste oil I would use a 5-gallon pail with a lid, I would try to find one with a pour spout and a cap. You might also be able to buy your oil cheaper in the 5-gallon pail, but you would have to find a supplier for that. Just so you know Autozone will except your waste oil at their stores for free.

 

[toolenthusiast]

If time is a major concern, just switch the fleet to full synthetic. That stuff shoots right out of the bottle in a few seconds, plus you won’t have to do as many oil changes because you can extend the interval.

 

[gmcgeo]

55 gallon drum set inside the van, refill jug. same for the waist oil.

Van should hold the weight just strap it down

 

[Lassen Forge]

I think quarts are quicker. Larger containers do help you get the oil in faster but the time needed after I end up spilling some and cleanup make the job even longer.

I forgot which cars had small rocker covers and were REALLY slow on the draindown, but there were a few that if you tried to push 5 quarts in all at once you would at best fill the rocker cover, and at worst give the guy (or gal) in the lube put below the engine a 40 weight shower...

 

[bcschief]

I once had to replace a connecting rod and piston in a 5-liter Ford pickup because a quick lube shop pumped 5 quarts of oil into the engine so fast that it flooded the hose from the valve cover to the intake air tube and sucked oil into the intake of the engine and hydro locked the engine and bent a connecting rod.

 

[SARG]

Rule # 3 = It all pays the same.
Five minutes saved on an oil change means nil to nothing.

 

[Wrench97]

Buy your oil in bulk and pump/meter it out of the service truck.
Also use a siphon to **** the oil out and into the disposal tank instead of pulling drain plugs.
What else are you doing for the PM service besides oil changes?
Are they all the same type of vehicles or mixed fleet?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Why wouldn’t you just use 1 five quart container and 1 one quart container?

put a bulk barrel in your service truck and buy a dispenser handle with a built in counter

This

+1

Yes, that +2.

Personally, not knowing the vehicles I'd go for the 5+1 option first.

 

[X1 Mike]

How fast will the vehicles take the oil? Is it possible to poke a hole in the bottom of the quart bottle to shotgun the oil.

 

[superchargedv8]

If time is a major concern, just switch the fleet to full synthetic. That stuff shoots right out of the bottle in a few seconds, plus you won’t have to do as many oil changes because you can extend the interval.

all we do is full synthetic and the vehicles put on mileage quick so im doing at an average of every two months.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Some form of bulk oil plus one of these

 

[superchargedv8]

Yes, that +2.

Personally, not knowing the vehicles I'd go for the 5+1 option first.

most are 6 qt. In an effort to try and reduce extra steps and extra trash I wanted to keep having that extra quart out of the picture....but yes I will do it somethimes like you guys mentioned 5+1 but I still have mostly single quarts so until then I have to go the single quart route. UNLESS I can find a sealable 6 quart jug that I can't seem to find; the idea is I just fill up 6 quart jugs and have them ready to take w me on the day of. I might have to settle for a 2.5 gallon racefuel container like what Sunoco sells.

 

[superchargedv8]

Some form of bulk oil plus one of these

Im not interested in carrying bulk oil because oil changes are relatively a small part of my business. I had a large diesel service truck last year and my fuel cost then vs now is about half. I downsized to a cargo van and still get to do 95% of what I usually work on. Just trying to be as efficient as possible is all...I understand I have to compromise tho.

 

[superchargedv8]

Buy your oil in bulk and pump/meter it out of the service truck.
Also use a siphon to **** the oil out and into the disposal tank instead of pulling drain plugs.
What else are you doing for the PM service besides oil changes?
Are they all the same type of vehicles or mixed fleet?

I quoted some bulk oil in 55 drums and I was actually more expensive for some reason. I dont have the space for the setup to carry bulk oil and am honestly not looking to go that route. I looked into the siphon setups to **** out oil but the specs makes it sound like they are super slow at extraction;these are the portable containers that are like 25 gall capacity. I might be able to do it faster the traditional way of pulling plug. Any reapair needed is what gets done. Its mixed fleet but all your major cargo van manufacturers are there.

 

[andyvh1959]

Buy your oil in bulk and pump/meter it out of the service truck.
Also use a siphon to **** the oil out and into the disposal tank instead of pulling drain plugs.
What else are you doing for the PM service besides oil changes?
Are they all the same type of vehicles or mixed fleet?

Parker Stores (hydraulics/pneumatics) sell a "Quick Fit" system that draws the old oil out of the sump and filter, and then fills the system after installing the new filter. Its designed for larger diesel engines common to Class 6 to Class 8 trucks and commercial mobile equipment. Not cheap, perhaps not suited to smaller engines, but may be cost effective in the long run if you're doing that many oil changes.

https://promo.parker.com/promotionsite/quickfit/us/en/quickfit-system

 

[Wrench97]

I quoted some bulk oil in 55 drums and I was actually more expensive for some reason. I dont have the space for the setup to carry bulk oil and am honestly not looking to go that route. I looked into the siphon setups to **** out oil but the specs makes it sound like they are super slow at extraction;these are the portable containers that are like 25 gall capacity. I might be able to do it faster the traditional way of pulling plug. Any reapair needed is what gets done. Its mixed fleet but all your major cargo van manufacturers are there.

Bulk is all over the map right now because of supply chain issues, even if you have somewhere else to store the bulk and refill smaller tanks on the truck the ability to pump it out using a preset dispenser nozzle allows you to do other service aspects while the oil is installed. Time saving devices cost money the key is to ballance what saves you time and money vs what costs you money and only saves a fraction of time.
For example if you are jacking it up to pull wheels and check brakes pulling the drain plug may not be that costly but being able to **** it out and not have to deal with a drain pan and emptying it in the truck may be worth while if you do a lot 3.6l rams with the filter on top.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

all we do is full synthetic and the vehicles put on mileage quick so im doing at an average of every two months.

if you're changing a vehicle at 2mo, i'd sample and get it analyzed. oil is probably fine and doesn't need changing, just topping off.

 

[infinite97]

if you're changing a vehicle at 2mo, i'd sample and get it analyzed. oil is probably fine and doesn't need changing, just topping off.

Yup. Ran Mobil 1 5w-30 in my truck for 14k miles and had it sampled at Blackstone. Still had life left.

 

[MarkH]

Did the first time with a 55 drum have a deposit in it. After that it was an exchange so it would become cheaper. Also if not returnable drums do you have a use for the drums.

 

[Wrench97]

if you're changing a vehicle at 2mo, i'd sample and get it analyzed. oil is probably fine and doesn't need changing, just topping off.

Hmm lets see you get paid to change the oil, no oil change no pay......................yep that's a great idea............................. let the fleet manager come up with it.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

Hmm lets see you get paid to change the oil, no oil change no pay......................yep that's a great idea............................. let the fleet manager come up with it.

why not change the oil monthly on the severe duty schedule then? double your money!
waste is good so long as it puts money in my pockets.

 

[Wrench97]

why not change the oil monthly on the severe duty schedule then? double your money!
waste is good so long as it puts money in my pockets.

He is working for fleets, you do not get to pick the schedule they do, you do what they ask and get paid to do so.
I worked fleet work for over 30 years they each have their own ideas.
Many pick a service interval not based on oil change science but knowing their drivers do not check anything and want it looked at on a regular basis.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Two containers per vehicle … one gallon on one half gallon … 6 qts.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Would a funnel filling kit help?

This looks like a nice kit. Lisle makes it but it looks like Harbor Freight also has a kit for $39.99. https://www.harborfreight.com/master-oil-funnel-filling-kit-56892.html

 

[Lucid Moments]

Im not interested in carrying bulk oil because oil changes are relatively a small part of my business. I had a large diesel service truck last year and my fuel cost then vs now is about half. I downsized to a cargo van and still get to do 95% of what I usually work on. Just trying to be as efficient as possible is all...I understand I have to compromise tho.

I get not wanting to carry around a 55 gallon drum. But a 5 gallon bucket with pump or something like this that WallMart sells seem like they would be options.

 

[superchargedv8]

I get not wanting to carry around a 55 gallon drum. But a 5 gallon bucket with pump or something like this that WallMart sells seem like they would be options.

sounds messy and time consuming.

 

[superchargedv8]

This looks like a nice kit. Lisle makes it but it looks like Harbor Freight also has a kit for $39.99. https://www.harborfreight.com/master-oil-funnel-filling-kit-56892.html

a standard funnel usually works fine.