EuroVt
Well-known member
If you are not punching a hole through the drain back valve, there is quite a but of oil still in the filter.
Used oil
- Thread starter TheShrine
- Start date
If you are not punching a hole through the drain back valve, there is quite a but of oil still in the filter.
trbomax
Well-known member
I dont know about TREATED wast water,but its against federal law to dump any ammount of ethelene glycol on a river,lake or stream,or on the ground.This is why boats are winterized with propelene glycol,it IS bio degradeable.Haveing been in the marina bussiness for many years I can tell you that the fines are enough to put most places out of bussiness. If a customer was caught winterizeing thier own boat with EG it was a big deal because WE were responseable.The coasties would actually come around in the fall to look at our winterizeing equipment.
Last edited:
ptschram
Well-known member
No, that's not right either. The reportable quantity of ethylene glycol was one pound, but it was increased significantly as a result of industrial uses. You'd be surprised at how much is used for de-icing airplanes and coal piles at power plants just providing two examples. Hint-power plants are typically situated along rivers for access to cooling water-releases to the nearby river is almost guaranteed, in spite of best attempts.
If you are sufficiently interested and look up the public comments accepted by USEPA in 1993 or 1994, they make reference to a private individual who reported a release of a few gallons of engine coolant-it was me. I was working for a power company and when coming out of the post office, found my truck had dumped its coolant. As I had a pretty high profile, I knew that if I didn't report it to the NRC, I'd be reading about it in the newspaper.
Reportable quantities of many compounds are easily found. The reportable quantity is 5000 pounds, per 40 CFR 302.
trbomax
Well-known member
Well,you go dial up the coast guard station in Toledo Ohio and try to tell them that. Better yet,go to your local CG station and dump a couple gallons in the river while they watch. Let us know how that works out.
Last edited:
ptschram
Well-known member
I've made many reports to 1-800-424-8802, enough I can recall that number from memory.
One of the power plants where we used ethylene glycol to de-ice the coal pile was right down the river from the Cincinnati office. I did the continuous release reporting for the plant.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=40:27.0.1.1.2&idno=40
wafrederick
Well-known member
I throw the old metal oil filters in the garbage can at work and get picked out with a chewing out.My father's clean up guy,Lee picks them out of the garbage can and says you jackass,shithead sometimes.He hates it when a piece of metal is thrown in the garbage can including nuts and bolts which also includes spark plugs.Even saves the emptied oil bottles and drains the rest out which I call a waste of time.
6768rogues
Banned
My neighbor used to paint the beams in his barn with used oil so the horses would not chew on them. When the barn caught on fire, you could see the flames for miles.
trbomax
Well-known member
Yep,they only chewed on them one time,then they died.Wait, maybe it was the antifreeze in thier stock tank?,no you can drink that stuff for breakfast!
edit) all kidding aside,when I get to work tomorrow I will look all this up.
edit) all kidding aside,when I get to work tomorrow I will look all this up.
ptschram
Well-known member
Used oil filters can be drained and landfilled. The standard for such "special wastes" is typically that they must have no free-flowing liquids. Most generators who don't crush them use a standard of 5-7 days to drain.
I have a drain tray where they are placed to drain and once a month or so, they are thrown in the scrap iron pile for eventual recycling. Used oil gets blended with diesel fuel and burned in the salamanders that heat the shop.
I have a drain tray where they are placed to drain and once a month or so, they are thrown in the scrap iron pile for eventual recycling. Used oil gets blended with diesel fuel and burned in the salamanders that heat the shop.
trbomax
Well-known member
I dont know where anyone else lives and dumps af,but I talked to my boss today and in michigan it is toxic waste and there is a fine and/or imprisonment if it can be proved that it was done or you are caught,regardless of any reporting. Reporting it does not relieve one of the responsibility of dumping it in the first place. His exact words were "they would be cuffed and stuffed".It is required that propolene glycol be used for any de iceing operations in michigan.
as a side note I work for the DNRE
as a side note I work for the DNRE
ptschram
Well-known member
Got a regulatory citation?
Curiously, here is a guidance document from Michigan DEQ that states that it may be permitted to discharge to a POTW with prior permission from the POTW.
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/09/08100.pdf
Page four.
Last edited:
trbomax
Well-known member
page 4 states that its only allowed into wastwater treatment ,not the ground or any waterway.
good info though.It was funny because when I ask him about it he was working on some fire fighting equipment and he dropped his wrench,got wide eyed and said "where is this?".
good info though.It was funny because when I ask him about it he was working on some fire fighting equipment and he dropped his wrench,got wide eyed and said "where is this?".
ptschram
Well-known member
I never said that it was appropriate to dispose of anti-freeze by direct discharge to the soil, nor a navigable waterway.
That said, how many of us have had a vehicle overheat and lose coolant to the roadway? I know for a fact that I have and I reported the release the the NRC. At the time, the RQ was one pound and given my job at the time, I had actual knowledge of the regulation as I was writing the response for my employer in attempts to raise the RQ to its current level of 5000 pounds.
Like so many things, legend and lore clouds the topic.
anti freeze: 1 gallon at a time every day into the toilet until it's gone.
oil: one gallon per fill up in my 7.3 ford diesel. i love having a truck that runs on it's own waste. if i get a lot at once i take it to the local auto parts store. they will take as much as you have. i've dumped 4 5 gallon buckets at once before.
oil filters: trash after draining for the time it takes to change the oil in the vehicle. i need to start punching holes in them and throwing them in the scrap barrel.
oil: one gallon per fill up in my 7.3 ford diesel. i love having a truck that runs on it's own waste. if i get a lot at once i take it to the local auto parts store. they will take as much as you have. i've dumped 4 5 gallon buckets at once before.
oil filters: trash after draining for the time it takes to change the oil in the vehicle. i need to start punching holes in them and throwing them in the scrap barrel.
Yup, burn great, I also spray waste oil in there from a suction gun to get the fire going or just to get rid of oil.
Scott P
Well-known member
I take mine down to the local Jiffy Lube. It's just down the street for me and they take it willingly. I think I have 12 or so quarts in the pan that should get taken there soon.
Quint
Well-known member
Auto Zone for batteries, coolant, oil.
SHELLFISH
Well-known member
I ran a shop for a while and generated a lot of used oil.
When I got about 200 gallons I would call a waste truck to come pick it up.
I got paid for clean used oil. Now they charge to pick it up! WTF?
When I got about 200 gallons I would call a waste truck to come pick it up.
I got paid for clean used oil. Now they charge to pick it up! WTF?
Greatbear
Well-known member
Cartridge filters can be burned, but metal canister filters still leave the metal shell to deal with.
Instead of popping a hole in canister filters to drain them, I push an old nail or chunk of wire through the inlet holes, this opens up (lifts) the ADV letting almost all the oil out.
Instead of popping a hole in canister filters to drain them, I push an old nail or chunk of wire through the inlet holes, this opens up (lifts) the ADV letting almost all the oil out.
danv
Well-known member
mix it 50/50 with coloured diesel and burn it in my oil burner to heat my garage in the winter months.
When I de-iced large military aircraft in Germany and the US we were encouraged to use hot air as much as possible. The base waste water treatment plants had trouble handling large amounts of glycol.
For large amounts I mean 500-1000 gallons per aircraft. Source
You probably won't cause irreparable damage to the environment by dumping 5-10 gallons from a busted radiator hose, but I don't encourage dumping your waste coolant behind the shop. It's sweet smelling and kills too many pets and wildlife.
SuperSocket
Well-known member
I think you're getting Propylene mixed up with Ethylene.
Ethylene is toxic and can result in death if consumed, each year about a dozen people die from digesting this stuff. Dumping this in a drain is HUGE fines and potential arrest.
Propylene on the other hand is consumable by humans and dump able in not industrial capacity... you will find this in a lot of foods and also in de-icers for aircraft and such. It's used in many products we used today, medicine, cosmetics, foods, etc. Propylene is typically found also in newer automotive anti-freeze.
Just like everything else, you can overwhelm the sewer system with anything if you dump too much in it. In some cities you can even be fined for dumping water down drains (instead of leaving it to run off on your lawn).
Last edited:
ptschram
Well-known member
No, I have a degree in chemistry, was a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and licensed municipal, and industrial wastewater treatment plant operator.
I taught environmental regulations at a local vocational college as well.
Read the links I provided. I'm the one who provided proof of the reportable quantity and the guidance document from a state department of environmental quality indicating that under the correct circumstances, discharges of ethylene glycol may be permitted to wastewwater treatment plants. Everyone else has merely provided anecdotal at best evidence, or emotion at worst.
destroked
Member
Dumping anti freeze into a city sewer that goes into a treatment plant may/may not have exceptions, not wanting to argue that one way or another, (I won't do it whether it's allowed or not just on the reality that we seem to learn generations later how foolish our once tolerated actions were, so I'm going to at least try to find a better receptacle than my toilet bowl). From what I've seen, dilution only goes so far at making anything non-lethal. I'm now allergic to ATF from low level prolonge contact with my hands/arms. Didn't happen overnight, but I'm still paying for it everytime I come in contact with it now.
My question is, how do you address suburban or rural areas where septic systems are utilized 1/2 the time? (Especially with well water within 500 ft of most rural homes). Several of the farms where I grew up were environmental disasters thanks to not only the machinery repair, but the various crop chemicals we kept on hand. More than a few wells had to be drilled further away from the main buildings just from livestock discharge, can't imagine this would be a good idea. There is a difference between accidental spillage on a motorway and intentional disposal of materials of similar kind into a residential sewer. Vehicle wrecks are also covered for environmental clean-up by their insurance carriers if the spill is large enough. I've been involved in volunteer emergency response over the years. First thing we do when arriving on an accident scene, (after checking victims condition and setting traffic barriers), is apply absorbent materials to any leaking fluids. This is not just for containing risk of fire/combustibles, it is to prevent unnecessary run-off into the shoulder of the road or storm drains.
Forgive the newbie virgin post, but this thread is what brought me to this forum (via google).
The original topic of waste oil is what I was searching for. I'm setting up an actual designed and manufactured waste oil furnace http://www.firelakemfg.com/ It will rely primarily on #2 diesel, but the ability to burn everything through it will significantly reduce my concerns of carrying waste products in my wifes car during parts runs. At least new motor oil is sealed and clean. My main reasoning is I'm tired of wasting solvents and cleaning rags just to get the containment bucket clean enough to take it to dispose of the stuff. Cradle to grave regs are not anything I want to play around with anymore either.
I still can not find references to residential regs regarding restrictions on WO furnaces. Lots of opinions, but no gov't agency policy or legislative rules to reference back to.
I generate 0ver 30-50 gallons a month in the summer time with all our vehicles and off road engines, so I'm probably above most of my fellow hobby type workshops in general.
My question is, how do you address suburban or rural areas where septic systems are utilized 1/2 the time? (Especially with well water within 500 ft of most rural homes). Several of the farms where I grew up were environmental disasters thanks to not only the machinery repair, but the various crop chemicals we kept on hand. More than a few wells had to be drilled further away from the main buildings just from livestock discharge, can't imagine this would be a good idea. There is a difference between accidental spillage on a motorway and intentional disposal of materials of similar kind into a residential sewer. Vehicle wrecks are also covered for environmental clean-up by their insurance carriers if the spill is large enough. I've been involved in volunteer emergency response over the years. First thing we do when arriving on an accident scene, (after checking victims condition and setting traffic barriers), is apply absorbent materials to any leaking fluids. This is not just for containing risk of fire/combustibles, it is to prevent unnecessary run-off into the shoulder of the road or storm drains.
Forgive the newbie virgin post, but this thread is what brought me to this forum (via google).
The original topic of waste oil is what I was searching for. I'm setting up an actual designed and manufactured waste oil furnace http://www.firelakemfg.com/ It will rely primarily on #2 diesel, but the ability to burn everything through it will significantly reduce my concerns of carrying waste products in my wifes car during parts runs. At least new motor oil is sealed and clean. My main reasoning is I'm tired of wasting solvents and cleaning rags just to get the containment bucket clean enough to take it to dispose of the stuff. Cradle to grave regs are not anything I want to play around with anymore either.
I still can not find references to residential regs regarding restrictions on WO furnaces. Lots of opinions, but no gov't agency policy or legislative rules to reference back to.
I generate 0ver 30-50 gallons a month in the summer time with all our vehicles and off road engines, so I'm probably above most of my fellow hobby type workshops in general.
babzog
Well-known member
I take mine to the municipal waste transfer site... they have oil drums for collecting that stuff.
rburke65
Well-known member
trbomax...OK, I'll bite...what's a PHD and NH? New Holland? Tractor? PHD?
around here in SE PA, seems as if every other farm or rural shop has a big fork-liftable pallet with sides out by the road that says "used motor oil wanted". There are at least 4 within 3 miles of my house, the closest is 1/2 of a mile.
I very much want to try burning some in my 7.3 IDI, but have been, and continue to be, a ************ and don't do it.
I very much want to try burning some in my 7.3 IDI, but have been, and continue to be, a ************ and don't do it.
ptschram
Well-known member
It's not being diluted, it is consumed by the microbiological action that's present in the WWTP.
Similar bacteria and processes are sued in septic tanks as larger sewage treatment plants.
You were ahead of the game. I've watched firefighters hose oils and other contaminants to ditches, etc turning minor releases into reportable releases.
You likely will not find any regulations restricting private individuals from burning USED engine oil. The term "Waste Oil" is a regulatory term that indicates that an oil has been contaminated and is not suitable for beneficial reuse, such as energy extraction. Also referred to as "Off-Spec".
Very few federal environmental regulations apply to individuals as they are directed primarily toward businesses. Air regs are the big exception to this rule as many of the clean air act requirements do apply to us as individuals.
30-50 gallons a month? That's more than I generate running a shop.
csp
Well-known member
trbomax used NH and PSD, not PHD.
PSD = Powerstroke diesel
I'm assuming NH = New Holland also.
destroked
Member
Summer collection average, not 12 calendar months straight. I drain the oil on everything when it comes out of storage for the summer. It drains again when it goes back into hibernation again. OCD? Maybe, but leaving oil with combustion gas residue in an engine is not something I care to do, regardless of oil life/mileage.
I have 2 diesel pickups, 1 class 8 tractor cab based motorhome with a 12.7 litre Detroit. Won't even bother adding up the power equipment, bikes and other family toys. It doesn't take long to fill used up a used oil barrel.
3-5 close friends rely on my for all their maintenance on their vehicles, I've taught them oil is cheap, bearings are not, drain frequently.
Thank you for your input on the other points.
I agree and am aware of the fire hose method being common, doesn't make it right though, for several reasons besides just the fluids. Hosing **** into to the curb boxes just puts it on to someone else to clean backout from the bottom of the gutter boxes, especially glass, screws, not just fluids). It's something few emergency crews give much consideration to usually. (I'm not an eco-nut, just can't stand wasting more time doing things twice or revisting someone else's mess they left behind).
SgtRauksauff
Well-known member
I've been wondering about anti-freeze disposal myself, for a few years, and probably have about 15 gallons of it in the garage waiting for a place to take it. I'll stop by the treatment plant at some point, and talk to them.
For oil, Wal-Mart (at least, the "super" wal-marts with th eauto shops) will take up to four gallons at once (tee hee, we give them five, since they're four 5-qt. containers) free of charge.
--sarge
For oil, Wal-Mart (at least, the "super" wal-marts with th eauto shops) will take up to four gallons at once (tee hee, we give them five, since they're four 5-qt. containers) free of charge.
--sarge
MartyO
Well-known member
I store it behind my shop until a guy comes to pick it up for free.
Paco Pena
Well-known member
I wait till I have 20 l or so and drop it off at Canadian tire. I don't buy it there but I figure I worked for them for 6 years when I was a kid. I also use it to paint onto shovels etc for winter storage to prevent rust.
Paco
Paco
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
They are probably using it in used/waste oil fueled heaters. Clean Burn is one manufacturer and located in Leola, PA (and now owned by Lanair), so I would not be surprised to find they sold lots of their heaters locally.
Charles
ptschram
Well-known member
Wisconsin has some murky regulations. It "may" be unlawful in Wisconsin to discharge to a POTW. Wisconsin is not a state I have direct experience in dealing with regulations.
posaune
Well-known member
This is probably a stupid question and somewhat off topic, but since some of you guys are burning oil in diesels, I thought I'd ask. Will a home oil burning heater burn used oil and/or atf? It would be a lot more diluted than in a normal pickup tank, since most homes have at least 275gal tanks. I'd LOVE to add a few gallons to my tank AND be ale to get rid of all of my used oil.
Fwiw, I take my oil to Advance Auto in 5gal buckets. The coolant is still in the garage since I have a septic system and no local place to take it.
Fwiw, I take my oil to Advance Auto in 5gal buckets. The coolant is still in the garage since I have a septic system and no local place to take it.
Oldtymeflyr
Well-known member
My problem with burning used engine oil is that it has clogged expensive filters. I don't burn used oil any more, I send it to a recycler.
durallymax
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2011
- Messages
- 918
burn it in our waste oil burner
yup. i just dump mine in the sink & let the local treatment plant take care of it. take it to a treatment center if that's not allowed or if you're hooked up to a septic system. easiest fluid change & disposal!
used oil & trans fluid just goes to Advance Auto where they take it for free. i'm guessing AutoZone & O'Reilly's would do the same.