Discarding used hydraulic/transmission fluid?

[anewuser]

While changing the transmission and HST filters for the first time, I unexpectedly let about 3 gallons of hydraulic fluid drain into a dirty bucket. I'd pulled the wrong replacement filter from a sack of filters and had to quickly dig for the right one while the fluid gushed out. I only expected a quart or less to come out, but now have to refill a low hydraulic system.

Had I been better prepared, I could have used a clean bucket and just filtered fluid back into the tractor (I do learn from my mistakes!).

What's the best method to properly dispose of the dirty fluid? I change my own car and truck oil, and dump it at Walmart, but I doubt they'd take this.

 

[Reb954]

Last weekend I did the 50 hr service on my tractor, I used the hyd oil to coat the wood decks on my two trailers. That used about half of the oil but I will coat one more time before winter so that should use it all. If not I will save it for spring time coating.

 

[jaydee325]

Check with your dealer. Mine said he’d take it.

 

[Big Barn]

I can’t see why you can’t take to Walmart. Oil is oil , plus they SELL hydraulic oil.

That’s what I do now. ( Canadian Tire though). The oil recycle guys used to pick up my 50 gallon drums of waste oil here at the farm. Now they will only come to pump out 250 gallon minimum.

 

[oosik]

The local Kubota dealer will take any type of used oil - the maintenance shop has a used oil furnace.

 

[anewuser]

The local Kubota dealer will take any type of used oil - the maintenance shop has a used oil furnace.

Excellent! I'm going to the dealer Monday anyway to pick up an ordered part, so I'll take the oil with me. I'll post back whether they do or not.

 

[oosik]

WHOA!!! There anewuser - I'm speaking specifically of the Kubota dealer in Spokane, WA. You might want to give your local dealer a call first.

 

[sdef]

I imagine like a lot of people on TBN, I do not have garbage pickup service and take garbage and trash every 10 days or so to the county recycling center. They have containers for auto oil and cooking oil and I dump the hydraulic oil in the auto oil container. My local Auto Zone stores also have oil recycle containers.

 

[Coyote machine]

TSC takes it, in both my local VT and NY stores. NY wants you to fill out a paperwork sheet - 'cradle to grave' report first.
Lookup oil and waste recyclers in your area.

 

[anewuser]

WHOA!!! There anewuser - I'm speaking specifically of the Kubota dealer in Spokane, WA. You might want to give your local dealer a call first.

No problems, oosik! They took the used oil, no questions. I did have to dump it myself, but got 'er done...

 

[Liquidsilver]

I had 10 gallons, so I took it to the county recycling center. Not two words were spoken. I just didn't want rolling eyes or a hassle at the WalMart.

 

[Kioti Paul]

I take mine to Walmart (3 different ones in my area), they have always taken it cheerfully, and even returned my buckets. (I save 5 gallon buckets)

 

[Elviscaretaker]

I imagine like a lot of people on TBN, I do not have garbage pickup service and take garbage and trash every 10 days or so to the county recycling center. They have containers for auto oil and cooking oil and I dump the hydraulic oil in the auto oil container. My local Auto Zone stores also have oil recycle containers.

In Washington the county dumps also take most fluids. The auto parts store do too but most of the time your limited to 5 gallons a visit. Our dumps allow 10 gallons. But, if they are not looking....

 

[goeduck]

In Washington the county dumps also take most fluids. The auto parts store do too but most of the time your limited to 5 gallons a visit. Our dumps allow 10 gallons. But, if they are not looking....

Yep, that is what I do. The transfer station I go to has an attendant watch you dump it if they are not busy.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I guess I am an oddball. I take it to my fire pit when I light a fire and I just keep pouring it over the fire until the hydraulic fluid and engine oil is all burned up. I don't have to haul it or store it, and it makes a GREAT fire starter if mixed with about 10% gasoline. I call this cradle to grave....LOL. We took it from the earth, I gave it back. I also used to pour it along my driveway to try and slow down the weeds, but it's not effective at that job. I found that telling the local tree guys that they can dump the mulched up trees here works well. I typically have 2-3 feet of mulch on the bank below my 250 foot driveway. That does a far better of keeping down growth. Maybe I should start oiling that mulch as a 1-2 punch?

 

[wawajake]

I use it as chainsaw bar oil............or burn it in my woodstove (used oil burn procedure I found works safely and I get the winter heat.)

 

[nyone]

I burn my old oil of all types. I built a drip system in my shop wood stove. I even take friends used oil. Autozone gets the water,antifreeze and unknown blend back in oil containers.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Yep, that is what I do. The transfer station I go to has an attendant watch you dump it if they are not busy.

In reality, the ones here are to lazy too watch and they much prefer their coffee

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Bar oil, that's a great idea.

 

[100 td]

Bar oil, that's a great idea.

If you have a Stihl or other with adjustable oil pump, turn your oil pump up to maximum, hydraulic/engine oil has no tackifier in it so it doesn't hang on like bar oil. I drop last bits of containers of diff oil, used hydraulic fluid, engine oil, all in one container and mix with some bar oil if I have it, then just keep adding to the mix. Yes the mix has little or no tackifier left, so I run my pump at max!