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Bulk fluids- who buys like this, and why?

dhcomp

dhcomp

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First, I don’t want to get into an oil brand discussion. Let’s save that for another post.

my question is who buys fluids in bulk (greater than a gallon container), and if you have found benefit in doing so.

I started thinking about this after getting frustrated with the quart gear lube pumps for filling a mercruiser I/o drove on the boat. The upgrade to the pump situation was to buy 5 gal bucket and use a 5 gal pump. Worked killer, Will go through the bucket in 3-4 years. Not worried about fluid degrading in that time with my
Low humidity.
But, this search for 5 gal fluids got me thinking. Would buying 5 gal of a better oil ( maybe amsoil) be more cost effective than gallons from Walmart? Could I avoid some plastic gallon container waste, put old oil in a 5 gal, and not take 50 gallon containers to the dump every year?

This makes even more sense when you can switch 2-3 vehicles to the same oil. I already have 2 motors running 15w40 (diesel and ski boat), and May be able to switch a 3rd to the same.

The other challenge with the 5 gal pumps is how to meter what you put in. Those that do, do you have a meter on the pump like a lube shop, or do you measure in quart/gallon bottles, or what?

thanks guys!
 
I do gear oil in 5 gallon buckets and buy my filters in cases. I buy oil in 1 gallon for measuring and ease of transport but I buy it several cases at a time. It saves a little money but it saves me the hassle of going and getting it and somehow making an oil change last all morning. I can do a change in 20 minutes when the oil is cold when I feel like it. Then I can go recycle the oil when I'm running errands for the day. It's logistics for me.
 
obijuank5 said:
I do gear oil in 5 gallon buckets and buy my filters in cases. I buy oil in 1 gallon for measuring and ease of transport but I buy it several cases at a time. It saves a little money but it saves me the hassle of going and getting it and somehow making an oil change last all morning. I can do a change in 20 minutes when the oil is cold when I feel like it. Then I can go recycle the oil when I'm running errands for the day. It's logistics for me.
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Didn’t think about filters. I agree, order filters by the box for any vehicle I plan to keep around. And pickup fluids all at once.

Just curious if going to bigger sizes is beneficial.
 
The local Sams club carries cases of Rotella. Some times it's 6/gallons jugs, other times is 2/2.5gallons. I buy that for my Duramax and two other vehicles. For the others in my fleet, I buy 5 gallon boxes from Napa. Basically a bag in a box with a spout. Keep a 1 gallon jug around to measure with. Coolant and ATF also come this way. My local Napa is good in that they know what to order, but you may need to find a larger one that services repair shops/heavy equipment. Gear oil I get in 5 gallon buckets.

Used oil goes into a bulk 55 gallon drum. Motor, trans, gear all gets mixed. I try not to put coolant in there (have a separate drain pan for that). When the drum is full, I call a friend who works at a shop that burns waste oil. Transfer pump it to a drum on his truck and I'm good for another couple months.
 
dhcomp said:
First, I don’t want to get into an oil brand discussion. Let’s save that for another post.

my question is who buys fluids in bulk (greater than a gallon container), and if you have found benefit in doing so.

I started thinking about this after getting frustrated with the quart gear lube pumps for filling a mercruiser I/o drove on the boat. The upgrade to the pump situation was to buy 5 gal bucket and use a 5 gal pump. Worked killer, Will go through the bucket in 3-4 years. Not worried about fluid degrading in that time with my
Low humidity.
But, this search for 5 gal fluids got me thinking. Would buying 5 gal of a better oil ( maybe amsoil) be more cost effective than gallons from Walmart? Could I avoid some plastic gallon container waste, put old oil in a 5 gal, and not take 50 gallon containers to the dump every year?

This makes even more sense when you can switch 2-3 vehicles to the same oil. I already have 2 motors running 15w40 (diesel and ski boat), and May be able to switch a 3rd to the same.

The other challenge with the 5 gal pumps is how to meter what you put in. Those that do, do you have a meter on the pump like a lube shop, or do you measure in quart/gallon bottles, or what?

thanks guys!
Click to expand...
I have a big rig so I use 11 gallons per oil change so 5 gallon Bucket is all I use and I was starting to research 55 gallon drums.
It is cheaper in bigger containers but even cheaper when you go with a container and fill up in bulk.
I have a local place I do that with.
As for metering if you don't want to spend a fortune, container is the cheapest way
 
5 gal buckets and up for the win on price point .

save a few 1 gal tubs to carry extra with you on trips .

5 gal bucket when empty take a 1/2" drill bit go 180* from pour spout and pop a hole in the lid . then use a coat hanger metal one or tig wire . next use a reg rubber pull threw tire valve steam and pull the core out and toss it . feed the steam on the wire and pop it in the 5 gal bucket lid like its in a rim . cap off with a d.o.t style metal sealing cap . now you have a easy drain less splash & gurgle used oil bucket .

i also have 5 gal buckets for scrap metal sorting in the shop works great this way .
 
I often buy the 2 gallon jugs of diesel oil at Walmart or Tractor Supply ,it's cheaper that way and less used jugs to get rid of later on..
I usually either give the used oil to someone with a waste oil burner,or dispose of it in my wood stove a cup full at a time..

Some places have good deals on 5 gallon pails of Rotella T or other brands of 15W-40,a parts store I used to work at that has a semi truck parts counter often has 5 gallon pails of oil for about $40...
Dexron is not cheap anywhere,the lowest price per quart I've found is at a dollar general store,$3 a quart for some unknown brand,and Walmart has gallons of it for about $14...
Gear oil isn't cheap any more either,at $7 a quart,if you buy bigger quantity you can get a better deal,but then you'll have to transfer it to a 1 qt squeeze bottle to get it in your diffs ,and you end up spilling
some every time..

I have yet to change the gear oil in my pickup's front & rear diff,and it may even be the original oil from 1982..I have kept them topped off,and it doesn't "look" contaminated,but it has been in there so long I assume it is...to buy enough to change it will cost over $25,I may as well buy a 5 gallon pail for $45 ..
 
TSC (Tractor Supply) sells engine oil, trans fluid, and gear oil in 5 gallon pails. They go on sale. Last I recall a sale, it was under $2/quart for engine oil. That was significantly cheaper than I've seen 1qt bottles in quite some time. Definite savings, I just can't go through that much oil in a timely manner. I've been buying it in the 4 or 5 qt bottles as I see those on really good sale, and stockpiling them. I have definitely found the larger the container, the cheaper the per qt cost.

You said the discussion wasn't about brand, just giving you another place to look.

You can get 55 gallon drums too, but those don't seem to be much, if any, cheaper per qt than the 5 gallon pails on sale.

Since you can dump 5 gallons at a time at the local auto parts stores (no idea what your state is like) those 5 gallon pails are indeed handy for waste oil too.
 
I buy rotella t 15/40 and Delo 15/40 in 55 gallon drums saves me about 60% vs gallon bottles .

I use a lot of gear oil so I buy that in 5-gallon buckets usually 6 at a time .

Filters by the case

Antifreeze I get by the drum as well, straight concentrate . Then I mix with distilled water 60/40
 
ktmoutfront said:
I dont know why, I thought this was going to be about kegs and kegerators.
Click to expand...

happy to have that discussion too! I spend the same buying in 1/6 barrel kegs, but get to stock up on hard to get beer. Win win. Doesn’t hurt to have friends with really good breweries or tap houses!
 
Cheaper in bulk for me usually. Plus if somehow the oil sat around long enough to not use it in the vehicle I'll just mix it in with the waste oil filtration setup and use it for diesel fuel.
 
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