Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Quaker state cans?

I have 14 cans they are all full do i drain the oil or leave them full? I won't to put some in my wayne 60-s pump for display. What is the best way do drain without running them i was going to poke a hole in the bottom?

if there not leaking I'd leave them full..

IMO,with the weather changes you folks have, unless you have them always in a temp controlled room? I would empty them, by either drilling a couple holes in the bottom or using an oil can opener with spout...

A couple of years ago I had a few older cans start to sweat and leak because of hot and cold temps and we don't have near the changes you folks have...

I still have a couple full cans, that "snap, crackle and popped" the other day because of the 80 degree heat in my uninsulated garage....

I am going to try Dave's suggestion of how he cleans out his cans....

(Plus if a can does get dropped, an empty can will be okay... a full can will .......)

Thanks for the replys. Is there a value diffence? full or empty. Thanks scott

Not really. There are very few collectors that will pay more for a full can, there are a Few but Not many. I would drain.

No difference in value if drained from the bottom. Cans punctured or drained from top loose value.

We are can collectors, not oil collectors.

I'm one of those collectors that only collects full quarts. I have over 500 differnt cans and store them in my unheated garage. In the last ten years I've only had a couple start to leak. If you drain them than you lose out on a small portion of potential buyers. Why not leave them full if they don't leak and drain only if the buyer requests?

Cans drained from the top do not lose Value.......... I have never heard any way say Oh No that can is Drained from the Top other you.

If they are composite/cardboard cans I would drain them. I have a few full ones in my collection; if they start leaking I will drain them. Value wise? I would think it would be same since we collect cans, not the oil.

Jason, yes; you have called me out on this before and I chose to not reply.

However, this time I'll try and explain....maybe not convince you. Simply, because you have been draining your cans from the top. Now, you don't want to accept that maybe you should have opened them from the bottom.

Picture this, you are at an auction and 2 identical near mint Polly oil cans come up for bids in separate lots. One is opened from the top (small drain holes) and the other one has been drained from the bottom.

The one drained from bottom will fetch more money, guaranteed...simply because it has more display value.

I eventually want to display complete islands amongst my cars. All complete with 2 gas pumps, air meter, station lighters, windshield service boxes and oil can racks.

Look at the attached pictures of the racks, if the cans were drained from top the display would loose some credibility in that it's quite apparent that the cans are empty. Don't we all go to great lengths to be as accurate or correct with our displays as we can? So why overlook this very obvious detail?

You opened your cans from the top because you didn't want them dripping oil on the shelves. None of these are dripping oil.....just a little more effort to let them drip drain and then rinse them out with brake kleen.

Now, at the very least you understand where I am coming from with this. If not, then we will continue to hold differing opinions and still respect each others right to do so. We just won't be draining oil cans for each other.

I always drain mine from the bottom, two holes done with a screwdrivers and that's perfect, but what about grease can ? I always empty them for the weight of the can and removing grease like pennzoil is a long and nasty job

I always empty out the grease cans and then wipe them down (on the inside) with brake kleen as well to remove the residual grease.

I find that if you don't empty grease cans the grease some how weeps out of the bottom seam and causes the litho/paint to discolor and in some cases to lift.

So Dave what you are saying is as a "Decorator" you don't want holes in the tops of your cans. I have no problem with that for a decorator.

As to your Polly quart comparison. First find a Auction that has 2 near Mint ones and 2nd the people that buy this caliber of can rarely display them in a oil can rack. And I Will gaurentee that they would both bring the same no matter what end they were drained from.

I own 300 plus quart cans and have probably Sold another 300 cans since I have been collecting strictly quarts. I follow auction results very closely. And some of my best cans have been top drained either by 2 small holes or from a Spout and I am not talking Valvoline and Quaker State cans...............

Jason, Read you post and give your head a shake. Does it hurt to be nice? What's your problem? I've seen pictures of your collection. I think you need to eat some humble pie.

What makes you think my collection is inferior to yours or that you are in any way better than me?

I know for a fact, I have a lot more tied up in this hobby.

My post was level headed, no need to be a ***** and call me a decorator. By the way, I can afford to buy 12 Polly cans and fill a rack....$1500.00 a can x 12 is only $18,000. Even at $2000.00 a can. $24,000, I can buy that tonight. Maybe you are talking to that caliber of people!

Hard to believe the two of you are getting this much mileage out of how to drain an oil can for Christ's sake.... go figure.
Maybe it's time to break out the "can police" possibly they would know how to handle this situation.
Is there a chance that maybe both of you are wrong at least as far as accuracy and credibility go. If you are striving for both accuracy and credibility you can't go wrong with a full can. So by displaying cans that you had emptied..... wouldn't that make both of you decorators?
Hey..... I'm just having fun with you guys..... time for both of you to take a chill pill and keep on having fun with the hobby.
But then again picture a full Gilmore can vs. an empty one on ebay.... I'm thinking the full one brings more $$$

Bob, there's no problem. We just have different opinions and I think we are both too stubborn to give up. LOL!

Dave, I never said your collection is inferior than mine, I am sorry of you took my comment that way.

Husky Bob. You're right...chill pill taken. Life is to short to be arguing about "empty oil cans".

I like them empty, with holes on bottom. I use a punch can opener on the French side, and 1 ice pick hole on the English side.

If a US can, I use the punch on the worse side, and ice pick for air hole on the Better side.

Full cans bring more money.Justa fact.

Not necessarily, it all depends on the brand/Condition/Collector.

I'm a newer collector and no expert. My opinion, I like them empty and without question, drained from bottom beats drained from top everytime to me!!
When given the option, what possible logic could support top drainging over bottom draining? I just can't see it!!

Drained from the top you dont have to worry about them leaking on the shelf if you do not get all of the oil out of the can

Why would you drain the oil, and then, umm, ...... not drain the oil?

I don't know. I'm a bottom drainer. After letting drain for maybe even a day or so, I swish the inside out a time or two with a little gasoline. Then allow it to drain again for a for a day or so onto some paper towel. All drainging is done with it sitting angled toward one of the holes. It's going to be sitting on a shelf for years, what's a couple days. Just set it aside. Then twist a little paper towel and do a good job of wiping it out at the holes. If I find a drip or two on the shelf some time later, so what, just whipe it up. There will never be any more then a drip or so.

I just like them empty from the bottom. Just my opinion.

Accidents do happen.
IF a full can happens to fall off shelf, IT WILL Damage the can & anything it hits & most likely will/can create a large mess IF it breaks the seal.
Check your insurance policy about how much Hazardous [Oil/Gasoline] Waste you can have in garage/house/property [most say 7-10gal].

Hi, what do you guys recommend for cardboard cans, after you have drained them and they get that ring around the bottom, and you can wipe it away 10 times, and it still comes back?
Ive tried putting them on napkins, and stuffing Kleenex inside, and still leaks.
I find if you drain a can before it leaks, when full, it stays better and you don't get the ring at the bottom.

Burn 'm as your drinking a case of JD!

Hotrodfun1 , Did you get an answer to you question.
Top drain vs Bottom drain vs Oil stain. Empty quarts vs Full quarts.. Oh My

Gene

Drain composites. They will leak cause I just had a few of mine leak and I keep my place at 70 degrees.
The metal cans are up to you. If they are not leaking, I don't drain. BUT I do drain antifreeze cans because I think they have a tendency to eat away the can at the bottom.
So there are pros and cons to draining.
Value of a drained can from a full on is the same in my eyes unless it was drained by a spout or has large holes in it.
I drain from bottom with a small 1/8" drill bit and make two holes opposite from each other. I drain just to prevent problems down the road and to prevent my nice bookcases from getting nasty from old oil.

Good luck
Dan

...I'm just throwing this out there, but has anyone tried using the granular stuff they use to soak up oil/gas drips/spills at the gas station - Oilsorb(?) or something like it?...I wonder if suspect composite cans were drained and then surrounded by that material if it would draw out the oil?...would it be safe for the printed surface of the cans?

Never used the granular stuff. I have a grate that I sit them on for a few days and let the oil just drip out over a pan. I also use some brake cleaner inside the can. I use a straw and put it in the hole and spray. Swish it around and 99% of it comes out. DO NOT LET THE BRAKE CLEANER GET ON THE CANS GRAPHICS. It will take the color off composites and the litho off of metal cans. So be careful.

Hey, all good points guys. With this heat wave, of sorts, my shop has gone from 60 to 80 degrees.
I noticed a lot of the cardboard, even emptied get that stupid ring around the bottom, and you can wipe many times, and it comes back. I'm just going to put a napkin under, and leave them for a while.
Grease tins, I open and empty and wipe out as much as I can. There is never a perfect way to do them, as you can get screwdriver marks.
Ah, I love the hobby, keeps my busy. I have fun doing it, and love it.
Take care guys!!