I finally decided to change my engine oil myself, just for the heck of it, so right now I'm stuck with 4+ quarts of used oil waiting to be spilled on my garage floor.

I know many of you guys change your own oil, but how do you actually get rid of it?

Thanks in advance!

 

AutoZone and Advance Auto-Checker-Kragen-Shucks take it and dump it in a barrel in the back of store.

 

Most auto parts places and even some gas stations will let you dump your oil there.

 

Thanks guys, I'll try AutoZone tomorrow.

 

Just for other reference, if no auto store, local dump in a Milk Carton

 

Dumb question but does it cost anything to dump the oil?

 

NJ Law is: Any shop/place/autoparts stor that has an oil tank, HAS to take the oil. Even if their tank is full, they need to take the containers of the oil, at no charge. Its a NJ State Law.

I'm not sure what the other state laws are.

-matt

 

My county has a dump station strictly for used motor oil. I just got rid of 7 gallons of the stuff a week ago. (It was about 10 miles away from any place I normally drive in town, so don't go there very often.)

The local commericial recycling centers did not want the oil, but knew that the county would take it. You might call your county or the commercial centers for info about where in your area.

 

Yeah most states require that auto parts stores, auto shops, gas stations with bays take used motor oil. I always save my tide detergent bottles and dump the oil in there. (don't trust the milk cartons after a disturbing accident). Once the tide container is full, put it in a cardboard box into the trunk and off to the pep boys.

 

is this just for oil.. or all fluids in general? for examply, i need to flush the p/s fluid in our maxima, where can i dump that?

 

As long as you have no cats, right in the flower bed

-matt

 

hmm, my neighbors cats annoy the hell out of me, if we wever leave a car outside overnight, sure enough there will be cat paw prints all over the damn thing.

 

Some of the stores even give you store credit for dumping oils. But most store will dump it for you for free.

 

My city has a drop off area at the Service garage (the place where they keep the snow plows and other city vehicles) for used oil, coolant, and other fluids.

All the Autozones around me don't take it.

 

NY if you sell it you take it, if not call the DEC and report them, they have to by law

 

look on your town's website. their usually a maintenance location where they keep snow plowing / garbage equipment. that's usually the place where you drop off oil.

tip: use kitty litter if you spill oil. works great! don't use too much.

 

yeah that's what I was trying to get at.

 

Ive taken oil to checker, autozone, partplus and Macdonalds... jk about the Big Mac

 

Oil down the sewer drain and coolant (like said earlier) in the mulch! LOL!

 

http://www.earth911.org/master.asp

that should help

 

Thanks again guys!

 

I went to drop off about 10qt of used oil at Pepboys, but one of the mexican mechanic there said "hey mang, next time just flush it down the toilet, save you mucho time and hassle." Was he for real? has anybody flush used oil down the toilet???

 

no way in he**

 

LoL... Gives Him Less Work To Do... Not Recommended...

 

Yeah the oil will deteriorate a thin contaner like a milk carton, i have had a milk contaner leak a gallon of oil out after storing it for 2 weeks. make sure you use something thicker if you are storing it for a while.

 

Tide container

-matt

 

oreilly's


The end.

 

Pep Boys takes mine all the time no charge!

 

for oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid (transmission fluid in a Nissan), you can dump it all in the oil container.
brake fluid and antifreeze are water soluble and your city sewer treatment system can process the chemicals in them. it IS safe to flush antifreeze and brake fluid down your drain. that doesn't mean pour it in the storm drain, that means flush it down the toilet.

flushing oil-based products down the drain is not only hazardous but it's illegal. used oils have to be contained and taken to a collection center- parts store, lube place, waste disposal joint, whatever. see above for those locations.

 

don't toilets just empty into the sewers anyway? ....

*edit: question is more complicated than I thought..

 

You shouldn't be dumping antifreeze down your toilet or the storm drain. In certain places it's actually illegal. Antifreeze is a poisonous fluid and will be even worse after cycling through a car. It can cause kidney failure as well as kill animals and young children that are in or around the sewers and waterways. In some cases storm drains empty out in nearby waterways. Have fun killing wildlife. Brake fluid is also flammable and poisonous. Also, it could possibly damage your houses drainage system just like the damage that people talk about when using the incorrect antifreeze for their car.

Just take your antifreeze, brake fluid, oil to a local shop to have it properly disposed of.

 

There's 2 separate sewers. Storm sewers and sanitary sewers. The toilets empty into the sanitary sewers and sinks drain to the storm sewers.

 

I've been gone a while and not able to reply.

Most cities have what are known as sanitary sewers (for the toilet flushes) and separate storm sewers (for the rain run-off). In a few cities they dump the storm water into the sanitary sewer.

I have not heard about dumping anti-freeze in the sanitary sewers (but that does not mean that it is not appropriate). Would like some clarification on this practice. I thought that most auto stores also took your used anti-freeze ? ?

 

I really hope you guys are joking about dumping that shat down the toilet, sink or sewers...thats just plan laziness & irresponsible.

 

local dumps do it for you or at least they do here in Virginia.