Handling waste oil--best purchase in years

T.C. in Tx · Jul 18, 2010

I finally got fed up with the mess of handling the used oil from the trucks and tractors. My process has been to put the oil in the used 2.5 gallon jugs from chemicals and store them until they accumulate. Then make a trip to the county recycling facility. Handling those messy drippy jugs gets old real quick, plus they are always in the way, etc.

Looking for an alternative, I found a 20 gallon steel drum on rollers at the local HF store. It is made with an extendable funnel to use under a car lift, but it is perfect to pore the oil in and store it until time to empty. Now comes the good part. To empty, just hook it up to an air bottle with the quick connect air fitting and put the nozzle in the recycle container and let it go. No mess. Of course it helps that the recycle facility I use is where you can drive right up to it and the hose is about 10 feet long.

My cost was just over $100 with the 20% discount coupon. I'm a happy camper. Check it out at: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/?category=&q=oil+drain

Ray · Jul 18, 2010

I use waste oil to heat my farm shop.I pick it up from local farmers,and some people drop it off in plastic jugs.

olgentdc · Jul 18, 2010

me 2....run it thru watgner power p[ainter on equyipment when finished for seasion ,,,keepd everything mellow ........

mpowis · Jul 18, 2010

any purchase at harbor freight just extends the unemployment problem in this country.

rrlund · Jul 18, 2010

I use all of mine on chains and automatic oilers and such.

John M · Jul 18, 2010

We have a similar set up where I work, but the tank is like 35 gallons. Our mechanic fills the waste oil heaters, which holds 100 gallons each, and saves 2 55 gallon drums for each for winter time. the rest is filtered mulitple times, like 10 times, and is dumped like 10 gallons at a time in to the main diesel tank to run in our trucks at work.(Which I think is a 1200 gallon tank.)

ldj · Jul 18, 2010

mpowis said
"any purchase at harbor freight just extends the unemployment problem in this country"

I used to think that way but I now realize it is our gov. causing it. Example, EPA and other rules, tax, OSHA and on and on make it expensive. Business have left to go where where it is cheaper. Not helping environment at all, in fact hurting it. The plants in China are much worse than ours ever were and they are spewing it in OUR yes it is OUR atmosphere, GLOBAL.

I was shaming a guy one time who bought a Toyota by saying he should buy American. He said I did, it is made in USA and your Crown Victoria was made in Mexico. I went out and looked and sure enough it is.

You are correct, we have a problem but it is mush deeper than buying from HF which is only a part of it.

msb · Jul 18, 2010

Put a piece of heavy hay rope in a barrel of used oil and put the other end in a baarrel set a bit lower and the oil will syphon into the lower barrel and the hay rope will do a good job of filtering the used oil.Just don't use it in engines

Ray · Jul 18, 2010

i use those plastic 250 gallon shuttle tanks and just move them around with a fork lift.I use one for a permanent oil tank below my furnace and keep several around for oil storage.A local gas station fills my shuttle tank and i just exchange it with another empty one.I use an air pump to transfer to my main storage shuttle tank.A local trucking company has around 5000 gallons of used oil in underground tanks.They heat there shop buildings and still have plenty left over.

IndianaRed · Jul 18, 2010

Good points. But as far as US vs. Foreign built autos, another consideration is where the profits go. I like that Americans are building some foreign cars here, helps employment some, but the profits leave the US. Better than not having those jobs here at all, but I'd rather see more people buying domestic vehicles, domestically built.

I don't like US cars being built elsewhere. Other people, especially Mexico, need to pull up their bootstraps and take care of themselves. People that started this country died taking on tyrrants, they can do it there too.

And it still just chaps my backside seeing farmers and rural folk driving Toyota and Nissan pickups.

Bob · Jul 18, 2010

You out used oil in CHEMICAL jugs to take for recycling????

Any they ACCEPT it?

NICE!

Cas · Jul 18, 2010

I burn waste oil in a Clean Burn furnace. The problem I have is with New York state. They have a cradle to grave law. The person buying the oil is responsible for any spills or problems from burning. I have a few farmers I do work for that still give me used oil on the qt.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 18, 2010

If you are a trustworthy source; ie not drain antifreeze, water, gas into the used oil, there are many local shops which are more than glad to accept the used oil because they use waste oil burners. I have my own drums but could get one from the dealer which after filled are returned and exchanged for another empty. Their problem to empty/transfer. Could use a dolly/ramps or chain host to load but it is sure handy to have a loader instead.

john in la · Jul 18, 2010

Toyota is a publicly traded company.
So just like someone in Japan can buy Ford stock and share in the profits so can someone in America buy Toyota stock.

With that said I would buy a Ford/GM if I could get the same cost per mile and or reliability I get out of my Toyota.

Phil in Pa · Jul 18, 2010

I put mine in 5 gal containers and return it to Advance Auto Parts when it's not convenient to take it to our shop at work.

It's a pain, but it beats paying somebody to do simple maintenance.

mmidlam · Jul 18, 2010

You are not kidding? could you give more detail. Does the oil slowly drip off the rope end? Does the oil look cleaner or still black?

mmidlam · Jul 18, 2010

You are not kidding? could you give more detail. Does the oil slowly drip off the rope end? Does the oil look cleaner or still black?

john in la · Jul 18, 2010

I am more interseted in getting a current 20% discount coupon.
I have heard that some H.D. and Lowes are taking these coupons for big sale items that harbor freight sells even thought it may not be same model # they sell.

IndianaRed · Jul 18, 2010

Hmm, my Oct. 2006 purchased 3/4 ton Chevy has 410,000 miles, half of those towing, and it's all original less one wheel bearing/hub, (easy fix and $125), and the water pump just let go at 395k miles, (another easy fix and $150). Still have original factory brakes. Serp belt looked good when I replaced water pump, but I changed it anyway. Hard to beat that kind of reliablility. Purchased for $19,500, $300 in repairs. But I understand you're sold on your Asian vehicle.

And while I understand that anyone can own stock, the company profits on your truck went to Japan, not Detroit. But you knew that already.

rodm1 · Jul 18, 2010

(quoted from post at 12:51:45 07/18/10) I am more interseted in getting a current 20% discount coupon.
I have heard that some H.D. and Lowes are taking these coupons for big sale items that harbor freight sells even thought it may not be same model # they sell.

http://MMM.harborfreightusa.com/html/SingleMagLanders/ama/ama.html

showcrop · Jul 18, 2010

SOME people are very capable of properly cleaning and drying. All it takes is ability to read and common sense. You may want to work on both your spelling AND grammar.

Bob · Jul 18, 2010

WHO put a chip on your shoulder you SMARTDONKEY???

I am not the problem here.

My point was that many recycling centers would throw a fit at the CHEMICAL jugs being re-used for storing used oil.

I'm guessing you've never read the label on the jugs?

Mike M · Jul 18, 2010

Working on old tractors it's hard to keep clean used oil ! There is always water or gas in the oil or oil in the water.

ldj · Jul 18, 2010

I think Bob is right. Label says to triple rinse and dispose of in approved landfill. Do not reuse. Using them for the old oil is violation of label.

msb · Jul 18, 2010

It seeps through the rope pretty slowly.Cleans the oil up good enough to use in a squirt can.Takes the black out of it.

Bob · Jul 18, 2010

ldj, FINALLY, the voice of reason!

In "another life" I was Mayor of a small town for a few years and occasionally an inspector for the State Health Department would drop by to check on the landfill and recycling site and having experienced that I can say that putting used oil in old chemical containers and turning it in at a recycling center could very potentially be an EXTREMELY unpleasant (and potentially EXPENSIVE) thing to do if the wrong folks decided to make an example of it.

Also, it could potentially cause fines or even the closure of the resource (recycling center).

Stuff like that is scrutinized by the State AND the federal EPA.

I'm NOT saying I necessarily think that's the way it should be, just telling it like it is.

And getting ripped to shreds by Dorkcrop for being the messenger!

carpman15 · Jul 19, 2010

not going for either side here but how many oil containers say do not reuse??? i know most of the ones i have ever seen say it on them

but like i said im not going either way i reuse them because its not very practical to carry the 55 gal drum of oil out every day to top off the engine or hyd. oil in the tractors

Pale Rider · Jul 19, 2010

You'll have to forgive Bob his normal M.0. is to 1) Read issue and take opposite stance 2) Insult poster that does not agree with him 3) Feel his is effectively defending his wounded pride by trying to cast aspersions on those who don't do things the way he does.

Bear in mind however, his his expert method of diagnosing a cycling yard light to is check and see if there is any power at the breaker. LOL

36 Coupe · Jul 24, 2010

A fellow ran a waste oil business for several years here.He managed to pollute ground water so bad they had to put in a public water system.The cost of removing the oily soil and the water system was in the millions.The DEP went after everyone he collected oil from for payback.Thats why the farmers are spooky about supplying you with oil.If I had lots of used oil I would buy a waste oil burner.Oil used to be cleaned and resold in the 50s, it was sold in 2 gallon cans.

Handling waste oil--best purchase in years

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads