Getting rid of used brake fluid?

Give it to me and i'll dump it at my next track event. Better still, this gives you reason to go to NHIS during an open track day in April to dump the fluid... and perhaps go for a joy ride

 

I have an agreement with the workshop for my daily driver ( VW ). An occasional extra beer and I'm getting rid of my old Ferrari / Alfa fluids and any waste metal.

Best Regards from Germany

Martin

 

Ethelyne Glycol (antifreeze) and glycol based brake fluids are very bad for the enviornment. Both are very poisonous and care really needs to be taken to keep it away from dogs. Dogs like the taste of it and a teaspoon full is a lethal dose. It is quite common.

As a business cost antifreeze is more costly to get rid of than old motor oil and as a hazardous waste generator even though I pay a firm for it's disposal to be lawfully performed I am responsible for it in perpetuity.

 

Birdman,

The best thing to do is to try to get someone to go to your town's toxic pick-up site, if you can not make. I have found the same thing - no one will take my brake fluid or coolant except my area's (Connecticut) HazMat facility.

I too believe if we are going to buy and use these fluids, we have a responsibility to dispose of them properly. One would think that after all this time, suitable alternatives (with the same performance) would have been developed for coolant/brake fluid, but we still rely on these nasty, toxic substances. ....I say this after I just ordered a gallon of carburetor cleaner......

Anthony

 

When I changed my MC I had a LOT of brake fluid left over (not quite "gallons" but it seemed like it!) I brought it in a jug to Jiffy Lube along with a few jugs of motor oil and he took them. I said, "That one's brake fluid; it that okay?" and he gave me a smile and said with a wink, "Looks like oil to me". So I hope he didn't screw up anything when he dumped it in the used oil barrell.

As for coolant, the first time I did that myself it was an accident, when the otter switch blew out of the radiator in my driveway when I was checking to see if it was tight (not a smart move with the engine hot and running), severly burning my hand and making a nice pool to the street. I feel really bad about that, but there wasn't a lot I could do about it once it popped out. The last time I put it in a jug where it remains to this day. Maybe I'll mix it with oil the next time I change it and give it to Jiffy Lube?

Ken

 

Having worked in water treatment for many years, you all need to know a few things.

First ethylene glycol in the concentrated form is toxic and is a hazard to the environment. When diluted like when flushing down the toilet, it becomes harmless and is biodegradable. The municipal wastewater treatment will take care of it just fine.

Brake fluid is a bit more difficult, but can be diluted and flushed, especially if you have only a small amount.

Oil is often recycled and any water like material such as glycol or other non-oil materials in it will cause problems. Sometimes the oil is tested for these non-oil materials and if too high, it may not be taken for recycle. Just be careful and dispose of your car fluids carefully and in an appropriate manner.

 

It's funny how weeds don't grow along that fence line over there...........

*looking at the sky*

Actually, I support taking it back to proper waste disposal locations....should be in the phone book.

Like Rifledriver, as we remove bulk quantities of some lighting products you keep that disposal certification handy, with your contract.

 

Don't flush it into a septic system though...it'll kill the bugs.

 

Plus most coastal areas are really trying to raise public awareness on storm runoff, so don't pour it in the street either!!!

 

I used to take my used oil to Auto Zone. I showed up there once with a half gallon of transmission oil (gearbox and diff oil change), a quart of rust and water contaminated fuel (cleaning out a 25 year old fuel tank), and a gallon of hydraulic jack oil (I had drained my lift before it went on the moving truck). AZone wouldn't take any of it: "motor oil only".

From lack of time, I would up having to leave it in the garage for the realtor to deal with.

(And he ducked it too -- the condo manager took it to the town hazmat dump.)

There really should be more disposal options. Last summer, I was trying to identify a water "leak" in my EVO when I realized that it had to be condensation off the aircon .... there isn't any plain water anywhere in the car. *Everything* is a specialty fluid.

 

Wow, thanks, now I know what to feed the bloody dog.....
A.

 

This is a good thread. Thanks for bring up this issue.

Is the basic answer to bottle and correctly label our fluids, then take them to the nearest Jiffy Lube to pay for proper environmental disposal?

Is that acceptable?

If another alternative is needed, I own a federally permitted hazmat waste facility in Texas. I could take these fluids (delivered via mail) and dispose of them legally.

But if the "Jiffy Lube" solution is adequate, then I certainly don't want to hassle with an alternative.

 

The best method of disposal is to get it to a recycling center. If you have a small amount (personal car quantity), glycol can be sent down the toilet without problems to the municipal waste plant. However, I did not consider this, if you have a septic system, don't dump it there. The dilution is not great enough and it will slow down the bugs at the least and at the most, kill them which will cause a real problem for the septic.

For glycols, the old saying "The solution to pollution is dilution" is true.

 

The mantra of the Gulf Coast refining industry!

 

I take mine to a Goodyear Service center or a Sears auto center. They take all , anti-freeze , brake fluid and oil/gearbox. I just bring the stuff in a container and leave it there. Use the gallon water jugs so its no loss having them get rid of the jugs.

 

Wow, Steve King hit it on the nose. Everyone knows that it can be sent to the local hazmat site, but now I understand Goodyear may take it?? These guys are conveniently located everywhere! Problem solved!!! I'm calling them tomorrow.

Something tells me this is too good to be true. Birdman, will that idea help?
Joe

 

Brake fluid is great mixed with orange juice!

I throw brake fluid in with the drain oil. If you take your oil to a local shop with a waste oil burner they shouldn't mind a little brake fluid mixed in with it. It's flamable.

Coolant we pay to have it hauled away but it's always tough to get anyone to take it. We used to get a truck coming in specifically for anti-freeze but I think the company went under.

I once had an official looking lady from the state come in the shop armed with credentials and a clip board. She asked me what we did with waste oil and I casually told her we dump it in the near-by river. She practically started hyper-ventilating and after about 2 seconds I said "nah, just kidding" and shower her our double walled containment vessels and pick-up receipts.

Seriously folks, I agree that it's a big problem. My kids and grand kids will be drinking that stuff if we all don't take better care with dangerous, dirty chemicals. The companies that make it SHOULD be made to take it back but unfortunately we have government by the corporations and for the corporations (or is that the other way around?)

Case in point: You drive your cars and get all those fluids dirty but the shop owner who drains it out, and who has little pull in Washington, is considered the waste generator and is subject to multi-million dollar fines if the used oil gets disposed of improperly or spilled even if picked up by a government licensed recycling company. Exxon/Mobil, etc, go free and the consumers,who might riot against their representatives, go free. A whole slew of garages in New England were put out of business due to enormous government fines for waste fluids that were just dumped in a field by their government licensed " waste oil recycling" contractor.

Leaving it lying around at home is no good either. Look what happened in New Orleans with all the old paints and fluids people had stored in their garages.

 

If Goodyear or Sears won't take your brake fluid or waste oil, consider taking it in properly labeled containers to your local asphalt plant.

They can either recycle the oil into the new asphalt, or else use the oil and/or brake fluid in their asphalt-heater. More than one way to skin a cat.

 

I throw mine in my parts washer. Never ever use this thing without an apron, goggles and gloves. It is a big tub so it is pretty dilute.

 

We have to pay to have all our waste removed like all shops, and as Rifledrive noted we are resposible for it and have to have a licence for it.
I think a lot of auto parts stores (kragen, pep boys etc) will dispose of your fluids for a small fee. That would be my best bet if you local mechanic will not do it for you.

 

I fully agree with you: the oil companies that sell the products should be forced to provide adequate plans and disposal stations for their re-cycle.
In fact, this is in place in other Countries already.
In the sixties I used to take my used oils to the same gas station in Italy where I would buy the new oil and they would return it to their distributor.
Here I take them to Discount Auto Parts...sorry, now it is Advanced Auto Parts !!
Regards,

 

The best thing to do is drive to California and pour it down one of their sewer drains.

Just kidding.

The oil change place by me takes all the spent fluids.

 

Given the price for crude oil these past few years, we have been getting paid for our waste oil. Any shop/oil change location should be happy to take the used oil off you hand.