5 gal oil container leaks

[Walter P]

Something unexpected happened recently with a couple of 5 gal containers of engine oil that I feel should be shared with my fellow HOFers. Some time ago (probably 6 weeks or so), I took 6 pails of new motor oil from my storage container to the boat in order to do an oil change prior to winter layup. I placed them on the boat and by the time I got around to using them it had rained several times. Last week I finally got around to changing the oil and in the process I noticed that there was some fresh motor oil on top of a couple of the unopened, sealed drums. How did it get there? After some thought it occured to me that since there had been rain water on top of the drums recently where now there was fresh oil, it struck me that the seal must be a leaker and some rain water got into the oil and water being heavier than oil, it sunk to the bottom and thereby displaced some oil causing it to rise up past the seal to the top of the lid.

I decided to remove the lid carefully and check out the contents prior to pumping it into my engines. I carefully transferred about 80% of the oil into a clean drum with a small pump. That allowed me to examine the lower 20% and sure enough there was some water laying down at the bottom..

My reason for this post is to let everyone know that this situation exists and while a couple of ounces of water may not be much to worry about (I don't really know for sure), I certainly don't want it in my engines.

Conclusions: Be careful where you store your "sealed" drums of oil and if you see any oil resting on top of the lid of a sealed container, remove the lid before using the product.

I welcome any comments and/or recommendations.....

Walter P
GUPPY, 1982 48' Series I MY

 

[bobk]

Walt, How long was the oil in storage? Did you open the pour spout to see if the neck was damaged or if the seal was broken? IF the crack was in the flex spout, it could be due to repeated heating and cooling of the bucket. Why don't you send me down a few buckets and I'll check them out for you.

BTW, my spare plastic jugs of distilled water will always crack in the ER because of expansion/contraction. To avoid this, I put an 'X' slice in the caps to allow the expanded/contracted air to breath with out stressing jug.

Bobk

 

[Walter P]

Hi Bob,

Good questions..... I estimate that the oil drums have been in storage in my steel shipping containers for at least 2 years. Temps are all over the place inside them. Winter of course is typical NJ.. cold. Summers in the sun have recorded over 120 deg F inside the containers. It may not be a great idea to buy so much at a time especially now that I no longer make long cruises. Typically I would buy between 100 and 200 gals at a time and it would last me quite a while. Normally I would change oil twice each year. The quantity price savings are probably not worth it any more.

I will check the pouring spouts for cracks and report....
Thanks

Walt