Holland.david
Member
For the people who order their oil in 55 Hal drums, where do you order it from? Seems like there’s a few big distributors online but no clue where to checkout
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Best place to buy bulk oil?
- Thread starter Holland.david
- Start date
Bumpsteer
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Sams Club.....Best price I've ever found on Rotella by the drum.
Ed
Ed
brianbulldozer
Well-Known Member
We run Mobil Delvac. Never understood how it can be cheaper to buy it at Walmart in gallon jugs than it is at the distributor in a 55 gallon drum, but it is.
farmerlund
Senior Member
We can get bulk or in 55 barrels from local Chevron dealer.
CM1995
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You can get 55 gal drums at most of the chain auto parts store. It has to be special ordered and they get it from their DC in a day or so.
We deal with O'Reilly since we've done the sitework for several stores.
We deal with O'Reilly since we've done the sitework for several stores.
1466IH
Senior Member
We deal with O'Reillys a lot also but they flat out tell us not to buy bulk from them. They can not come close to competing with the local oil companies around here. We have 3 chevron dealers, a schaefer's, a Texas refinery and a shell distributor all within 30min of our shop but we actually buy bulk oil from the deere ag dealer. They supply the tanks, pumps, etc and about every 6months a semi comes by and tops everything off. The specialty lubricants come from one of the chevron or shell dealers though
There are several small dealers around here including the place i work that sells drums of oils. We dont use the drums we use gallons. I wish it was easyer to recycle the jugs and bottles. If we used drums we would have to rebottle it because of the pour shop setup. That is a bad deal in alot of ways.
crane operator
Senior Member
My orielly's just gets it from the local bulk distributor, and marks it up. I just get it straight from the distributor if I want 55 gal drums. Walmart will usually be less than oriellys for the 1 gal. jugs or 5 gal pails.
It usually doesn't save much $$ buying the 55 gal drums when I price it out vs. the walmart price.
It usually doesn't save much $$ buying the 55 gal drums when I price it out vs. the walmart price.
Sberry
Senior Member
While this is a good question answering it might not come to a good result. First,,, why????????????????? If this is for one truck its about like the fuel issue, the handling and the savings not worth it. Look in the lube forum.. I used to do it but it got so the cost and the savings and all the different weights not worth it. Factor a spill and the storage in when you do this.
I shop for some sales in gallons for 15/40, buy a bucket on occasion but havnt bought a barrel for well north of 20 years.
As I recall you were doing a 1 truck operation. Not that I am always right but its something I am now just mastering after decades at it,,, when I was young dreamed up every scheme and fitting they ever invented to do the simple.
With a single truck keep in mind and look for the easiest most simple, you may not be in this biz next week or next year, Find a place to buy a couple gallons as needed, change it once and keep adding, find a convenient station for fuel, get a few simple wrenches and keep upon the widgets and brake adjustments good, lights working.
With no yard, no shop, forget about all that crap, find the easiest way, pay attn to real savings. A real consultant type bud of mine said,,, and I remember this. While thats a good idea its noit going to save or make any money. No point in working like a dog adding an hours labor managing that shate every day to save 2$. Be a different matter at 20 net maybe,,, be real different at 200. Grease the hi wear parts regular.
Fuss over alignment to keep tire wear to a minimum, check air.
I shop for some sales in gallons for 15/40, buy a bucket on occasion but havnt bought a barrel for well north of 20 years.
As I recall you were doing a 1 truck operation. Not that I am always right but its something I am now just mastering after decades at it,,, when I was young dreamed up every scheme and fitting they ever invented to do the simple.
With a single truck keep in mind and look for the easiest most simple, you may not be in this biz next week or next year, Find a place to buy a couple gallons as needed, change it once and keep adding, find a convenient station for fuel, get a few simple wrenches and keep upon the widgets and brake adjustments good, lights working.
With no yard, no shop, forget about all that crap, find the easiest way, pay attn to real savings. A real consultant type bud of mine said,,, and I remember this. While thats a good idea its noit going to save or make any money. No point in working like a dog adding an hours labor managing that shate every day to save 2$. Be a different matter at 20 net maybe,,, be real different at 200. Grease the hi wear parts regular.
Fuss over alignment to keep tire wear to a minimum, check air.
Sberry
Senior Member
What I am kind of saying is look for someone to advise you which is different than answering all your questions.
eastroad
Well-Known Member
eastroad
Well-Known Member
My biggest concern isn’t so much about saving small amounts of money by buying in bigger quantities as it is in keeping the lubricants separated and clean, using the correct product for the application, and in not adding dirt, dust, bugs, etc along with the lube.
I have several customers that buy oil by the barrel, but use open containers to transfer it to the machine. Or just use whatever pretty much empty jug that is handy to carry oil out in the lot to top off their rig. One farm buys in bulk, and has reels that will reach across the shop, so no container needed, but no real system to protect against contamination if the lube is needed in the yard or out in the field. Here is where buying some of the lubes in gallon or 10 quart jugs would pay off. The savings that you get in purchase cost are nothing compared to the damage that can be done by contamination; when you compare that to the slightly greater cost of using sealed containers for servicing.
Add the costs of properly mixed coolant vs just adding straight concentrate because there is no water in the shop to mix the 50/50. And buying DEF in a barrel and using an “empty” jug to transfer it to the truck!!!! That one hasn’t bit them yet.......
I have several customers that buy oil by the barrel, but use open containers to transfer it to the machine. Or just use whatever pretty much empty jug that is handy to carry oil out in the lot to top off their rig. One farm buys in bulk, and has reels that will reach across the shop, so no container needed, but no real system to protect against contamination if the lube is needed in the yard or out in the field. Here is where buying some of the lubes in gallon or 10 quart jugs would pay off. The savings that you get in purchase cost are nothing compared to the damage that can be done by contamination; when you compare that to the slightly greater cost of using sealed containers for servicing.
Add the costs of properly mixed coolant vs just adding straight concentrate because there is no water in the shop to mix the 50/50. And buying DEF in a barrel and using an “empty” jug to transfer it to the truck!!!! That one hasn’t bit them yet.......
eastroad
Well-Known Member
Shimmy1
Senior Member
Have you ever researched the specs on Deere engine oil? It has the worst specs of any brand.
Coaldust
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I had a Chevron lube rep tell me that Walmart/Sam’s Club is the largest lube oil distributor in the states. Which is incredible, since most of it is purchased in quarts.
Sberry
Senior Member
When I did use barrel bought a case of gallon and quarts. Had the right label to refill.
But want to really save easy is to pack a sammich an apple and drinks to stay out of the C stores. Keep fuel full ain't got to drive out of the way. Good tires on the front, first thing the truck man checks. I am a farmer and there is an exemption for inspection but if I gonna be out of the way much I cough up the 50 and b.s. with the inspector. A hiway man looks at the general condition, the steers and see that sticker and moves on.
But want to really save easy is to pack a sammich an apple and drinks to stay out of the C stores. Keep fuel full ain't got to drive out of the way. Good tires on the front, first thing the truck man checks. I am a farmer and there is an exemption for inspection but if I gonna be out of the way much I cough up the 50 and b.s. with the inspector. A hiway man looks at the general condition, the steers and see that sticker and moves on.
Holland.david
Member
To answer the why question,
so one trucks oil change is going to be what 10-11 gallons? Pickup truck is another 3.5 or so gallons. To me I don’t care about saving the little bit of money. The bay in the shop I’m renting has a oil pump setup all it needs is the drum. The concept is the same as the fuel question. It’s the convenience factor. Being able to fill up fuel tank on site and not have to stop on the way at a fuel station that’s always packed and wait in line etc just doesn’t make sense to. When you can just fill up on site. Oil having a 55 gallon drum vs buying a bunch of gallon jugs is easier in my opinion. The bay in the shop I’m going to start renting has a oil pump setup just awaiting a oil drum so again The convenience is there.
Sberry
Senior Member
It does make a difference if it's ready to go, that is a bit better than starting from scratch. If I had to get the equipment wouldn't bother. We bought some 5 gallon from the supplier about the same as drum. Real money comes in North of 400 gallons and bulk I think. I would say if you really had to wait on fuel it might be a factor. I worked a couple smaller had fuel at shop but it was really before Cullman and some other easy setups. I see a couple school districts now using pump fuel. Easy to track.
I have site fuel but it's off road and use pump for road. Stock some gas also.
With big truck and smaller one could use a barrel in a year or so depending so it's not a bad idea especially if you use a little along the way. I keep threatening to change mine but it don't seem to care. Only holds 5 though and I dump a gallon a year in, sometimes 2. Did some engine work on it 15 yrs ago and changed it then. Don't use it in the winter. We sampled a couple things and ones we add to doesn't seem to make a difference really. Results come back the same. They say run another 75 hrs and test, I add 250 more and test about the same.
I have site fuel but it's off road and use pump for road. Stock some gas also.
With big truck and smaller one could use a barrel in a year or so depending so it's not a bad idea especially if you use a little along the way. I keep threatening to change mine but it don't seem to care. Only holds 5 though and I dump a gallon a year in, sometimes 2. Did some engine work on it 15 yrs ago and changed it then. Don't use it in the winter. We sampled a couple things and ones we add to doesn't seem to make a difference really. Results come back the same. They say run another 75 hrs and test, I add 250 more and test about the same.
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Sberry
Senior Member
Yes. We found it so or at least similar especially if a guy grabs ahead on sale once in a while. If i was changing one a week would be a diggerent matter also but no easier way to add than from gallon jug. Used to jug up 10 a time from barrel and empty it ahead.