Fluids disposal questions Topic is solved

Post by **volvolugnut** » 09 Jun 2020, 09:07

Questions for anyone who does their own maintenance.
1. Where do you dispose of used oil? Don't even tell us if you dump in a ditch.
2. Where do you dispose of other used automotive fluids (antifreeze, brake fluid, blinker fluids)?

volvolugnut

Post by **amblerman** » 09 Jun 2020, 09:13

Used oil: bring it to auto parts stores that accept used oil. I also drop off my used filters so they can be crushed.

Other fluids: Store them until our county has a "household hazardous waste disposal" event. Who knows when that will happen again with COVID.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Jun 2020, 03:44

Antifreeze can do Down the drain in most municipalities, keep away from pets,...deadly.

Brake fluid, I seal container and trash it.

Used oil?

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 13 Jun 2020, 00:57

Motor Oil, Brake Fluid, Power Steering Fluid and Transmission Fluid are all oils. You can dispose of it at any Auto parts store or any place that does oil changes including Walmart.

Windshield Washer Fluid and Antifreeze can be dumped down the drain, use the Toilet not a Sink where it may come in contact with food or drink. The waste water processing can deal with it. Do not dump it down the Storm Drain, it will not get processed.

Blinker Fluid should be recovered and stored in a bank vault.

Post by **Sveedy** » 13 Jun 2020, 10:05

Call me old fashion but I don't believe that any of that sort of stuff should be dumped down drains or tossed in the trash. Wait for or find a hazardous disposal drop off. Granted I live off well water and have my own septic system as well, so I feel very connected to what goes into the ground and what I take back out.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 15 Mar 2021, 00:39

I'm having a difficult time disposing of contaminated fluids. I have a couple gallons of antifreeze that got a good amount of transmission fluid mixed when doing a radiator job. Everywhere I call days they only take fluids that have not been contaminated. I've called mechanics, auto parts stores, the local hazardous waste place. That earth911 website is not helpful. A household pickup service is avaliable for my area but the also say "original containers" and "non mixed" fluids. Where am I suppose to dump this stuff properly? Currently living in Texas on the Eastside of dallas

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 15 Mar 2021, 03:48

ZionXIX wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 00:39 Where am I suppose to dump this stuff properly?

Separate it first.
1. Pour the mix in s 5 gallon bucket and let it sit for weeks with the lid on. ( Water being heavier will sink to the bottom ).
2. Place a shim under one side of the bucket.
3. On the other side of the bucket, poke a hole near the bottom of the bucket.
4. Drain until oil starts to come out.
5. Switch pans.
6. Dump the Antifreeze down the toilet.
7. Discard the oil at a oil disposal center or if it still contaminated ... burn it.

You can skim off the little bit of oil on the top of the antifreeze with a rag.

If you in a hurry you can build a Centrifuge to separate it.
Just tie a rope to the handle of the bucket and swing it around and around.

Post by **BlackBart** » 15 Mar 2021, 12:08

Like others, I have always taken mine to an auto parts store that takes oils.
Our garbage company will take one gallon of oil per week in a sealed translucent milk container. The regular truck takes it when they empty your cans. I think they sell it to an industrial oil recycler. They dropped one recently however and caused a Valdez in my alley.

When I was a kid, we had a dirt alley with several driveways and garages in the back. All the old guys would dump their oil on the ground to "keep the dust down." You still see that on rural gravel roads. Kind of amazed they still do that.

Our sewer goes to a treatment plant and then right back into the river downstream, so I'm skeptical about pouring things down the drain.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 15 Mar 2021, 18:17

BlackBart wrote: ↑15 Mar 2021, 12:08 Our sewer goes to a treatment plant and then right back into the river downstream, so I'm skeptical about pouring things down the drain.

Antifreeze can be recycled but it needs to be free of other fluids. I spent some time with the owner of a Antifreeze Recycler in Maine. He was pretty proud of his process. Telling me about all the things he could do so far. He gets the used Antifreeze from commercial sources to avoid contamination. Because of the contamination issue there are not many places that collect Antifreeze from the public.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 15 Mar 2021, 20:41

Interesting. A lot of places (auto stores) won’t accept antifreeze, however the local recycling center does. Believe it or not, they accept it in the same drum as oil. I combine everything for that reason.
If I had to wait to dump one gallon at a time or couldn’t get rid of it, I’d never be able to get rid of all my oil. I take all my fluids to the dump probably once a month, and I always have at least 10 gallons.