Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Oil Drain Pan Review

[cn90]

OK,

I have to admit this is not my favorite topic: reviewing oil drain pan.
If you change your oil using vacuum pump in your tuxedo, no need to read further.

Anyway, my 10-year-old 8-quart el cheapo plastic oil pan just cracked at the bottom, creating a mess on my driveway. I was draining hot oil (oil temp maybe around 80C or so), so the hot oil was probably the last straw for the old pan.
My suggestion is: avoid draining hot oil. Wait about 1h after a drive for the oil to cool down, maybe 50C (warm to touch), then it is better.

Searching the web, many people are unhappy with Flotool thin plastic that breaks in 1 week! Blitz (see photo) has leak at the cap.
So I searched a bit further and found people are happy with Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Oil Drain Pan!!!
Stopped by HF, it was on sales for $5.99 (regular $9.48).

1. The Blitz, if you want to use it, my suggestion is to buy a radiator hose elbow with I.D. 35mm (1-3/8 inch). Advance Auto has it for $8. Put it on, zip tie it and set it up as a "snorkel".

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2. The HF Plastic Oil Pan is actually very nice. The thickness is 3mm (unheard of these days!).
Made in Taiwan. There is a shelf for oil filter (Yes, I love this feature).

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3. One-gallon test and two-gallon test to show you the levels:

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4. Surprise: the bottom has 6 re-enforcing ribs! Nice design:

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5. Price is cheap. Overall, very very happy (not easy to make me happy...lol...):

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[erikv11]

Love the topic.

My drain pain is made by Rubbermaid, has a big threaded top for the pan area, shelf, ribs, capped spout pointing up, all the bells and whistles. I bought it literally 30 years ago paid a lot at the time (maybe $15?) but it is still going strong!!!

Here ya go, found a picture of it here http://forums.quattroworld.com/s4s6/msgs/303170.phtml

[abscate]

I've got the same one as Erik. Rubber made is not the brand it was, thanks to Walmart.

Don't forget your 20 % off coupon at HF, too

[dosbricks]

Hmm....maybe Santa will gift me one of those HFs. I'll clip a 20% off coupon to my wish list. Before this thread, I didn't realize how badly I need that filter drain shelf.

For years I've used a steel water heater catch pan which doesn't flex, but can be a bit dicey carrying with six quarts of hot oil and pouring through a squirrely funnel into a jug (insert image: self-inflicted dope slap).

[cn90]

Update,

This pan is amazing, much better than many pans you see at local auto parts store.
This pan is THICK, you have to be very strong to fold it in half (I can't, but maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger can!).
The other pans at local auto parts store: they are flimsy, sometimes folding in 1/2 when dealing with hot oil!

- Pouring: go slow and the spout design won't disappoint you, not a single drip leaking!

- Transport oil to recycling places (auto parts stores, or my local oil change place): in order to avoid an Exxon Valdez disaster in the car:
1. I poured old oil into empty milk jug containers. Make sure the lid is tight.
2. I cleaned this Pierburgh pan and place the old oil jugs in the pan. Then packed with some cardboard to stabilize the jugs.
You might want to place them inside a black garbage bag.
3. Drive slowly, around 30 mph max, avoid hard braking or hard cornering.
Avoid running errands, just drop the oil at the recycling place ASAP, this way you can drive faster...lol.

[98v70dad]

Nice review. Thanks. I'm now needing one of those. I usually buy oil in 5 quart bottles and then use the empty bottle to put the old oil in. Jugs that windshield washer solution comes in work really well too. I fear the milk jug,

I just took about 15 gallons of oil to the recycle place yesterday. I rolled in with 15 jugs and the guys only conment was, DUDE!

[bmdubya1198]

Nice, I might have to buy one of these. That shelf is pretty fancy! Never would have thought of it.
I have that Blitz one, and the cap is annoying. It's attached and gets in the way every time I pour out the oil into a jug.

[98v70dad]

Just picked one up and I got the last one at my store! Thanks for the tip.

[dosbricks]

Got one--$5.19 tax included with a 20% off coupon.

[abscate]

Old pizza boxes make great protection mats for the driveway, you can protect the car trunk too, and then still recycle when you get home! You replace the box by ordering pizza after the oil change , too.

My recycle place is 2 minutes from house, so I just cap them and drive slow.

You don't have to rinse the drain pan when done, it's just going to get more oil in it...and with 5 cars in the fleet, not very long wait