What do you do with unused/partial cans of oil?

[Teikas Dad]

Cleaning out the garage the other day and I noticed that I've got probably 6 to 10 open cans of oil. Different brands and different weights - some 5w30, some 10w30, some straight 30, some synthetic, some diesel synthetic.

Nothing that I own burns oil so I haven't been using it to top off any motors. The cheap Yankee in me doesn't want to throw out unused oil, but they're all partial - like 1/2 quart cans.

Any suggestions? I'm sure mixing them together to make up a gallon or so of oil is not a good idea!

 

[Dftodd]

Using it for bar and chain oil for the chain saw comes to mind. At least for the 30 weight on up

 

[4570Man]

We save them and use them ( the correct kind of course) for the next oil change.

 

[JimRB]

I changed the hydraulic oil in my JD a month ago. The 5-gallon oil change was finished with a partial bucket I bought 25 years and then topped up some more with another partial gallon jug from 17 years ago. I was happy to get rid of two 5 gallon buckets. Maybe the chart that said 5.5 gallons did not include the oil for the optional power steering circuit.

Doing oil changes, the leftover oil goes in first. The truck takes 3 gallons I think so not much of leftovers. The tractor takes the same oil so the oil goes away somehow. The car takes 5 quarts of a different brand. I buy in gallons so the oil gets used up over a year of 3.5 oil changes.

The lawn mowers and edger are due for oil changes but no appropriate oil. Time to buy a few quarts.

I do have some 30w non-detergent. The 60-year-old rototiller is kind of smokey so I guess it can use that oil.

I did discover a few quart containers of gear lube. A few partial containers of gear lube. The truck is due for a rear axle oil change if the spare oil I have is correct.

Translated I have partial containers that may take decades to be used but they will be used.

 

[pohorsky]

I use it in my oil bath filter.

 

[CalG]

Just where does one purchase "cans" of oil these days?

Oil in my area comes in plastic.

If there is a lid on the bottle, just use the oil whenever you need to. It doesn't go bad on the shelf.

Just remember to use the open can first. You know, "rotate stock".

Plus, mixing oil is not a bad thing in spite of what the scare guys say. Just don't put diff. fluid (sulphur) into anything with a clutch ;-)

 

[pmsmechanic]

My unknown oils go into a container marked for the oil can.

 

[Dingeryote]

Partials get dumped into the GP oil jug.

From there, it's used in the GP oil cans on whatever is needing lube. Hinges, impliment Pins, sway limiter threads, upper links, Roller chain, etc.
Used Hydro works great for all that too.

 

[KevT]

I have heard that you can use it to burn out stumps.

 

[Looking4new]

I put it into the bucket I keep my towing chains in. I also have a bucket for my tire chains and that gets oil as well.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I put it into the bucket I keep my towing chains in. I also have a bucket for my tire chains and that gets oil as well.

Man, nothing like an oily, greasy tow chain to finish off your day after getting stuck is it?

 

[silvertramp]

I put it into the bucket I keep my towing chains in. I also have a bucket for my tire chains and that gets oil as well.

There's a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Teikas Dad]

Just where does one purchase "cans" of oil these days?

Oooops, I'm showing my age! The first gas station I worked at when I was a kid still used the glass bottles that we filled from a 55 gallon drum.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I still have one of those spouts that pierced the can. What am I ever going to use that for again?

New clean oil. I wouldn't think twice about adding it to a thousand or so litre diesel tank to add lubricity. I wouldn't do that for any electronic Tier whatever engines but a real diesel, no problem. I know a guy with a huge fleet of older construction equipment, and he burns all his OLD hydraulic oil this way.

 

[sdef]

I put it into the bucket I keep my towing chains in. I also have a bucket for my tire chains and that gets oil as well.

Well, I have heard it best to keep log chains oiled. But I can't imagine then using them when necessary. So I keep mine on the tractor hanging inside PVC tubes where I can readily use them.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That riminds me of some gunslinger with a pistol (or cannon) on each hip!

I have never seen anything like that! My saw always lies on the floor of my loaders inhibiting my operation of the pedals. I had planned to make a saw carrier out of recycled plastic sheeting, but what I have seen here, just blows my mind!!!

How did you attach the PVC tubes? How did you paint the PVC without the paint coming off? Or even getting scratched getting on and off the tractor?

Man, I'm sure I'd hate to see your shop! lol

Sorry to derail the thread.

 

[KennyG]

I struggle with this also. I don't like to use oil that's been open for a long time in engines because I'm concerned it may have picked up moisture. So I have the oil can, mix a little in with the chain saw oil, soak a little into some sawdust and start the pole barn wood stove with it, soak some into a stump to burn it and still have a bunch sitting around. I continue to look for more ideas. I don't think I would like my log chains covered with oil though.

 

[Looking4new]

Man, nothing like an oily, greasy tow chain to finish off your day after getting stuck is it?

I always wear gloves when handling either chains or cable. These gloves are NOT the same gloves that I inspect ships with (they are not white to begin with).

 

[sdef]

That riminds me of some gunslinger with a pistol (or cannon) on each hip!

I have never seen anything like that! My saw always lies on the floor of my loaders inhibiting my operation of the pedals. I had planned to make a saw carrier out of recycled plastic sheeting, but what I have seen here, just blows my mind!!!

How did you attach the PVC tubes? How did you paint the PVC without the paint coming off? Or even getting scratched getting on and off the tractor?

Man, I'm sure I'd hate to see your shop! lol

Sorry to derail the thread.

I could not find a commercial method I liked for carrying my chains, saws and things with handles. So I stumbled upon this idea somehow. Most parts are from the big box building stores. My Kioti has a bracket on each side of the cowling to mount the clear Plexiglas that stops mud, etc. from coming into the operator's station from the front tires. I just mounted the tubes to those by adding a few Stanley flat strap brackets and angle brackets. PVC tubes attached with carriage bolts from the inside out. Difficult to mount these as I could not get my arm far enough down in the tube for each bottom bolt so used a string tied to the bolt, gravity and a long stick to get the bolt through the tubes. Insert the string from the outside of the tube and work it down until you can grab it. Tie to the bolts and then pull the bolts into the hole and then mount the tube. The end result is very secure and functional. Here are some pics but nothing really showing the mounting specifics. My guess is I probably do not have more than $100 or so in material.



Meticulous sanding of the PVC with ~220 grit paper. The paint is Kilz or Binzer as a primer and then Rustoleum Allis Chalmers orange for the finish. I have been told they look factory made with the tractor. If the finish coat is thinned just right, no brush marks show and they appear to be power coat or similar (I used to be a skilled commercial building painter in a past life). I hung the tubes from rafters in the basement, through the 3/8" drain hole in the bottom cap. Two or three coats of orange, 24 hours apart and let them dry for a week or so. As you can tell from the working pics, the tractor is used and the paint and mounts are still holding up well. No touch ups needed yet.

Edit: On the outside tube in the mounting closeup one can see finish scratches from the sandpaper. The two outside tubes were sanded using 150 grit paper I think and then sprayed using an automotive gun. The four inside tubes were done as mentioned above, do not display the sanding marks and have a near flawless finish.

 

[JGL]

Last fall I had several cans of different oils left over from many years of oil changes etc, I put every thing in a bucket and added a gallon of chain saw bar oil, mixed everything up, I now have enough for a few years of cutting.