Where does the Oil and Coolant go?

[manic]

I done a saab 900 recently and theres still a set off 2 litre bottles hidden in the front garden that I need to dispose of.


I don't mind doing the service and maintenance on my cars and starting to prefer it. If I change fluids on my 200tdi this weekend theres another 8 litres of oil and 12 litres of coolant to evacuate off the premises.

I figure I need to have a 10 litre container for oil and a 15 litre container for coolant that I can reuse and safely put in the back of the car. But wheres best to take them to drain?

Local council offers nothing for oil and coolant apart from a mobile chemical disposal pick up that goes round once a year.

So home 'mechanics' with small working spaces: good/cheap/easy to store containers? where best to drain?

[p38arover]

Oil I take to my local LR mechanic to dump into his drums for recycling — but I do buy my 20 litre drums of oil from him. One of the local servos used to accept it until someone dumped dirty petrol and/or thinners into his tank.

[PhilipA]

Most workshops have an oil recycling tank and they get a little money for it.
The bloke who does my Green slips is happy to take my used oil.

Coolant? hmm Even though it is toxic to animals , I do not think it is a problem to the sewerage system.

This from Washington County


A. Though small amounts of antifreeze can be successfully neutralized by sewage treatment plants, too much antifreeze can overload those systems. You should never attempt this disposal method without first obtaining the permission of the sewage treatment plant involved. In any case, recycling the material is a more environmentally beneficial practice, and antifreeze recycling is available on a regular basis in most Washington counties.


Many DIYin your area?

Regards Philip A

[tomalophicon]

I'm surprised your local tip doesn't have a disposal station for oil.
Anyway, that's where I take all mine. I buy the 10 litre containers of oil and they make good disposal vessels too.

[manic]

I'm surprised your local tip doesn't have a disposal station for oil.
Anyway, that's where I take all mine. I buy the 10 litre containers of oil and they make good disposal vessels too.

VIC 3190, cant seem to find a recycle depot close enough that takes used engine oil.

Sure right there though, I will be buying the oil in a 10 litre container!...haha.

For coolant I'm going to try one of those collapsible water containers. I'll do a drive a round with my toxic load and see if I can find a workshop willing to take both. They get paid for oil pickup so dont see why they would moan.

Do they pay or get paid for coolant?

[Judo]

Cheers for starting this thread! I'm in Richmond and have the same problem... Starting to build a little collection of bottles in the backyard and I don't think my girlfriend appreciates motor oil as much as I do... :D

[tomalophicon]

Could be useful to someone other than a mechanic.
My dad just built a huge wooden wall and finished it with old sump oil;)
Looks real good too.

[Ferret]

Local council collects it over our way at the tip - special waste disposal area for oil, solvents etc. A fee applies for disposal.

[goingbush]

Iv'e almost got a 44gal drum full of it now,

Its economical to recrack waste oil and make diesel out of it, you can buy a commercial plant to do it

Recycle Plastic & Oil into Diesel,Plastic to Diesel Process,Depolymerization (http://www.globalfinest.com/tech/)

(interestingly an Australian mobile number)

must be possible on a diy scale.

[p38arover]

If I possessed the skill to make one, I'd have a waste oil burning garage heater. I have the chimney ready for when I can make a burner.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/57371-oil-burning-shed-heaters.html

[Naviguesser]

This is not generally a problem for Landrover owners. It has usually leaked all over the road before then.

There, someone had to say it :D