Vehicle Fluid Recycling

[gungriffin]

I am starting down the path of personal maintenance to my vehicles. I am unclear on a few things and I am hoping to find some answers as to best practices.

Can I combine all oils together for recycling? At this point I have diff (75-90), motor (0-30) and shock oil (5 weight). It would be so much easier if I could just combine them, but I don't want to hinder the recycling process when I turn the oils in. It seems like most auto parts stores will accept oil for recycling.

The other used fluids that I am soon to have and need to recycle are brake fluid (DOT 3 probably) and antifreeze. Where are people taking brake fluid and antifreeze? I am having trouble finding a place that offers antifreeze recycling.

Just to confirm one more question: Brake fluid, anti-freeze and oil need to be kept separate for recycling correct?

If anyone has any resources that are helpful with this topic, I would appreciate it if the could post it here of PM me.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Motor, gear, power steering and transmission oil are usually fine to mix together. I usually take mine to Autozone or similar although my county hazardous waste will take it. Not completely sure what they do with it but I've heard reprocess it or burn it in things like tourist trains.

Anti-freeze and brake fluid should never be mixed in with that oil. As I understand it that will contaminate the tank and they can't recycle it. I take mine to the county hazardous waste disposal where I think they incinerate it.

Correct, you should not mix oil, anti-freeze and brake fluid.

 

[gungriffin]

Motor, gear, power steering and transmission oil are usually fine to mix together. I usually take mine to Autozone or similar although my county hazardous waste will take it. Not completely sure what they do with it but I've heard reprocess it or burn it in things like tourist trains.

Anti-freeze and brake fluid should never be mixed in with that oil. As I understand it that will contaminate the tank and they can't recycle it. I take mine to the county hazardous waste disposal where I think they incinerate it.

Correct, you should not mix oil, anti-freeze and brake fluid.

Copy that and thanks for the help. Where is the hazardous waste disposal facility that you drop off at? On the Denver website I see them talking about being able to schedule a pickup, but not a facility that I can take it to.

 

[IoN6]

If you are in Jefferson county there is a place called Rooney Road Recycling that will take anti-freeze. Not sure about brake fluid...

 

[DaveInDenver]

Copy that and thanks for the help. Where is the hazardous waste disposal facility that you drop off at? On the Denver website I see them talking about being able to schedule a pickup, but not a facility that I can take it to.

I don't know about Denver. Haven't lived there since 2012. Back in Larimer and now here in Mesa they are at the county landfill. There may be a restriction requiring you to be a resident. My memory with Denver was you scheduled it, they dropped off bags and collected it later.

 

[RayRay27]

The city of Thornton will take it free of charge if you're a resident.

 

[fjc man]

Take your fluids ( other than brake fluid? ) to a dealer or a Jiffy Lube, or a repair garage. They all recycle their fluids.

 

[Inukshuk]

Antifreze - check your municipality:

Preparing products found in your garage for disposal | Department of Public Health & Environment

On this page: Antifreeze | Ignitable liquids | Motor oil and filters | Pesticides | Solvent- or stain-contaminated rags

www.colorado.gov

Recycle

Denver's weekly single stream recycling collection. Learn more about what we accept by searching the Recycling Directory. Visit our Free Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off.

www.denvergov.org

Brake fluid - check your municipality:

Recycle

Denver's weekly single stream recycling collection. Learn more about what we accept by searching the Recycling Directory. Visit our Free Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off.

www.denvergov.org

 

[gungriffin]

Antifreze - check your municipality:

Preparing products found in your garage for disposal | Department of Public Health & Environment

On this page: Antifreeze | Ignitable liquids | Motor oil and filters | Pesticides | Solvent- or stain-contaminated rags

www.colorado.gov

Recycle

Denver's weekly single stream recycling collection. Learn more about what we accept by searching the Recycling Directory. Visit our Free Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off.

www.denvergov.org

Brake fluid - check your municipality:

Recycle

Denver's weekly single stream recycling collection. Learn more about what we accept by searching the Recycling Directory. Visit our Free Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off.

www.denvergov.org

I was NOT expecting that Colorado.gov would recommend just flushing the antifreeze down the drain! I guess that it dilutes enough that the water treatment plant can deal with it.

Thanks for posting this up. I thought there would be more places to recycle these items, but it looks like I will just use the pickup method when I get enough around. $15 isn't bad once every year or two to support recycling these items.

 

[gungriffin]

I don't know about Denver. Haven't lived there since 2012. Back in Larimer and now here in Mesa they are at the county landfill. There may be a restriction requiring you to be a resident. My memory with Denver was you scheduled it, they dropped off bags and collected it later.

I always forget that you are DaveInGrandJunction now!

 

[AlpineAccess]

I take mine to where I bought my oil usually. Lately the drums have been full due to the pump truck guys not coming as often due to covid (Told this at my local advance).

As alternatives, as @DaveInDenver said you can go to the land fill. Also your city recycle center. Both Loveland and Fort Collins have free recycling center drop offs with individual drums for each fluid type, including antifreeze.

 

[Workinonit]

Since we are on the topic. What about old gas? I have 5 gallons that have been just sitting my garage for several years now. No idea where to take it.

 

[DaveInDenver]

They take gasoline at our hazardous waste center (again Mesa County) but I don't know if that's common or unusual.

 

[gungriffin]

Since we are on the topic. What about old gas? I have 5 gallons that have been just sitting my garage for several years now. No idea where to take it.

It sounds like in Denver the primary option is to schedule a pickup. It is a flat $15 fee no matter the amount. To cut down on the fee, it might make sense to coordinate with neighbors/friends and then just split it.

Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste collection service, free paint recycling, appliance collection, electronics recycling.

www.denvergov.org

 

[DaveInDenver]

@Workinonit - curious about your gasoline. Is it varnished or contaminated?

If you're not comfortable with it in your truck or lawn mower bring it to a meeting and while everyone's inside just dump it in a 40. If it causes carb problems no one will think twice since it's just expected.

 

[Workinonit]

@Workinonit - curious about your gasoline. Is it varnished or contaminated?

If you're not comfortable with it in your truck or lawn mower bring it to a meeting and while everyone's inside just dump it in a 40. If it causes carb problems no one will think twice since it's just expected.

Its just old.... so the same as a 40...

 

[Workinonit]

It sounds like in Denver the primary option is to schedule a pickup. It is a flat $15 fee no matter the amount. To cut down on the fee, it might make sense to coordinate with neighbors/friends and then just split it.

Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste collection service, free paint recycling, appliance collection, electronics recycling.

www.denvergov.org

Not sure if there is a fee but found this place. Thanks for the suggestions! FYI - they take antifreeze and everything on your original list for this post.

Acceptable Materials | Rooney Road Recycling Center & 3RC Foundation

 

[DaveInDenver]

Its just old.... so the same as a 40...

I'm not sure a 2F wouldn't run better on stale gas if all the ethanol has evaporated. Just as long as the filter doesn't clog up from the varnish anyway.

 

[kurtnkegger]

this is from a previous thread.

https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/posts/302715

 

[gungriffin]

I needed to get rid of the "bookmark" word in the link.

I guess I need a new radiator

Wife called today, said her car was overheating, AC wouldn't turn on. :eek: So she let it cool down, found the cap, was able to dump a water bottle in and drove home, all seems fine. Tonight I top it off with another couple cups of water, and discover we've got pink stalagtites running down...

risingsun4x4club.org

I guess that they have mechanisms in place to remove the antifreeze at some point in the process. Interesting fact of the day for me!