Used oil pump problem

[Hal]

I have an air operated diaphragm pump to transfer used oil from barrels to my furnace tank. Yesterday it was acting really slow, and today it wouldn’t pump at all. I partly disassembled it, and discovered that some of my used oil had shrapnel from who knows where in it. Chunks of metal had jammed the check valves on the intake side, so the oil was just being pushed back and forth in the suction hose, and never getting anywhere.

Cleaned everything out and reassembled, good to go.

 

[BombShelter]

I get the same issue with my Mitivac, unfortunately the hoses inside the unit can be tough to get to and if is doesn't **** good, it usually doesn't pump it back out (for recycling) easily. For me it seems to happen at least once or twice a year.

 

[Badhabit]

I have a suction screen on mine. It makes quite a difference

H

 

[bwringer]

If you're getting your used oil from anywhere else, then who knows what's in there. I'd agree a filter or screen seems mandatory.

If it's coming from your own machines and vehicles, then I guess you have some detective work to do.