New totes for lubricant and oil blenders
Lubricant blenders and distributors move base oils, finished oils and fluids that are combustible but not flammable, so a composite tote with Viton gaskets and a large valve suits most of them, with steel kept for fuels and solvents.
What goes in the totes
Engine and gear oils, hydraulic and transmission fluids, metalworking fluids and coolants, greases thin enough to pump, base oils and additive packages, and antifreeze. Distributors send many of them to workshops, fleets and plants by the tote.
The tote and the rule
Most lubricating oils have high flash points, typically Class IIIB. Listed rigid plastic IBCs are suitable for Class II and III liquids (IBCTanks.com on NFPA guidance), and your fire code sets storage limits. Oils swell EPDM, so ask for Viton (FKM) or another oil-resistant gasket. Thick oils drain slowly in the cold; a 3 in valve helps.
Where the industry is
Lubricating oil and grease manufacturing is small and concentrated: 10,972 jobs at 433 establishments in 2025, led by Illinois (1,151), Texas (989), Michigan (847), Pennsylvania (831) and Louisiana (742) (BLS QCEW 2025). Distribution reaches every state, with the most buyers where manufacturing and fleets are dense.
Black bottles and labelling
Many oil distributors order black or UV-blocking bottles: they hide the stains of an oily product and keep light off oils that darken. A natural bottle shows the level through the wall. Either way, label the product grade on the cage. Customers draw oils by the gallon, and a wrong grade costs an engine.
Totes we would quote
Illustrative image, generated. Not a photograph of our stock or deliveries. New 275 gallon IBC tote
The size most workshops and fleet yards take; ask for Viton gaskets.
- Capacity
- 275 gal / 1,040 L
- Footprint
- 48 x 40 in
- Height
- about 46 in
- UN code
- 31HA1/Y
Illustrative image, generated. Not a photograph of our stock or deliveries. New 330 gallon IBC tote
For blenders filling high-volume grades.
- Capacity
- 330 gal / 1,250 L
- Footprint
- 48 x 40 in
- Height
- 53 to 54 in
- Tare
- about 155 lb
Illustrative image, generated. Not a photograph of our stock or deliveries. Caged composite IBC totes, new
Black or natural bottles, and the build explained.
- Bottle
- HDPE
- Cage
- Galvanized steel
- UN code
- 31HA1
- Sizes
- 135, 275, 330 gal
Illustrative image, generated. Not a photograph of our stock or deliveries. Carbon steel and metal IBCs
For fuels, solvents and any product with a Class I flash point.
- Build
- Carbon steel shell
- UN code
- 31A
- Approval
- often UL 142
- For
- Class I flammables
Questions from lubricant buyers
- Why would we choose a bottle colour?
- Some blenders ask for a black or grey bottle to keep light off the product, or to tell product lines apart at a glance in the warehouse. Say on the quote if a colour matters, and whether the totes will stand outdoors, where a UV-stabilized bottle lasts longer.
- Do oils need a UN-rated tote?
- Many lubricants are not regulated for transport, so an unrated tote may do. Some additives and blends are; the SDS section 14 says which.
- Which gasket for motor oil?
- Viton (FKM) or another oil-resistant compound. EPDM swells in oil.
- Can a lubricant tote be stored outdoors?
- A black or UV-blocking bottle stands up better in sunlight. Your fire code may limit how many totes of combustible liquid you store and where.
- Can diesel go in a composite tote?
- Diesel is a Class II combustible. Listed rigid plastic IBCs are suitable for Class II and III liquids; your fire code decides the rest.
Also read: Valves and fittings, Flammable liquids, 2 in or 3 in outlet, Chemical distribution. All industries.
Quote totes for lubricant
Give the oils or fluids, the gasket, the valve size, bottle colour if it matters, how many and the delivery ZIP.