Product Review Drip Trap Pad & Pillow
HERE IS AN alternative to a drip pan for catching anything that might leak from your vehicle. It’s called the Drip Trap, and it’s made from corn stalks. Instead of having a standing puddle of oil and fluids in a pan, the liquids are absorbed into this pad. The product shown in Photo #1 measures 20” X14”, but it’s also available in 20” x 20,” and even 40” x 40.” The one pictured is about 1” thick and the manufacturer, CPI Divisions(Clean Plus, Inc.), says it can hold about five quarts’ worth of oil drips.
I tested one for a month and slowly fed it about 24 oz. of drain oil, a few drops each day as you might expect it would receive while in use under a vehicle. It showed no signs of leaking oil anywhere. Will it really hold five quarts? I can’t say for sure. The only fair way to test it would be a few drops at a time, and at that rate it would take close to half a year to get the answer. The corn stalks absorb the drain oil,so if you simply dumped a bunch of oil on it all at once for testing, it would overwhelm the mat’s ability to absorb and at least some would run off.
I decided to try one additional test. This would pertain to vehicles stored outside. What would happen if it got wet from rain? While the manufacturer didn’t really intend this for outdoor use, I thought I would do it anyway.
Being exposed to an overnight rain caused the Drip Trap to swell up to 11 ⁄2” thick, as it was now soaked. That was to be expected, but would any of the 24 oz. of oil it was holding wash out onto the driveway? I found no evidence of oil streaks or spots around the pad, so it still did the job of containment.
Here are some things to consider about the Drip Trap pad.
Pro: 1. Eliminates dumping or wiping out oil in a drip pan.
2. Under typical conditions, it will last for years.
3. Accidentally driving over the edge of it won’t hurt it like a drip pan (assuming it’s on a level surface).
4. It’s safer. If you accidentally step on it, there is little if any transferof oil to your shoe.
Con: 1. Will require proper disposal once it reaches capacity.
2. Its dry weight is close to five pounds, and with three quarts of oil that weight will double.
3. You may require the use of more than one Drip Trap pad if you’re dealing with both engine and transmission leakage, where a super large drip pan would catch them both.
Suggested retail cost is $12.70 for the 20” x 14”, $17.58 for the 20” x 20” and $64.45 for the 40” x 40.” Jobber and case prices are available.
Absorbing Pillow
The “pillow” you see in photo #2 may look like a great head support for working under your vehicle, but it’s actually for absorbing spills.
It’s filled with granulated corn stalks and is placed directly on a spill for several minutes to absorb the liquid. This takes the place of granulated clay (cat litter); it’s much easier and neater to work with, especially if you’re rolling around on a creeper. It can be used over and over again until it becomes saturated.
Pillow pros: 1. It can be kept handy for immediate use while working under your vehicle. Changing your automatic transmission fluid comes to mind. It’s always a messy job, especially while on your back. 2. It won’t produce the dust associated with granulated clay.
Cons: 1. It, too, will require proper disposal. 2. You may not find it as readily available as granulated clay, so ordering from CPI may be required.
The pillow in Photo #2 is the 12” x 12” size and its suggested retail is $3.89. There also is a 24” x 24” size at $11.70.
About Product Disposal
I did some checking and was advised by my Department of Solid Waste Management in Florida that “the EPA allows disposal of up to 25 gallons of motor oil contained in an absorbent material in landfills.” In the case of small items such as the above pads and pillows, I was told they could be placed in the container for used oil filters, and the oil would be extracted. To be on the safe side, check with your local community for its requirements, as regulations can vary.
—John Armstrong
Resource
CPI Divisions/Clean Plus Inc.
P.O. Box 678, West Concord, MN 55985
