Oil container for keeping in car

Oil container for keeping in car

Author
Discussion

to3m

Original Poster:

1,226 posts

169 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
My car uses 1 L oil per 2,000 miles. (There's no obvious leak. Where does it go? How does it get there? A mystery.) But apart from that, I like my car, and topping it up is cheaper than buying a new one.

Any specific recommendations for a good container to use for keeping 1 L of oil in the boot? The plastic containers that oil comes in don't always have very tight screw cap threads, and I've had some oil make a partly successful escape attempt. There are plenty of suitable-looking receptacles for sale here and there, but not much information about how tightly they'll keep hold of their contents if they come loose and start rolling about in the boot.

colin_p

4,503 posts

211 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
You want something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-Top-Up-Oil-Boot-Ba...

Bottle goes in bag, bag velcros to boot side carpet.

mickyh7

2,347 posts

85 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
1 litre cola bottle full of Oil.
Jammed in with the spare wheel.
Tough as old boots, but dont let any young children see it ! Not that they would drink much of it !
No need to spend any money on a plastic bottle.

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
I take it you don't have an under-floor compartment, or any of those side pockets? You could keep a 4 or 5 litre container in one of those.

I would have thought the original container was the best thing to keep it in - that's what it's designed for after all. A Coke, or similar, bottle won't be designed to hold oil and could leak with disastrous results!

cdrick4

103 posts

115 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
+1 on using a cola bottle. Wrap it in a shopping bag with paper towel in there.

lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
BMW do a little bag to keep a 1 litre oil bottle safe inside the boot, they come up on eBay, usually come with a little kit with plastic gloves etc in for about a tenner.

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
lufbramatt said:
BMW do a little bag to keep a 1 litre oil bottle safe inside the boot, they come up on eBay, usually come with a little kit with plastic gloves etc in for about a tenner.
Oh! How sweet!

peteA

2,679 posts

233 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
Can you just wait until you get home?

The oil usage isn’t that bad - I’m sure it can wait so why carry oil about?

The top up bottle is fine if you’re heading off on a long euro’ trip and need to tip up or maybe a track day where the oil consumption might be higher.

Apologies if you do have a damn good reason!


mickyh7

2,347 posts

85 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
I take it you don't have an under-floor compartment, or any of those side pockets? You could keep a 4 or 5 litre container in one of those.

I would have thought the original container was the best thing to keep it in - that's what it's designed for after all. A Coke, or similar, bottle won't be designed to hold oil and could leak with disastrous results!
Your a better Man than me if you can get a 1 litre Coke bottle to leak. They are made of Kryptonite!

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
mickyh7 said:
Your a better Man than me if you can get a 1 litre Coke bottle to leak. They are made of Kryptonite!
Well, yes, but..

The bloke has to keep topping up his oil....

Presumably hes is buying oil in 5 litre, or bigger, containers...

Why not get a one litre oil bottle - rectangular, rather than cylindrical - so that if it does come loose in the boot, it won't roll everywhere.

My modest estate car has underfloor compartments and side pockets in the boot area. But hey ho.

Aiminghigh123

2,720 posts

68 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
I have always carried a 5l oil bottle in every car I have ever had along with a 2l bottle of tap water.
I have only ever had 1 oil bottle leak on me and that was my fault for not tightening it up properly.
I keep all my emergency car bits like that in an old box in the boot oil is a wrapped in a large plastic bag.

I know we have RAC AA etc now but it amazes me how so many people carry no tools at all.

rufusgti

2,528 posts

191 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
A Coke bottle full of engine oil in a carrier bag, rolling around the footwell or boot????

Drive car until oil light comes on.
Pull into garage and buy a litre of oil.
Throw dirty container in bin.
Drive until oil light comes on.

Think of the power to weight ratio!

ARHarh

3,701 posts

106 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
Just keep the bottle at home and fill up when you get home. Not often you do 2000 miles in one trip surely. Or get a car that uses less oil.

mickyh7

2,347 posts

85 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
The op has asked a question about a container for oil ?
See original question.
Answer accordingly.
My Audi has that silly leather holder with a litre of oil in. Velcro'd inside a cubby hole.
Thing is, my car uses no oil !

Haltamer

2,453 posts

79 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
What car is it?

I'd have thought the original container would be fine; Perhaps with the addition of a funnel depending on your preference. Just pop it to the side of the boot; Usually there's a mesh pocket / strap which should give you space for it?

That being said, the Audi / BMW Oil bags are rather nifty.

G600

1,479 posts

186 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
I just keep a normal oil bottle but with self adhesive velcro on the back to keep it stuck to the boot carpet upright.

lyonspride

2,978 posts

154 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
I just keep a normal 1L oil container in the back of my drivers seat....... Seats are full of support structures and lumbar supports these days, you won't notice it.

TheDrBrian

5,444 posts

221 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
rufusgti said:
A Coke bottle full of engine oil in a carrier bag, rolling around the footwell or boot????

Drive car until oil light comes on.
Pull into garage and buy a litre of oil.
Throw dirty container in bin.
Drive until oil light comes on.

Think of the power to weight ratio!
Nice idea but I don’t think they’ll stock Mazda GF5 or any of the special modern car specific oils.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
To answer the OPs question:

I keep a 1 litre tub of oil in my boot. This is a proper oil container. I also have a velcro bag that I bought from eBay.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Under a fiver, and if the oil leaks then it is contained in the bag. As it has velcro though it stays upright. I just then pour oil from my 5l tub into the 1l tub and forget about it.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
This is the right answer. I have one in the boot of my A2 and they're a brilliant idea if the boot carpet is fluffy enough, the cheap shiny stuff in my old Clio wasn't though.

colin_p said:
You want something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-Top-Up-Oil-Boot-Ba...

Bottle goes in bag, bag velcros to boot side carpet.