Oil Paraphernalia

[Rhymingmechanic]

I saw these items in the garage of an open house a few weeks ago. The house was built in 1964. The sellers had lived there for most if not all of the years since.

And here's a bonus:

 

[Joel_MD]

Nice. I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I'm old enough to remember motor oil coming in cans. My pop had one of those pouring spouts.

 

[DougR]

I still have a pouring spout in the "odd stuff" bottom drawer of the toolbox. I suppose it's time to recycle it.

 

[Kira]

I hope there's a faithful sound recording of a smoothly pierced and shorn oil can lid followed by the singular gurgle provided by the spout somewhere.

 

[carviewsonic]

I hope there's a faithful sound recording of a smoothly pierced and shorn oil can lid followed by the singular gurgle provided by the spout somewhere.

Sent me on a little trip down memory lane, I remember doing that as a teenage driver. By the time I finished college (early 80's) the containers had switched to the plastic bottles we're familiar with now.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Yep as a kid of the 70s I remember that well!

 

[stangguy]

Yep, opened many, many,many tin, then later the cardboard cans with a spout like that. Still have one, and also one for atf with a long spout. Some had a rubber sorta seal around, but I much prefer the kind shown, as believe it or not the rubber seal ones always leaked for me. Prefer that method to the modern plastic bottles, as didn't need a funnel. Of course you couldn't seal up a part quart.

 

[stangguy]

I hope there's a faithful sound recording of a smoothly pierced and shorn oil can lid followed by the singular gurgle provided by the spout somewhere.

Yes that is/was a distinct sound not heard anywhere anymore.

 

[BHopkins]

I hope there's a faithful sound recording of a smoothly pierced and shorn oil can lid followed by the singular gurgle provided by the spout somewhere.

Piercing a can with the oil spout was a very satisfying sound, wasn't it? I still have a can of Pennzoil Z-7 SAE 30. Penzoil produced and labeled it for Cenex. If I recall correctly, when I was in my youth Cenex was sold at the local IFA coop stores.

I also have an oil spout. On occasion, when I am working in the garage and glance at the can and spout, I have this desire to relive the past, by pushing the spout into the can. But then I recover from the moment, realizing that I would destroy my momento.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

I used those spouts as a kid too. I don't miss them. They leaked all over, and sometimes the cardboard sides of the can would crush or wrinkle and then the spout would dislodge. My boss at Texaco had these in the shop and out at the pumps. They were the preferential tool back in the day.

 

[Aredeeem]

Still remember going to the gas station with Dad. Those little balls dancing around on the pump. “Gimme $2 regular” he said, “and check the oil.” “You’re a quart low.” Throw it in” he said. Then out came the quart of oil and the spout, Skoosh! Still remember. Man, that spout was big, a quart drained in a second.

 

[BHopkins]

I used those spouts as a kid too. I don't miss them. They leaked all over, and sometimes the cardboard sides of the can would crush or wrinkle and then the spout would dislodge. My boss at Texaco had these in the shop and out at the pumps. They were the preferential tool back in the day.

View attachment 127574

Oh, yea. The method my father taught me involved a couple shop rags. One was used to hold the spout when pulling it off one can, and piercing the next. The second was held under the spout, to catch the drips while moving between cans.

I was fortunate regarding the cardboard cans crushing. This only happened to me once or twice. Move to around the can a half turn and start over. Since I never saw this happen to my father, I assumed it was lack of experience on my part.

While I may have nostalgic memories of the old oil cans and spout method, I would not want to go back. I challenge myself in doing an oil change, without spilling any oil. I can usually do pretty good at it. I don't think I would do near as well, with the old oil cans and spout.

 

[2005jettatdi]

I started driving in 1970. I learned from my dad to buy my 10w-40 oil from Sears in the 2 1/2 gallon cans. We measured it out in a 1 quart oil can with a long pour spout. When they came out with the plastic bottles, I was an immediate convert.

 

[theseer2]

I hope there's a faithful sound recording of a smoothly pierced and shorn oil can lid followed by the singular gurgle provided by the spout somewhere.

and the accompanying beer can clank fizz ..

 

[paulo57509]

I miss opening those metal can tops with a large blade screwdriver.

I can't remember where I got this: