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Category: Hemmings Motor News
This simple but effective oil collector has been in the garage so long that its origins and purchase price have long been forgotten. It could have come from a swap meet, an auto parts store, or even a local hardware shop. While its history might be hazy, the tool is sensible, which is why it was purchased in the first place. Even when motor oil was less expensive than it is now, there wasn't any reason to throw perfectly good oil away.The aptly named oil saver is an idea that still makes good sense. Earlier versions of this tool were designed around glass bottles, steel cans, or any number of container types used to get motor oil into the engine where it can do some good. The sloped catch tray with collector gathers up the oil left stuck to the walls of the container, so that it can be used accordingly. Unlike often disappointing miracle products, this catch-all tool actually does work while you sleep.

That same thin layer of motor oil that rides in between camshaft lobes and lifters, crankshaft journals and bearings, and rockers and valves also does an outstanding job of sticking to the sides of an oil container. Leave the empty quart right-side up after an oil change and there's always enough oil in the container the next day to notice. A good few hours in this collector, and every drop of oil left will drain down into the empty quart container screwed onto the downspout mounted as shown.This particular unit is designed around one-quart plastic oil containers. These rectangular-ish bottles have been around so long that they are now joined by bigger five-quart or liter motor oil containers. While this collector works best with the container for which it was designed, it doesn't take an engineering degree to put any oil container upside down into the tray and let gravity work together with common sense to collect oil for future use.The oil saver is molded from the same type of durable plastic as the oil bottles themselves, so it should last at least a few hundred years. Using the oil saver is simple and packs a bonus feature. After emptying motor oil into the crankcase, put empties into the oil saver upside down--a handy reminder of how many quarts have gone into the engine, an especially useful reference in these days of digital distractions.This one went onto the side of a service cart for easy wheeling to whichever turbocharged specialty sports coupe or fusty old lawn mower needs fresh oil, but the oil saver is pre-drilled and mounts up most anywhere with a few fasteners. Adapting the newer wide-mouth liter (or larger) containers to the drain is as easy as drilling a hole in one of the caps, pushing it up onto the downspout, and screwing the cap onto an empty container. Check the catch container after a few or several oil changes, and presto, bonus quart of oil!The oil saver is sold under a variety of brand names at many retailers for between $15-$20.


ERS has developed an inexpensive means of recycling residual oil that typically gets discarded with the bottle. Millions of poorly drained bottles find their way into our landfills every single day!



ERS conducted an extensive study for the State of Wisconsin on the disposition of the oil bottle and its contaminating factors, funded by Gov. Tommy Thompson. After collecting and draining millions of bottles we found we were reclaiming gallon after gallon that quickly turned into barrels of unused residual oil. One gallon can contaminate thousands of gallons of drinking water. The OIL-SAVER funnel is a direct result of these studies.