# How tall should be a cubic storage for 5 gal engine oil jugs **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689 "2020-08-14T22:51:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/1 "2020-08-14T22:51:27Z")
I am trying to purchase a shelf to store my car stuff - the tallest seems engine oil jugs - 5qt of 5w30 or a gal of Coolant. I really do not know their measurements. Would someone advice me as to what should be the distance between the shelves? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/2 "2020-08-14T22:58:27Z")
Why not stop by WalMart or an auto parts store with your tape measure and find out for yourself? Your header for this says 5 gallons, not 5 quarts… ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/3 "2020-08-14T23:03:47Z")
Using Amazon shipping details Valvoline VR1 Racing SAE 20W-50 Motor Oil 5 QT, = 13.25 inches tall Zerex DEX-COOL Organic Acid Technology Antifreeze/Coolant 1 GA = 12.70 inches ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/4 "2020-08-14T23:04:14Z")
A one gallon coolant container is 12 inches in height. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/5 "2020-08-14T23:08:46Z")
> [@It\_s\_Me](#): > > Using Amazon shipping details > Valvoline VR1 Racing SAE 20W-50 Motor Oil 5 QT, = 13.25 inches tall > Zerex DEX-COOL Organic Acid Technology Antifreeze/Coolant 1 GA = 12.70 inches Can I safely reduce the height by 0.5" to accommodate for the box? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/6 "2020-08-15T01:05:12Z")
Just buy a shelf that has adjustable shelves . Problem solved . Or set the tall stuff on the top shelf . ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/7 "2020-08-15T01:29:17Z")
A little advice from your elder. You cannot depend on the containers staying the same size. My Shell Rotella one gal jugs from my diesel years are 12". I only use them for used oil now. But my Mobil 1 5qt jugs are 12 3/4. My antifreeze are 12". It’s a lot easier to change your plans on paper now so I would highly recommend sharpening your carpentry skills and build your own. My shelves are generally 14" and I have many shallow pull out drawers with 2 foot deep cabinets. I haven’t needed to re-adjust them as we went from cases of quarts to jugs. I just wouldn’t cut them so close that any change in the container size will cause a problem. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/8 "2020-08-15T01:36:58Z")
Just a simple bit of browsing on Amazon could answer a persons question about shelves , cost and adjustability . ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-tall-should-be-a-cubic-storage-for-5-gal-engine-oil-jugs/168689/9 "2020-08-15T02:35:29Z")
@bing - thanks My attempt to buy one failed since it was under 13" gap between shelves Any product recommendation is appreciable. People are moving and posting on CL - their responses are not encouraging - so I am looking elsewhere.