Blitz Drain Pans Suck!

[gavinl]

I got 3 of the center photo blitz oil drain pans. I usually just use them to catch the used oil then transfer to empty oil/ice tea/cooking oil, etc. gallon bottles to transport to the local parts store for recycling.

I also noticed that the blitz catch pans leak at the caps, so I typically stick a wad of newspaper at the cap opening and viola! no more leaks from the cap.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I have been using the 2nd type in the pictures, the one with the spout. I also had a leak from the original cap so I used the lid off a windshield washer fluid bottle. It worked for a while till the cardboard type seal insert in the lid became saturated with oil then it started leaking again. I tried several remedies then I used a cap off a Clorox bleach bottle. The bleach bottle cap has a hard plastic seal insert and has not leaked in nearly a year.

The little plastic screw-in drain plug in the center of the pan did strip out not long after I got the pan but I just went to an old-fashioned hardware store and bought a rubber plug for it. The pan works well for me, I just have to be careful, try to carry it horizontally and watch for leaks when carrying it in to recycle.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Thanks for the warning about the cap from the washer fluid, I'll see if I have some other caps around here too that might work better for the long-term, I'm sure I have something around here somewhere. But for now, it seems to be working great!

 

[paulo57509]

I have a Blitz pan like the bottom photo for +10 years and have no problems with it. It's an older model with a much better designed pour lip than the one in your photo.

I agree with the others...KISS. Just a simple drain pan. I drain my used oil into a 5-gallon Rubbermaid gas container. When it's full (and HEAVY) I run down to the recycling center and empty it.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

^^^

Yup, same fix I was going to post.

I keep a fresh newspaper under the spout as it tends to drip a little when full. I also picked up a 2 gallon jug from Wal-Mart to transport the used oil to the recycling center.

 

[sciphi]

I had the first type until somebody doing some housecleaning threw it away. Never had a problem with it. Its replacement was the $7 9-quart pan from Wally's. Haven't had a problem with that one, either.

 

[Coastal]

I have both of the two listed first and I can say that the suck.

 

[1sttruck]

I did have problems with the Blitz gas cans leaking, the small 1 or 2 gallon models. I always smelled gas around the can and on the shelf. I ended up getting an expensive metal can, a 1 gal Eagle 'safety can', and it works great.

 

[benjamming]

ThirdYe,

Good topic. I was going to post a very similar story. I have the 3 pans that you have. All were made in USA. I would like a pan that actually seals and didn't merely give the impression of sealing. I should be able to pitch the pan in the trunk & take it to the store to recycle and not one ounce be spilled. I'll try the 12 qt recycle container that Bill mentioned. After that, I'll just dump it outside. If they really want us to recycle used oil, then create & enforce design, material, & construction standards if the companies are just going to make karp. (That was tongue in cheek - don't want anymore regulations).

 

[1sttruck]

Other 'fun with plastic' stuff.... I finally broke down and bought a weed killer for the clover, an Ortho product with the spayer on the jug. On the second spray the sprayer broke and dribbled weed killer all over my hand. Looking at it to see what broke it shot weed killer out from the side of the trigger area and sprayed me in the face.

Thanks Ortho, when I'm done I may duct tape it to a brick and give it back to you thru the front window of any of your offices. I'll add you to my list of companies that I will bad mouth for the rest of my life.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: 1sttruck
On the second spray the sprayer broke and dribbled weed killer all over my hand. Looking at it to see what broke it shot weed killer out from the side of the trigger area and sprayed me in the face.


LOL

Originally Posted By: 1sttruck

Thanks Ortho, when I'm done I may duct tape it to a brick and give it back to you thru the front window of any of your offices. I'll add you to my list of companies that I will bad mouth for the rest of my life.



Please post pics!

 

[Westerly]

I have the black 10qt blitz with the green center plastic drain plug and green spout cap. Made in USA. I have used it several times and no problems so far. One thing to remember DO NOT over tighten the caps, just snug. Especially if the weather is cold or the oil you've just drained is very hot!

Although I have to say the look and feel of the caps are not encouraging. Cost cutting sucks. I say charge a bit more and make a durable product. Write or e mail Blitz and complain!

 

[Benzadmiral]

The one you have in the top picture was what got me to stop using pans. As I was draining the oil a leak sprung up in that pouring cap -- not a few drops, but a steady stream of black hot oil. Thank the gods it did that before I put it in my trunk to go to recycling!

I finished the oil change, disposed of that pan (never mind how), and bought a Topsider oil suction device the next day.

That doesn't work on my current car, so if I get back to doing my own changes, I'll need to buy a simple pan that'll hold 5 quarts, then drain it into the Topsider can for transport to recycling.

 

[1sttruck]

One still needs a pan for changing the filter, as some are mounted sideways, few seem vertical, and a lot seem to dribble oil. I use a 5 gal bucket with a slot cut in the side to get my hand in for changing the oil on the truck, but I still need to pour the oil into the Blitz pan in order to fill the milk jugs for reycling.

 

[KilgoreBass]

I put my plain-old drain pan in the center of one of these to capture stray spills....if you can hit a two foot target, something is wrong:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=35163-138-34078&lpage=none

 

[crw]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Mine is like the green one except yellow. Cleans up nice in the dishwasher after emptying of course.


Dishwasher??? Man, I'd be a DEAD MAN if I did that!

Mine has a microscopic portion of residue for each oil change over the last 18 years.

 

[crw]

Last time I went to AZ, they had a shallow pan which looks like a GIANT cookie sheet, meant to sit underneath your normal pan and catch the spills. Since I always spill, I should get one of them.

 

[02zx9r]

this is what i have been using for years, also a blitz product. I got this at walmart years ago and have not seen it ever again, it is not that bad. leaks a tiny bit but I used to use it to transfer oil and whould just put an old rag under it. then i got one of the 12 quart blitz containers to transport the oil now. This and used 5 quart jugs are all i need. nice to set the filter on it to let them drain

 

[globey]

SEXY! That should be this month's centerfold spread.

 

[severach]

Originally Posted By: crw
Dishwasher??? Man, I'd be a DEAD MAN if I did that!

Mine has a microscopic portion of residue for each oil change over the last 18 years.

Yes, the dishwasher is a bad idea. A few blue rags and some brake clean and it will look so new you'll want to return it to the store.