RE: Missed Oil Change Step?

[Rocky_imp]

For years, I have been using a plain round plastic pan to drain oil into. It does the job, but holding the pan with a gallon of sloshing oil in it while trying to pour it into a disposable container was not always easy, or mess free. Then there was the clean up of the pan after that oil transfer. Consequently I had been looking for a specialized self contained oil change container/pan with a pour spout to drain the oil from my bike.

I found just such a container on EBay, auction number 162121090925, on close out by Pep Boys for $10.69 shipped! The original MSRP was $30. I found the same container on Amazon for $11.90 shipped, https://www.amazon.com/Scepter-Oil-Conta...merReviews . The dimensions of the container are 11.6 long x 11.8 wide x 5.1 inches in height, and it holds 7 quarts.

The large opening that the draining oil flows into has a plastic grid to catch the drain bolt and crush washer, and has a screw on plastic cap for when not in use. There is also a second screw on cap for the pour spout for transferring used oil into a disposable container.

The predominant complaints from reviews on Amazon were for stripped cap threads from over tightening, and leakage from the caps during transport to a re cycling center, or caps leaking from storage of the old oil before going to the re cycling center. As soon as an oil change is done, I always transfer old oil from my drain pan, with a plastic funnel, into an empty plastic gallon milk jug or similar. Some folks use the empty quart bottles from the new oil. The end result is just a clean up of a plastic funnel, as there is no need or way to clean the inside of the drain pan/container. None of the container/pans of this type were recommended in the reviews for transport to recycle, and all the reviews for this type of container/pan indicated oil seepage from the caps if oil was stored in it for any length of time. Provided the container/pan is kept horizontal ( some descriptions suggested the containers could be stood on end vertically with oil inside ), the caps are not over tightened, and old oil is transferred into a disposable container before calling it a day, then no problems should be expected.

On the upside, this is a bargain priced container/pan that is of a size that will easily work with our bikes, with the plus of catching the drain bolt and crush washer with the plastic grid. Read the reviews on Amazon and decided if it is the right tool for you.

I too am a little fed up with the open pan I've been using for years. You and Nortoon have given me a great idea for the future.
Thanks to both of your for your posts