Where do you dispose of your used transmission fluid?

[Gregski]

I ask because I've been taking my used trans fluid and motor oil to Pep Boys for over 20 years, and today after signing in on the clip board like I have all these years on a form that on top lists motor oil, transmission fluid, and one other as acceptable, the gentleman who wheeled out the fluid canister to me in one of the bays smelled my gallon of motor oil to ensure it was not something else and said they do not take transmission fluid. I told him on the form that I just signed it says in black and white that you do, but he insisted that they don't, fortunately I was only ridding myself of motor oil today, but now what do I do with my old transmission fluid?

this is a bit upsetting and frustrating because I make the effort to be environmentally conscious and this makes it that much more difficult

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by Gregski

I ask because I've been taking my used trans fluid and motor oil to Pep Boys for over 20 years, and today after signing in on the clip board like I have all these years on a form that on top lists motor oil, transmission fluid, and one other as acceptable, the gentleman who wheeled out the fluid canister to me in one of the bays smelled my gallon of motor oil to ensure it was not something else and said they do not take transmission fluid. I told him on the form that I just signed it says in black and white that you do, but he insisted that they don't, fortunately I was only ridding myself of motor oil today, but now what do I do with my old transmission fluid?

this is a bit upsetting and frustrating because I make the effort to be environmentally conscious and this makes it that much more difficult

I do not know where you can take your tranny oil ,,but I am interested in knowing why they take motor oil andnottranny oil... one time years ago I walked out back of my land and onto land owned by a timber company and found 5 or 6 five gallon transmission cans ,,they stunk real bad from sitting there for a few months,, doubt this is why Pep Boys quit taking tranny oil ,,but I am curious why .. maybe it will come out by some one finding you a place to take yours..

[LS short box]

Local recycling center takes any petroleum based product.
Old gas, used oil, used trans fluid manual and auto.

[mongocanfly]

those oil change places may take it...

[The Rocknrod]

Kragen, Orielly and Auto zone those types used to take it.
I'd contact Pep-Boys online or the manager at Pep Boys and ask though before I'd take the mechanics word on it.

[Boog]

I used to have used oil picked up by a recycler and they'd pay us something like a penny a gallon or so. Did that for years. Now days we have to pay them to come pick it up due to lower oil prices. I said forget that and gave it to a local rebuild shop to use in their oil fired furnace for heat.

[weq92f]

.
Not all oil change places will accept your used oil... call ahead LOL... My local oil change joint refused mine. I told them over the phone I'm not gonna be dumping much even though I had a few gallons this first time...that's what I do...stock it up and then dump it butt they went on about the size of their tanks and ... It's OK, the local Wal-Mart took it, no fuss. Ima research that mayb.. see if they aren't supposed to take it when asked...

...

My previous local oil change joint ( I wanna say it was a big name brand one like JJJifsmitty and LLLLuber ) never even balked when I walked up with a big jug of oil, they just showed me where to pour it. Maybe that's what it is...gotta show up with the oil and they gotta be like "OK."

EDIT: OP try Wal-Mart for your Tranny Oil.

-klb

[special-K]

I get rid of most of my Dextron through the front seal

[truckster]

My city's public works department accepts any type of oil or antifreeze.

[Stocker]

Our local dump (well, technically it's now a transfer station) has had a Hazardous Waste day once a year, usually in the fall, when you can bring in virtually anything to dispose of. If your local auto parts stores and repair shops won't take your fluid and there's no recycler, maybe as a last resort check with whoever runs your trash disposal service.

[Steeveedee]

You were getting jerked around, IMO. Here in my podunk town, if the retailers won't take it (i.e., if it is contaminated), we have to make an appointment for a bi-monthly hazardous reclamation. I got rid of about 30 gallons of crappy old gasoline that way. One of my neighbors has three(!?) plastic oil drain tubs that have been sitting in his planter by our side of his property since we moved in, 17+ YA. He now has Parkinson's Disease, so we'll probably end up sitting in line at the HazMat reclamation for him. I'm a nice guy, but leaving them out for that long is irresponsible, since one is now leaking. Hmmm, guess I'll have my son do it.

[burnin oil]

My parents old town would take fluids at the transfer station. The thing that got me was antifreeze had to be in the original container. How does 2 gallons of mix fit back in a 1 gallon container?

I would just sneak the atf back in mixed with used oil.

[truckdude239]

I dump it in with my used oil in my used oil tank for 12 years never had a problem with the company that empties it

[whitedog76]

We have a local oil recycler. Just pull up, dump your jugs, drive away. Now just last week, I got rid of some on a hot burn pile.

[GOPAPA]

Here where I live this is the instructions on how to get rid of your used oil

Republic Services will accept up to two gallons of used motor oil per week. Place oil in clear gallon jugs with a tightly closed lid and place them next to your trash cart on the curb or alley. Contact us for recycling program details and helpful instructions.

[special-K]

My small town has a shed with tanks in it by the town maintenance shop operated by one of the petroleum products recyclers. 5 gallon limit, not supposed to leave containers but many ignorant people do. You can leave batteries, too. I'll have to go read if they take ATF, but I believe it is any motor oil, transmission fluid, and gear lube combined

What I want to know is what is the proper way they'd have us dispose of all this ethanol that goes bad so quickly? It screws up the oil recycling process, It's a terrible thing to dump on the ground, burning makes air pollution (and can be dangerous), and I have never seen a facility to take it. This is just one more reason why ethanol is a very bad unthought out thing.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by LS short box

Local recycling center takes any petroleum based product.
Old gas, used oil, used trans fluid manual and auto.

yeah but I bet ours charges money, but I'll give them a go

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

Here where I live this is the instructions on how to get rid of your used oil

Republic Services will accept up to two gallons of used motor oil per week. Place oil in clear gallon jugs with a tightly closed lid and place them next to your trash cart on the curb or alley. Contact us for recycling program details and helpful instructions.

Interesting, do they also take used old transmission fluid, I am learning there is a difference or must be, my personal opinion is that trans fluid is nastier, I know some dudes run the same for power steering, but again in my experience the only thing nastier than trans fluid is power steering fluid, they both smell funny too, ha ha, thanks for your reply

[kwmech]

Mix it with some diesel and splash or 2 of gasoline to light my burn piles

It is the anti-freeze I am having problems getting rid of. Think I've got about 10 gallons of it now saved up

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Interesting, do they also take used old transmission fluid, I am learning there is a difference or must be, my personal opinion is that trans fluid is nastier, I know some dudes run the same for power steering, but again in my experience the only thing nastier than trans fluid is power steering fluid, they both smell funny too, ha ha, thanks for your reply

I looked it up from our garbage collector we have in our area

They do not take Transmission fluid because it has this in it ,,, hydrocarbons

On their own, hydrocarbons pose no risk. However, when exposed to sunlight and/or nitrogen oxides, they undergo a chemical reaction.

transmission oil contribute to the greenhouse effect, and the depletion of the ozone layer. They also reduce the photosynthetic ability of plants, increase cancer rates in humans and animals, and increase the risk of respiratory illness.

just copied and pasted ,,I did not know any of this.

[NorCalC20LWB]

Gregski, you can take pretty much all "hazardous waste" here. I just took some old paint and a gallon of ATF to them last week, very easy and free, just need to show them your drivers license to prove you live in Sac county. No lines at all.

https://wmr.saccounty.net/Pages/NARS.aspx

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by special-K

I get rid of most of my Dextron through the front seal

My old K/20 with the TH350 leaked through the rear seal into the transfer case. You would pull the check/fill plug on the TC and reddish oil would come shooting out

[burnin oil]

Alot of places don't want the ATF because it has a resistance to burning. Some places won't put it through their heaters, they say its hard on the burner. I personally don't know.

Around the house I don't separate oil at all. Trans fluid, hydraulic, motor, and gear oil go in an empty 5 gallon bucket. Fro. There it goes to the parts place as used oil. Simple. My biggest problem is keeping leaves and water out of the drain pan since it is usually under something in one state of repair or another.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by special-K

I get rid of most of my Dextron through the front seal

PLS - Pavement Lubrication System

[Stocker]

The few places here that accept used engine oil always ask first if it has any gear oil in it. If it does, they won't take it. I always take mine to the transfer station where they have a large tank to dump your oil. A few years ago it was shut down for awhile. I was told they had to because someone had dumped oil that was contaminated with gear oil.