UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
I have several motorcycles that all take the same grade oil. So, to save money i bought a 20l container of oil to do multiple changes on them.
The problem is i cant comfortably move and pour a 20l of oil withous spilling a lot. Im 60 and a series of injuries have made this difficult.
The oil is standard 10w40 viscosity. I may be being stupid, ,but whats the best way to decant this? A 12v pump that people use for oil changes? Can i siphon it? Is there any magic im not considering? I want clean and easy really. My money saving plan seems flawed!
You should be able to get a little hand pump attachment that may even screw on. Ask at your auto factors.
OK, smaller container, a funnel, and something to rest the 20l container on - like a tool box. Pop 20l container on tool box then slowly tip towards funnel and smaller container (oil jug) - this gives you the height with the weight resting on the 'toolbox' as you tip it. I know what you mean holding a 20l container up at an angle off the ground whilst liquid slowly decants. It's much worse when you buy large "car wash and wax" and try and decant it in winter as it's like gloop, and it can take 5 minutes to tip into a smaller 2.5l container.
Cheapest option is probably a siphon kit. Hilka £10.99 at Screwfix
You can get hand pumps that replace the screw cap. You can also get taps that replace the cap so if you can place the 20l drum on its side on a raised surface (bench, shelf ect) you can just put a jug underneath and open the tap.
If you can match the thread on the lid one of these
Just lay the tub down on a thing high enough to get the smaller container underneath. Transfer to the next 20L when you stock up again. Nothing to go wrong, no power required like a pump
One of those small 12V oil transfer pumps would make it easy, you could pump directly from the drum into the bike assuming it has a sight glass for the oil level, not a dipstick.
Failing that, get an oil jug like workshops use. The big conical base and wide neck make them a doddle to fill compared to trying to balance small bottles and funnels etc.
12V pump for me, they're useful things. One of my cars has a bastard of an oil fill for the gearbox so I got one for that but now I use it for a load of oil pouring duties. Do be aware they can be messy, you always get drippage etc, so having an oiltight tub (icecream tubs for me) is a good idea. Also you can't really mix oil types because they're never empty inside- so I have a waste oil one, a transmission oil one, an engine oil one... They're so cheap I don't mind.
But yeah if doing it manually the main thing is just to not try and lift it, that never really works. Balance it on a stool or box or something so you only have to lean it, and make sure the receptacle is well held too (because if it can fall over, it will)
I use a manual hand siphon cost about £5.
Drill powered pump. very handy things and really cheap. Had one opn my mates boat to help when we cleaned out the bilges.
Clark make, got it from Machine mart.
Thanks all...i have been lent a big c.500ml syringe type thing. I will report back! Thanks for your help.
