Oil Skimmer Blog

Waste oil recovery is a critical part of any industrial operation, from metalworking and machining to wastewater treatment and food processing. Oil contamination in coolants, wash water, or sump pits can lead to increased operating costs, foul odors, premature equipment failure, and even regulatory violations.

Fortunately, there's a simple and effective solution: oil skimmers.

These straightforward devices efficiently remove floating oils from water or coolant, offering both environmental and financial benefits. But just how efficient are they—and what kind of results can you really expect?

⚠️ Why Waste Oil Recovery Matters

Recovering used oil is about more than just good housekeeping. It’s a vital step toward:

• Regulatory compliance
• Environmental stewardship
• Cost reduction
• Operational efficiency

Oil that accumulates on the surface of coolant tanks or wastewater systems doesn't just sit there harmlessly. It fosters bacterial growth, contributes to foul odors, interferes with filtration, and shortens the life of both coolant and cutting tools. More importantly, discharging oil-contaminated water can lead to steep fines or legal consequences under environmental regulations.

Check out our Oil Skimming Guide to learn more.

When companies take the time to properly remove and manage waste oil, they’re not only protecting their operations—they’re also improving safety, cleanliness, and sustainability.

💡 What Makes an Oil Skimmer Efficient?

An oil skimmer is a mechanical device designed to continuously remove oil that floats on the surface of water or coolant. Whether it uses a belt, tube, disk, or drum, the goal is the same: attract and collect surface oils with minimal water carryover.

The efficiency of a skimmer depends on several key factors:

• Oil recovery rate (typically measured in gallons per hour)
• Oil-to-water pickup ratio
• Ease of use and maintenance
• Durability in harsh environments

Well-designed skimmers can operate 24/7 with minimal maintenance, often removing several gallons of oil per hour. Over days or weeks, that adds up to a significant volume of recovered waste oil—and a huge reduction in disposal costs.

✅ 7 Key Benefits of Using an Oil Skimmer

Here’s why an oil skimmer is one of the most efficient, cost-effective tools you can add to your operation:

1. 🧾 Reduced Disposal Costs

Disposing of coolant contaminated with oil is far more expensive than disposing of oil alone. Skimming the oil reduces the volume of hazardous waste, which significantly cuts disposal expenses.

2. ♻️ Oil Recycling Opportunities

Recovered oil can sometimes be reused in other areas of your operation, or even sold for recycling—creating a small but meaningful revenue stream from what would otherwise be waste.

3. 💧 Extended Coolant Life

Tramp oil speeds up coolant degradation. Removing surface oil helps maintain coolant quality longer, meaning fewer fluid changes and less downtime.

4. 🌫 Cleaner, Safer Workplace

Oil-contaminated coolant often generates smoke when it contacts hot tools. Skimming removes the oil, reducing smoke and making the work area cleaner and healthier.

5. 🔧 Increased Tool and Machine Life

Oil-free coolant lowers bacterial growth and protects machine components from corrosion, resulting in fewer maintenance issues and longer-lasting equipment.

6. 📜 Compliance with Environmental Regulations

Skimmers help facilities meet wastewater discharge standards and stay in compliance with EPA or local environmental laws, reducing the risk of fines or operational shutdowns.

7. 👃 Improved Hygiene and Odor Control

By removing surface oil, skimmers prevent anaerobic bacteria buildup—eliminating the unpleasant "rotten egg" smell that can develop in coolant tanks or wastewater systems.

⚙️ A Simple Device with Serious Impact

One of the best things about oil skimmers is how simple they are to use. Most models can be mounted directly to the side of a tank or pit and begin working right away. Once installed, they require only routine maintenance like cleaning the collection surface or occasionally replacing a belt or wiper blade.

Their low energy use, minimal operator involvement, and around-the-clock operation make them incredibly efficient over time. In many cases, a single skimmer can replace the need for expensive absorbent materials or chemical treatments—and operate more reliably in the long run.

Oil skimmers may be small, but their benefits are enormous. From reducing environmental risks to improving air quality, extending coolant life, and lowering operational costs, these devices offer a simple solution to a complex and expensive problem.

Whether you run a small machine shop or manage a large manufacturing plant, an oil skimmer is one of the most effective, low-maintenance tools you can add to your operation.

To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com

You are just one step away from downloading Abanaki's most detailed resource on our oil skimming equipment. Simply click at the button to get your ultimate guide now.

Abanaki offers industrial wastewater skimmers specially designed for steel mills where plant maintenance engineers are looking for the lowest cost, most reliable method of removing greases and heavy oils from the steel-mill scale pit. Abanaki oil skimmers use the difference in specific gravity and surface tension between grease and water, allowing the belt to attract grease and oil as the belt passes through the surface of the water. The simple belt-and-motor approach is proven to operate unattended and reliably for decades with little maintenance.

To avoid fines from government and municipal sewer districts, steel mills must limit the amount of grease in wastewater discharged into the environment. The Grease Grabber® oil and grease skimmer provides a continuously operating belt and wiper that can remove up to 160 gallons per hour of heavy greases and oils. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, the oil/grease skimmer is capable of reducing grease content to fewer than five parts-per-million in water. Reclaimed grease and oil can be re-used or used as furnace fuel, avoiding sucker truck disposal costs.

Using a double drive roller and tail pulley system, the grease skimmer belt runs through wastewater to pick up grease and heavy oil from the surface. The belt travels over the head pulley and then passes through tandem wiper blades, from which oil is scraped off both sides and discharged. A heated hopper keeps grease flowing in cold outdoor temperatures.

The tail pulley features flanges that allow the pulley to roll freely on the inside of the belt without becoming dislodged in turbulent applications. No bearings are needed; the unit does not need to be fastened to the tank. An optional tether and cage assembly is offered to prevent the tail pulley from being dislodged. The Grease Grabber oil skimmer can be used in pits with depths as shallow as one foot or as deep as 100 feet.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400, or click the button below to get more information about Grease Grabber.

Waste oil recovery is critical to any application for a multitude of reasons. Many companies try, or should be trying to recover their used oil in order to stay in compliance with government standards and regulations. No one wants to pay a massive fine or even worse, donning the orange jump suit with silver bracelets, when complying with the law and keeping our environment clean is a simple enough task.

Additionally, recovering used oil has its monetary perks. Reclaimed hydrocarbons can be sold for profit and removing it properly can help extend the life of equipment, waste water, or coolant. All while Mother Earth smiles and the people rejoice. Everybody wins.

Find out the 7 Benefits, 4 No-Nos, 3 TLCs, and 1 Solution by clicking the button below.