Cardboard strips under engines stop messy oil drips | Marine Mechanics

Lee Carr · 2026-02-24T03:05:48.119554+00:00

I put cardboard strips under boat motors when changing oil. This keeps the work area clean and stops spills. The cardboard soaks up the oil so it does not hit the ground. I cut strips from old boxes that would be thrown out. After the oil change, I toss the oily cardboard in a trash bag. It goes to the dump instead of into the water. A few other mechanics at my shop have started doing this too. It costs nothing and helps reduce pollution.

brian_smith68mo ago

Man, my buddy tried that last summer after he saw a mess on his driveway. His wife was pissed because oil dripped all over their new concrete pad, lol. Now he flattens old cereal boxes under his mower every time.

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the_nora8mo ago

Love that it costs nothing and works.

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aaron_hayes788mo ago

Took me three oil-stained driveways to figure that one out.

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daniel_martin6mo ago

That cereal box trick is a perfect example. The best fixes are usually the simple, free ones we overlook. We get so used to buying a solution we miss what's already in the house.

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