Engine oil is an environmental hazard. When flushed down the drain, it clogs waterways and pollutes groundwater supplies while attaching itself to everything it touches and taking decades to decompose. Recycling used oil is best, instead of disposing it into the environment. Look for recycling centers or automotive maintenance facilities near you that accept it for processing.
How do I get rid of old engine oil?
Used motor oil must be properly disposed of; any attempt at disposing it improperly may violate local ordinance. Engine oil contains harmful toxins which could wreak havoc on the environment and should therefore be managed accordingly.
If you have old engine oil that needs recycling, bring it directly to a facility that recycles automotive waste. Most service stations, garages and auto parts retailers accept used oil as do some municipal hazardous-waste facilities – or search online for “hazardous waste disposal” to find one near you.
Your vehicle should be drained of its oil and filtered into a clean, unbreakable container with a tight-fitting lid to prevent spillage, antifreeze and gasoline being present. Finally, seal up and store the filter separately in a plastic bag until ready for disposal. For optimal results make sure oil temperature is warm so it can drain more easily.
If you are changing the oil yourself, be sure to lay out a tarp or drop cloth beneath the vehicle to catch any leaks, wear rubber gloves to protect yourself from chemicals found in oil, and use a rust-resistant screwdriver to open the drain plug and tube from the engine block. Finally, collect and inspect the oil filter to make sure it has not become contaminated with brake fluid or antifreeze before returning it for reuse.
Do I need to empty old oil?
Oil changes should be performed regularly as part of a preventative maintenance routine for any car to extend engine life and avoid costly repairs while keeping your engine running efficiently. But they shouldn’t be taken lightly: proper tools and equipment must be available when performing this minor auto maintenance service, plus understanding how to drain old oil without creating an environmental mess is also vitally important.
Avoid pouring used oil down the drain or onto the ground by taking it to an appropriate recycling center instead. Quick lube facilities and gas stations that offer oil changing services as well as automotive parts stores and big box stores often accept motor oil for recycling; you may even find locations specifically dedicated to recycling transmission fluid, differential oil and gear oil.
When the time comes to empty your old oil, use a funnel to transfer its contents from the drain pan into an unbreakable, plastic container with a tight-fitting lid and clearly mark it “used engine oil” so it does not get confused with food or cooking grease; then store in an appropriate location until disposal can take place.
What do we do with out old engine oil?
Motor oil can be recycled into new lubricating oils or fuel oils, plastics, rubber products and many other things. Reusing and recycling used oil is much better than simply discarding it into landfills or incinerators; recycling motor oil properly will ensure no environmental contamination takes place.
Used engine oil can pollute waterways and kill fish, birds, and other forms of wildlife if dumped onto the ground or dumped directly into rivers, creeks, or lakes. Furthermore, mixing your used motor oil with other fluids such as antifreeze or gasoline may contaminate its purity; to be safe when storing used motor oil if you cannot recycle it yourself it should be kept in an airtight container that seals securely so as to be away from children and pets and to not leak or spill.
Used motor oil can be recycled at some local waste management facilities and auto repair shops, or taken to any automotive parts retailer that sells replacement car or motorcycle oil such as AutoZone or O’Reilly Auto Parts. Don’t forget to drain and recycle used oil filters too! By switching to AMSOIL synthetic engine oil with extended drain intervals for your vehicles, billions of gallons less used engine oil is produced annually!
Does motor oil decompose?
Motor oil serves to lubricate engines, protect them from wear, maintain viscosity through different temperatures, prevent acid build-up, and clean engine components. Unfortunately, its decomposition into the environment pollutes waterways and has serious negative consequences on human health; so recycling or disposing of used motor oil responsibly is vitally important.
Doing it yourself and changing your oil at home requires several important steps. Drain your used oil into a drip pan before placing it into an easily sealed container for recycling. Also make sure you drain and recycle your used oil filter; many places accept both. To do so, puncture a hole at its dome end before hot draining for several hours; finally store in an appropriate storage location.
Used motor oil tossed into the trash or household waste bin can seep into the groundwater and pollute its supply, endangering plants, animals, humans, and causing chronic health issues for all. Furthermore, dumping oil into the environment releases harmful toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the atmosphere such as benzene, lead, arsenic and zinc which have been linked with liver or kidney diseases as well as cancerous growths.
