Used Motor Oil
- Thread starter Roberts210
- Start date
B T C, I'm in NC, so I don't know if you have Advance Auto Parts, or if this is applies, but here's how it goes at my local Advance Auto:
Oil is accepted in a big steel tank in the back, which they let me go back and pour into. It's serviced by Saftey Kleen, and this can go into the tank:
Motor oil
ATF
Power steering fluid
Brake fluid
Next to that is an open steel drum for filters.
I keep a bucket in my shop and toss oil filters and ATF filters into it, for easy transport to Advance Auto once in a while. I used to drill a hole or two in my filters to help them drain for a week after they were removed from a car, but now I just toss 'em in the bucket.
In TN, you can take it to any local box parts place with no worries or concerns. The state does charge something like seven cents per quart when you buy it. It reminds me of when you buy aluminum cans in some states. I'd imagine the tax either offsets the cost of the recycling service or something.
Nozzlejocky
Well-known member
Most cities and towns where I've lived have had a drop off site at their recycling centers that would take oil and filters. Sometimes for a small fee, but often free. The most frustrating part is dealing with the empty oil bottles. They are a recyclable plastic, by most centers will not take them. It seems logical in that they wouldn't want the oil plastic mixed with food grade stuff, but I just hate throwing them in the garbage.
Jeepster04
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2013
- Messages
- 3,100
If you punch two holes in the old oil filters they will drain pretty quickly. I always use a center punch to poke a hole in the bottom then another mid ways up on the side. Let them drain overnight then toss them. Hardly any oil left.
I have trouble finding places to take antifreeze. Idiot at advance told me they took it and had me pour is in the oil recycling container... Even after I asked him several times and even showed him the paper on the wall saying NOT to put antifreeze in that container.... Whatever, got rid of it.
I have trouble finding places to take antifreeze. Idiot at advance told me they took it and had me pour is in the oil recycling container... Even after I asked him several times and even showed him the paper on the wall saying NOT to put antifreeze in that container.... Whatever, got rid of it.
Ign
Well-known member
As I said, the Safety Kleen video suggests they boil off the antifreeze and separate it in their facility.
As for EPA fines of oil recyclers, I guess I'd have to know the nature of the infractions. The first thing that concerns me is a general distrust of governing agencies that generate revenue to fund themselves through punitive monetary fines.
My second thought would be that if we assume an oil recycler is working on the basis of capitalism, and they have some way to use the old oil to their benefit, THEY WILL. To do anything else is like burning money. The video suggests they are able to burn the very dirty oil in their plant to somehow power the plant (and maybe heat it?). So if they have ANY use for it they won't just wantonly throw it on the ground or bury it in barrels.
Seems similar to your LP guy running his truck on LP, the NG company running their vehicles on NG, the electric utility striving for electric vehicles, or the food waste oil guy running on cooking oil.
If I were Safety Kleen I'd find a way to power/burn/heat as much of my process as I could with the product I painstakingingly collect and transport all over the country.
If the alternative is municipalities charging for disposal which I promise you just results in Cletus pouring it in his backyard ....I'll choose Safety Kleen and EPA violations every time.
TractorJeff
Well-known member
Used to be able to buy "Reclaimed Motor Oil" at Walmart. I don't see it on the shelf anymore?
If we were still using Petroleum based Virgin Oils in most cars, things would probably be different. As it is most people use Synthetic fractured Oils, so maybe they don't "Reclaim" as well?
If we were still using Petroleum based Virgin Oils in most cars, things would probably be different. As it is most people use Synthetic fractured Oils, so maybe they don't "Reclaim" as well?
Scout3918
Well-known member
sounds like good plan for your company.
rburke65
Well-known member
Cletus pouring it in the back yard??!!! That's the name of my dog......he recycles!
evintho
Well-known member
My local garbage company provides us with 2 gallon containers. I drain my used oil into a drain pan then pour it into the provided containers. I then place the full containers on the curb next to my garbage cans. The garbage truck comes by, takes the used oil and leaves me new containers, every week. Does anyone else have a garbage service that does this or am I just spoiled here in California?
Jeepster04
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2013
- Messages
- 3,100
Came from the ground, goes back in the ground... Right?
Guy at work gave me a 55 gal drum... I fill it up, he comes and gets it... His dad has a parts store and burns it for heat.
kylerohde
Well-known member
58Yeoman
Well-known member
Came from the ground, goes back in the ground... Right?
Problem there is that the original oil came from below the water aquifer. To return, it would go through your drinking water.
Problem there is that the original oil came from below the water aquifer. To return, it would go through your drinking water.
fsae0607
Well-known member
I take it to the Autozone, O'reillys or NAPA out here. No problems. I let filters drain out overnight and toss them in the recycling bin.
As far as antifreeze goes, I pour mine into the toilet. I've read that the ethylene glycol acts like food for the bacteria down at the treatment plants.
As far as antifreeze goes, I pour mine into the toilet. I've read that the ethylene glycol acts like food for the bacteria down at the treatment plants.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
You can't be serious. As someone with a good friend in the wastewater plant industry, I can tell you that a total myth. Don't do it!Tommy
Last edited:
Tommy
Believe it or not, but many counties do recommend dumping less than 10 gallons into the toilet. AND that some bacteria like it.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Oooohh kaaaayyy... Well, you learn something every day. After some quick reading I see it is in fact treatable in most wastewater facilites. I'll have to razz my friend next time I see him...
Tommy
Last edited:
anndel
Well-known member
Here in Honolulu the City says to absorb it then toss it in the trash since all of our garbage gets burned and converted into electricity. I shred confidential documents like credit card statements, old bank statements and used the shredded paper in a plastic garbage bag and pour the oil in that. The stores also sell oil change boxes with shredded rags or paper fiber in a trash bag.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I take my drain poil to a local garage that has a waste oil burner. I get rid of my oil, he saves on his heating costs. Win-Win
disston
Well-known member
As far as I know in Maryland where I live the filters can go in the trash after I drain them. Same is true of tires if they are mounted on rims. If a tire is unmounted I have to pay to dispose of it. But when I buy new tires the tire guy takes them for free because I paid good money to buy my new tires from him.
Used oil I take to the Auto Parts Super Market store.
My housemate says he used to burn the used oil in a heater in the Winter but the county or the state made him stop. Apparently those are not legal here.
When I owned a boat I was told antifreeze in the water was a big no no. Said to be more damaging than spilt motor oil. No longer own the boat (sniff sniff) and I never investigated this fact further because of that.
Used oil I take to the Auto Parts Super Market store.
My housemate says he used to burn the used oil in a heater in the Winter but the county or the state made him stop. Apparently those are not legal here.
When I owned a boat I was told antifreeze in the water was a big no no. Said to be more damaging than spilt motor oil. No longer own the boat (sniff sniff) and I never investigated this fact further because of that.
James-W
Well-known member
We can put our used oil out on the curb on the days when the recyclable stuff is picked up by the garbage crew. As to what they do with the used oil once they get it, I have no idea.
Wow! How pleasant, quaint and old-fashioned! It wasn't tacked on to a big computerized printout of...
Tires disposal fee $3/ea
Valve stems $5/ea
Shop supplies $4.75
Northern Hemisphere Residence Fee: $2.00
Two ears/two nostrils type customer: $1.00
Asteroid insurance: $0.75
LS6 Tommy said:
I only googled weakly yesterday, but my fuzzy memory said it depends on the process used at the wastewater facility?
In my fair city, I have seen these two options in the past:
* a local heavy truck maintenance facility that accepted antifreeze for recycling, the newspaper said. I went, jugs in hand, and yep, they took it.
* a local start up business in an industrial park that was starting an antifreeze filtering/recycling business. Only read the profile of them in the paper, years ago, no sign of them on the google radar this week.
Nowadays I just take my jugs of old coolant to the city's hazardous waste facility, which takes a great many odd things.
.
Last edited:
exranger06
Well-known member
Not only that, but it's not so much the oil itself that's harmful, it's all the contaminants and heavy metals in the used oil (you know, the reason you drained it out and replaced with fresh oil in the first place) that's really harmful to the environment.
cgall
Well-known member
Just think how much antifreeze goes down the storm drains in the streets after auto accidents every day.
In the old days they had PCBs in that mineral oil and GE dumped tons of it in NY's Hudson River, for many years.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk