Oil Filter Crusher and EPA Compliance

If there is one item that can quickly build up inyour existing air supply, and are designed
any auto shop storage area, it is used oil filters.specifically to be able to smash open oil filters and
At almost every service that you carry out on acrush up to 95% of the sludge and used engine oil
vehicle, it is necessary to remove and replace theout of the unit. This waste oil is separated from
oil filter; meaning that your stock of used onesthe metal, and placed in a large capacity bucket,
can build up very quickly indeed - unless you getto await proper disposal. The John Dow
an oil filter crusher.DOWAFC100-94 oil filter crusher is an incredibly
Unfortunately, because of the design of a moderncompact and easy to use machine. It is able to
auto oil filter, it is not possible to recycle them,remove 75% of the volume of a used oil filter
and cleaning them is impractical thanks to the onewhen it crushes it, features a simple to use "close
way valves and complex filtration systems thatand go" system to operate, and can stand in less
they are designed with, however, none of this willthan 4 square feet of space. Because it only
prove to be a significant problem for you with anneeds to be connected to an air hose, you can
oil filter crusher.place the oil filter crusher practically anywhere in
The average auto workshop will end up withyour workshop, and only get it out when required.
hundreds of oil filters every year, and all of themThe price of oil filter crushers varies depending on
are filled with sludge and used oil from engines.the exact specification of the model that you
For this reason, they are viewed as contaminatedchoose. Prices start from around $1750 for a
waste by the EPA. This means that there arebasic model like the John Dow above, which is
many tough regulations about their disposal. Findingideal for a small workshop, and range up to nearly
a company that can repurpose used and$7000 for a top of the line model which can take
contaminated oil filters can be a tough process,a wider variety of filters.
and once you have found one, the prices thatAlthough these initial prices seem quite high for a
you will have to pay per unit for disposal mightsingle tool, when you consider the cost of the
have you scratching your head.specialist treatment required by EPA law for
Of course, the best answer to getting rid of olddisposing of contaminated waste, couples with the
used oil filters is to decontaminate them yourself,rebate you can get from a scrap metal dealer for
and then send them off to a regular metalselling the clean oil filters, the unit will pay for itself
recycling station where you actually get paid forquite quickly.
the scrap value of the metal, rather than havingIt is important to remember when purchasing an
to pay a fee for every unit. This is where an oilthat different models are required for different
filter crusher can save the day.types of oil filter. If you want a crusher that will
Essentially, an oil filter crusher is a device thatbe able to deal with everything right up to the
squeezes all of the engine sludge, grunge, and oillarge size filters that are used in trucks and
out of the old filter under high pressure, andrecreational vehicles, it will be necessary to invest
flattens the old filter at the same time. Thisin a larger and more powerful machine such as
means that rather than having a stack of bulky oilthe OTC 1896 oil filter crusher.
filters sitting in the back of your workshop waitingThis monster can reduce anything up to a full
to be disposed of, you end up with a neat pile ofsized 15 inch truck oil filter to 20% of its original
clean scrap metal, and an easy to managesize while removing all but the last traces of oil
container of used oil that can be disposed offrom inside it. The OTC 1986 is designed to
cheaply and conveniently and comply with theaccommodate a standard 30 gallon oil drum in
EPA disposal guidelines.order to collect waste oil, making it the perfect
Modern oil filter crushers such as the John Dowtool for a larger garage.
DOWAFC100-94 connect quickly and simply to