Motor oil is commonly considered a waste material, but it may become something of value to people trying to put their lives back together in a post-crisis world. People will try to scavenge whatever may be of use, and it’s understandable since it will take some time for mechanization to re-emerge with new products.
You’ll also have to deal with what you have, so learn to speak multipurpose, and don’t skip motor oil from this equation. So here’s how to reuse motor oil regardless of whether there is a major crisis to deal with or not.
Where to Find Used Motor Oil
Right now, used motor oil is more of a nuisance than something else you might consider valuable in the post crisis world.
For the most part, mechanic shops and recycling facilities will be the first places to go for used motor oil, but you should also consider:
- Abandoned cars – any car that has been abandoned may still have motor oil in the bottom pan. While you are scavenging, don’t forget to look for other things that may be of value such as wire, springs, and anything else that can be reused.
- Abandoned home garages – even though many people take their car to a shop for basic maintenance, just about everyone has a quart or two of used motor oil hanging around in the garage.
- Junk yards – no matter whether the junk yard caters to cars or other kinds of abandoned equipment, you are likely to find motor oil in many different places. As with any other abandoned car, you are sure to find any number of useful items once you start looking around.
- Trash piles, back yards, or rubbish storage sites – aside from looking for used motor oil stored in containers, be on the lookout for oil filters that appear to be intact. If the filter does not have a hole punched through the top of the dome, there is a good chance that some motor oil can be found inside the filter. To release, the oil, simply punch a hole in the top of the filter, and let the oil escape from the bottom into a clean container.
Read This BEFORE Reusing Motor Oil
While used motor oil is a common part of daily life, that does not mean it can be handled without precautions, and here are a few of them.
- At a minimum, wear latex or rubber gloves. Aside from tiny bits of metal, reused motor oil also contains all kinds of chemicals that can cause rashes, dizziness, nausea, or other ailments if they get absorbed by your skin. It is best to use oil resistant gloves, or ones that are rated for use with a wide range of toxic chemicals.
- Oil resistant garments – any kind of spill can allow oil to get through your clothing and into contact with your skin. It does not matter if this contact occurs on your face, neck, hands, or other body parts. The toxins from the oil can still get past your skin and wreak havoc.
- Oil resistant shoes or boots – make sure that the soles are also oil resistant.
- If you don’t handle motor oil very often, it may not make much sense to wear a mask. On the other hand, if you are going to repurpose motor oil, then the amount of exposure might be enough to irritate or harm your lungs. Therefore, get a breathing mask or respirator that will filter out any harmful agents that might be found in the motor oil.
17 Uses to Keep in Mind
And finally, here’s how to use the motor oil instead of throwing it away.
1. Mix with Creosote to Weatherize Wood
Even though many people have used plain motor oil to preserve wood over the years, it is best to mix it with some creosote in order to avoid dry rot. You will also find that used motor oil can make a very slick surface.
While this may be ok for fence posts, it can pose problems for floors or other areas where you need some traction.
Video first seen on Anlex Garden Centre.
2. Protect Wood From Insects and Animals
When people think about protecting wood from the elements, they are usually most concerned with water and dampness. Insects and animals can also wreak havoc on wood and cause it to be destroyed very quickly.
In particular, if you have a homestead or farm with horses or other large animals, they might want to chew on wooden posts or other objects. Motor oil mixed into creosote will create a taste these animals do not like; and thus deter them from chewing on the wood.
3. Mix With Diesel to Make Penetrating Oil
If you are plagued by corroded or stuck bolts, screws, or other fasteners, then you may be well accustomed to using penetrating oil to try and loosen them up. While you may already have a few cans of good quality oil in your stockpile, the need for penetrating oil will never end as long as there are metal fasteners to contend with.
If you have some diesel and used motor oil, you can mix them together to make penetrating oil. Give this a try now to see how it works when compared to other formulas. Knowing when and how to use this replacement can help reduce the need to draw from your stockpile as well as enable you to innovate during an actual crisis.
4. Burn as Fuel
When you have nothing else for fuel, used motor oil can be burned to provide heat.
But used motor oil has many contaminants in it that can be toxic when burned and then released in the air. You will be better served by burning used motor oil outdoors.
Aside from reducing the smell of burning fumes in your home, tent, or other enclosure, you will also avoid deposits of toxins on the walls and ceilings.
5. Make a Torch
As plentiful as flashlights and batteries might be right now, that can all change faster than you realize. If you find yourself in a situation where you only have motor oil, some rags, and a wooden stick on hand, you can still make a torch that will produce light and heat.
Just remember to use the torch in a well ventilated area so that the fumes from it do not make you sick.
Video first seen on Jennies Garage.
6. Prevent Attackers from Scaling a Wall
There is no question that many people wind up thinking about high tech or “modern” solutions when it comes to protecting their home from invaders. On the other hand, sometimes the simplest and cheapest answers may be found in items such as used motor oil.
For example, if you want to keep attackers from scaling a fence, or even climbing up to the roof of your home, just pour used motor oil on the walls.
If you are fortunate enough to have stone walls far enough away from your home, you can also set the oil on fire and make the invaders even more uncomfortable.
7. Fireballs for a Siege Engine
It is fair to say if you have a few acres of land, eventually you will become a target for roaming gangs of thugs and others that will want to take what you have. When it comes to military grade fortifications or weapons to strike attackers, you may find it difficult or impossible to get useful systems for your property.
Siege engines, on the other hand, have been used successfully for centuries as attack and perimeter defense devices. You can do some research on siege engines construction plans and make your own with relatively few problems.
If you need to stave off attackers, you can simply lob fireballs fueled by used motor oil at the attackers and have a reasonable chance of stopping them in their tracks.
8. Kill Mange, Mites, and Fleas
If you have pets, then you have probably also encountered flea infestations. Chances are, you have also felt quite helpless when your pets developed allergies to modern flea medications, or worse yet, got very sick from them. Surprisingly enough, motor oil can be used to get rid of fleas, mites, and mange.
Just be sure to wash it off thoroughly and use with caution. Motor oil can be used both in a crisis and in these times if you have no other remedy available for these problems.
9. Keep Hand Tools Clean and Rust Free
Hand saws, drills, and many other hand tools require cleaning and oiling in order to keep them in the best possible condition. No matter how much lubricating oil you keep on hand, chances are your stock pile will run out long before your hand tools need to be discarded.
You can always try used motor oil to keep your tools free of dirt and rust.
10. Filter and Reuse as a Lubricant
Once motor oil is too dirty for use in an auto engine, there is no point to trying to filter it and reuse it for that purpose. There are still many other devices that build up less heat or have less stringent tolerances between parts that may still benefit from used motor oil as a lubricant.
Just be sure to filter out the oil so that you remove as much debris as possible.
When using discarded motor oil as a lubricant, it is also important to bear in mind that the oil itself may have broken down a good bit from heat generated by the engine.
Even if you filter the oil, it will not alleviate this problem.
You may need to change the oil more often, or pay more attention to device operation in order to avoid the kinds of damage that would normally be avoided by using oil as a lubricant.
11. Mix With Gas to Run Tractors
Unlike motor vehicles, older style tractors can run on a surprising number of different fuels without being damaged. In this case, you can stretch fuel reserves for your tractor by adding some motor oil. You may be well served by filtering out the oil so that stray bits of metal or other contaminants do not damage the tractor engine.
Since every tractor is a bit different, you should start off with small amounts of oil and then see how the engine performs. The last thing you will want to do is add too much oil and wind up with a seized engine.
12. Start a Fire
Rainy weather, damp wood, and other conditions require something a bit more than a match to ignite. A little bit of used motor oil can help you start and maintain a fire in just about any situation.
Video first seen on sixtyfiveford.
13. Kill Mosquitoes in Stagnant Water
The vast majority of preppers already suspect that insects such as mosquitoes will multiply beyond belief when a social collapse occurs. While these insects do play a role in nature, they still spread enormous amounts of disease and wreak havoc among humans.
You can use discarded motor oil to seal off stagnant water and kill off mosquito eggs before they have a chance to hatch. When using motor oil for this purpose, remember that even small amounts can contaminate large amounts of water and the ground that the water seeps into.
If you must use motor oil on stagnant water, make sure that the water is fully contained and cannot get into the ground or some other source of water.
Do not be surprised if you find that it is easier to simply dump out or drain stagnant pools of water as opposed to trying to treat them with used motor oil.
14. Use With Steel Wool to Remove Rust
If you are scavenging for all kinds of metal items, you’re also very likely to find that possible replacements for needed items have a good bit of rust on them.
Rather than discard these items on sight, you can use motor oil and steel wool to clean the items up a bit. Needless to say, if you have items in your stockpile with rust on them, you can also use this method to remove the rust and restore them to good order.
15. Soften or Clean Leather Boots
Unless you have a stockpile full of shoes and boots made from synthetic materials, it is likely that you will need to use leather conditioners to keep footwear in good condition. You will also wind up making shoes from leather that must also be kept clean and soft.
Using discarded motor oil for this purpose will work well enough now as well as in a crisis situation.
16. Temper Steel
It is fair to say that the art and science of forging metals into knives and other useful items can be very complex. If you study metallurgy carefully, however you will find that the tools and materials required are not especially difficult to build and maintain.
In this case, if you want to temper or harden steel, you can dip the item in used motor oil to cool or “quench” it from the red hot stage down to black.
17. Attract Wild Hogs
Individuals that believe they can live off the land after a social collapse occurs are apt to find they need to expand their list of edible plants and animals. In this case, you can draw wild hogs to you by leaving some used motor oil around. As may be expected, you should be well prepared to kill the hogs and remain safe while you are attempting to take them for food.
Used motor oil is one of those materials that you may believe is useless now, and probably serves no purpose in a crisis situation. If you look at the basic properties of used motor oil, you will soon realize that it can be effectively used for heat, home defense, and even keeping tools in good condition.
Rather than throw away this valuable resource, go ahead and store some away for future use, or make a list of places where you can obtain used motor oil in time of need. And keep these tips in mind, they might save you one day!
This article has been written by Carmela Tyrell for Survivopedia.
Lewis | January 2, 2017
|
Here in North Texas there are some weird microbes in the soil that seem to eat away at wooden fence posts — even the treated posts, and in 20 years, all of the post below ground disintegrates. So the old-time fence builders explain that their reliable solution is to slather on used motor oil to the 2 or 3 feet of post to go into the hole, and let it soak in for a couple of days. Then install in the posthole, and complete the job. You’ll get a lot more decades out of that post.
anonymous | January 3, 2017
|
Some people used to ‘scorch’ the outer layer of wood posts that contacted the ground for the same reason as above. This was only required on the top 8 – 12 inches of post because that is where the bacteria resides. Installing some rock at bottom of post hole also allows the liquid running down to go past the posts bottom.
Lee | June 10, 2023
|
Sounds like you got some very abundant fungi in the soil.. hmm.. wonder if its only so deep… thats a real pain… an for fences i prefer wood.. as well.. burning should work.. an… it would be a nightmare I assume to put cement in every whole… texas prolly a ton of fence line being laid lol… thats interesting tho.. in dry texas ground fungi is chewing them up.. not where i would expect that.
David Wells | January 2, 2017
|
Good article! Used as heating and wood preservation, is something our farms and ranches have always done, since we had the by- product. John Deere studies show that filtered waste oil could be used up to 20% of a diesel fuel mix.
Also, do not under-estimate highly efficient filtration systems. Used oil filtered through (unscented, un-dyed) toilet paper is amazing! Used today with engines forced to operate in extremely dirty environments.
Also, dust containment is quite effective. Most states have outlawed that application because of mis-use, but can be a healthy alternative.
zelmer | January 2, 2017
|
My dad used old motor oil on all the external chains on the combine during the harvest season using an old squeeze bottle.
Jim | January 2, 2017
|
Used motor oil has long been used as bar lubricant on chainsaws. I used it for
years for firewood and on the job. Worked the northwest timber thirty years
and never had a problem using used oil. Final note-one old time mechanic is
coming down with leukemia or other cancers. Correct! Use rubber gloves
when exposed to any petroleum product.
Farmer | January 2, 2017
|
I know you mean well by giving ideas on how to stretch resources in the event of a WROL event, but bear in mind that used motor oil can be nasty stuff. From environment.gov.au .. Motor oil picks up a variety of hazardous contaminants when used in engines and transmissions. These contaminants include lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, dioxins, benzene and polycyclic aromatics. If used motor oil and the contaminants it contains are disposed of inappropriately and released into the environment, they can harm humans, plants, animals, fish and shellfish.
None of that may matter in the grand scheme of a true SHTF situation, but could complicate one’s living conditions. It is also, as you point out, flammable …. and that feature could easily be turned against you.
fdw | January 2, 2017
|
I am a little amused, when the “can’t, or won’t, or “that’s not PC” make suggestions. When working with oil or used oil, there are safety precautions, of course. But you might want to keep in mind, that OIL: is a natural product of nature. You can see it floating on water most any time water settles in an organic environment. You can collect it, and it can also be returned back to the earth! So if your “PC” education comes from the government, I wish you luck, if you don’t know any better
Farmer | January 3, 2017
|
FDW …. You sound a little miffed and antagonistic. Why do you assume PC when all I was suggesting was “don’t complicate your survival situation. I see no need to get cranky and combative. This forum is for discussion of ideas – not political needling …. and BTW, get a profile.
john son of God | December 19, 2022
|
i am a new prepper and am also grateful for your comment.
so thank you for helping dispel ignorance.
william halford | January 3, 2017
|
Unless too close to water, especially drinking water, there’s little risk, especially from the relatively small amount that comes out of an engine.
Not only will the dirt filter the contaminants you mention, but the dirt will pretty much hold the oil, at least a large portion (possibly a large majority) there. Any that leaves the site would leave over a long period of time, and any contamination would happen so gradually that it might not even be noticed. This would vary according to the soil and amount of rainfall, but is the rule more often than the exception.
Ever see where oil leaked out of a car onto dirt and how long the dirt stayed stained? I have, and over 4 years time, the dirt was still stained. The stain isn’t just color; it’s oil that remains there, being held there harmlessly by the soil.
People imagine oil contamination as being immediate and in a total sense, but oil does NOT flow as fast as water, nor does it soak into the ground like water does. Therefore it’s neither immediate nor in a total sense.
In addition, there’s actually microbes that eat oil, although they’d be more common in warmer climates. Crude oil seeps naturally into the Gulf of Mexico, and these naturally occurring microbes actually eat the oil. That’s why there’s relatively little remaining damage from the very massive Deepwater Horizon spill.
Jim | January 2, 2017
|
Used oil is used by many woodsmen for bar lubricant on chainsaws. I worked thirty-years in the northwestern timber and never had a problem here. Also
correctly advised-use rubber gloves when handling petroleum products or
any solvent/chemicals. Many mechanics are coming down with cancer,
especially leukemia, because in past protection was ignored.
william halford | January 2, 2017
|
I’ve mixed half used motor oil and half diesel fuel, then added malathion. I then used it in a pump-up sprayer and sprayed it on the underside of y wood framed house when I lived in Florida. I did this to reduce the chances of subterranean termite infestation (which it worked against, but not the swarming kind) and roaches. It worked very well and for a long time. However, it takes a while for the diesel smell to go away.
You could probably mix malathion with motor oil without the diesel fuel, but it might not spray as easily or soak into the wood as easily.
Make sure you at least wear a dust mask to keep from breathing in the mist. And durable rubber gloves too.
anonymous | January 3, 2017
|
My Grandfather used to pour used motor oil into a bucket of sand, then clean his garden tools by pushing blade into sand/oil mixture. The sand scrubbed off the dirt and at same time lubricated the steel for preservation.
Chris G. | January 3, 2017
|
We also use this method on our garden tools. Usually the wooden handle goes before the metal parts.
I’m wondering how this effects my garden soil, since we eat the produce.
Greg Workman | January 3, 2017
|
There are some problems with ‘used’ & ‘contaminated’ oil; used oils comes from gear boxes, axles & the like. Contaminated oils come engines, & engines contain all types of junk; metals, dirt & others harmful items. Gear box oils can pretty much be mixed with kerosene & used as fuel in tractors, or burned as a heat source. Engines oil, shouldn’t be reused, the crud in old engine oils can damage other engines, a lot of engines now use synthetic oils which does not burn until super/ super hot. One could ‘strain’ the old oils & use them in low end items or use it as a coolant oil when ‘blacksmithing’. I use old synthetic oil to cool metals, works well, doesn’t evaporate or catch fire, may smell just a tad but I’d rather have a smell than an oil fire any day….
Tom Bennett AMSOIL JOBBER | January 3, 2017
|
Want 75% less engine wear and longer drain intervals? Use AMSOIL 100% AMERICAN MANUFACTURED synthetic lubricants.
Like more info. http://www.jobber.myamsoil.com
SandE P. | January 4, 2017
|
Here is another VERY important use: Preventing Ants from accessing and destroying bee hives.
I am a long-time beekeeper. I practice organic, natural, treatment free beekeeping. This suggestion is an old time bee keeper use of used motor oil.
I paint used motor oil, covering all surfaces of the hive stand base, any area that touches the ground, and all surfaces that come in contact with the bottom board of the hive.
In my opinion, it is the only way to prevent ants from entering hives. The bees do not come in contact with the oil.
Another method of using used motor oil for beehives is placing the legs or posts/poles of a hive stand in a can of used motor oil. The ants cannot cross the barrier to gain access. I don’t advise this method, because honey bees will drown in the can of oil that the leg of the stand is in, unless the opening is covered.
Thank you for reviewing my post.
Dusty | January 4, 2017
|
Sande P.,
I too am a bee keeper and have had problems with the ants. I didn’t want to use insecticide as it could kill the bees, but this spring I am going to try your suggestion, thank you, Dusty
Carmela Tyrrell | January 5, 2017
|
Sande,
I hadn’t heard of this one – but definitely good to know! I will store it away and keep it as I am hoping in a year or two to try my hand at bee keeping.
Disgusting Fatbody | January 5, 2017
|
You can mix some oil in your Molotovs too.
Michael DeVore | September 10, 2017
|
Roll up newspaper and slip into toilet paper tube. Soak in oil and use to start fire if wood is damp. Mix oil with saw dust, same purpose.
Pingback:10 Ways To Prepare Your Tractor For Survival | Survivopedia | December 19, 2017
|
Matt | September 24, 2018
|
I wanted to try hot used oil down a 4foot ant hill but someone said boiling water works great. Anyone know any good tips these ants bite. I need to nuke em
Gabriela | April 7, 2019
|
Some Mexican cars use “mezcla sintetica americana” oil sold in ghetto hood shops in Mexico. The oil is imported from US shops and filtered through canvas. US oil is believed to have more synthetic in the blend, hence this reused oil is sold for a higher price of $4 per 5qt jug.
PSt | May 16, 2019
|
Used motor oil can be very harmful to your dogs’ health, do not use it for fleas!!!
The article tells you to wear gloves when handling the oil to prevent toxins from entering your skin, then tells you to use it on your animals??? How negligent! I stopped reading the article there..
BobR | January 26, 2022
|
Has anyone setup a canister filter setup for their used motor oil? I’m finding many that have the setup for veg oil, but not motor oil on larger volume and I’m not finding any talk about the same setup being acceptable for used motor oil. If I could find 10in. x 2.5in. reusable I could put the whole setup in house filter canisters.
The filter process would be much easier/automated. Many of the lower cost stainless steel/reusable cartridge water filters I have found. Simpure, Solimeta, Aquaboon that I can get from 200-40 micron sizes. Then would need to go with a rope stile for 10 and 5 micron. But the stainless ones are only about 5-6″ filter.
We use used motor oil for heating. We have two places that give it to us. One 30-40 gallons a month and one during summer only all we can haul. We store 450 gallons in barrels for the winter. Heater uses 2-3 gallons oil a day.
We have an old 1947 Sears pot belly oil heater that does great.
Currently I use the multi strainer cleaning. 200, 100, 50, 25, 10 micron on 5 gallon buckets. Takes couple hours to go thru 20-40 gallons. Long process.
Heating the oil barrel is easy enough and already have the Chevy oil pump/motor setup.
The stainless filters and canisters are very low cost right now, could put them all together for less than $150.
If I could afford centrifuge I would go that way.
Thanks
Bob
Best Spotify music downloader | November 11, 2024
|
Great insights! I never thought about reusing motor oil in so many ways. The tips on using it for tools and protecting outdoor furniture were especially useful. I’m definitely going to try some of these methods!