
Recycling and reusing used motor oil is preferable to disposal and can provide great environmental benefits. Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new oil, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the petroleum industry.
What is the best way to dispose of motor oil?
This is the proper process for disposing of old motor oil:
- Put down a tarp or absorbent paper layer when changing oil to capture any spills.
- Change the oil and filter in the vehicle, equipment or tool you are servicing.
- Do your best to avoid contaminating the oil with any other liquids or substances.
- Puncture the dome of the old oil filter and drain the excess oil from it into your oil pan.
What's the best engine oil?
Comparison of the best engine oils for 2022
Engine oil name | Available sizes | Price | |
Best engine oil overall | Mobil 1 Extended Performance | 1 quart/5 quart | $12-$30 |
Best engine oil overall runner-up | Castrol GTX Magnatec | 1 quart/5 quart | $9-$20 |
Best synthetic engine oil | Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic | 1 quart/5 quart | $10-$25 |
Best synthetic engine oil runner-up | Amsoil Signature Series Synthetic | 1 quart/1 gallon | $15-$58 |
How to dispose of used motor oil?
Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Storing and Testing Your Oil Download Article
- Find a clean metal or plastic 1 gallon (3.8 L) jug. Be sure that you have a lid that can seal the container tightly.
- Cool your oil for 10 minutes before transferring it into the jug. Plastic jugs and plastic lunch containers can burst open or melt in response to hot oil.
- Lay a piece of cardboard and newspaper down on a flat surface. ...
Which motor oil is better?
#4 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil
- Adds an average of 550 miles per year in fuel economy
- Cleans pistons better than the industry standard
- Carbon-neutral product
- Maximizes high-performance engines

What can I do with leftover engine oil?
Take Used Motor Oil to an Auto Parts Store or Quick Lube Many businesses that sell or change motor oil accept oil for recycling free of charge. For example, most Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone stores accept used motor oil. Likewise, many Jiffy Lube stores are designated oil recycling collection centers.
Can you make money from used motor oil?
About the Certified Centers Certified used oil collection centers will take used motor oil from the public and will pay you 40 cents per gallon. Most centers will take up to five gallons at a time.
How much does used motor oil cost?
For used motor oil brought to you by DIYers: 40 cents per gallon. For used motor oil you generate in your own business: 16 cents per gallon.
How do you dispose of antifreeze?
When refilling your engine coolant, do not recycle the empty bottle. Traces of antifreeze in recycling facilities may cause cross contamination. Also, rinsing the container may lead to antifreeze ending up in waterways. The safest option is to dispose of your antifreeze container in your regular rubbish bin.
Is engine oil a lucrative business?
Engine oil business is a profitable business to do in Nigeria. As a fast-moving consumer good, it has been estimated to have a 20% profit capitalization as Returns on Investment (ROI) few months after startup.
How much does a gallon of oil weigh?
Most common oils weigh between 7 and 8 pounds. Stored crude oil is usually around 7.2 pounds per gallon. Recycled motor oil weighs 7 pounds per gallon. Cooking oil, like olive oil, is heavier than motor oils and typically weighs around 7.6 pounds per gallon.
Is used cooking oil valuable?
Used cooking oil, sometimes referred to as “liquid gold”, turns out to be an extremely valuable resource for both restaurateurs and refineries — and thieves.
Why do people buy used cooking oil?
Used cooking oil is a key ingredient in making biofuel, specifically biodiesel. It is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable oils (soybean, canola, corn, grapeseed, sunflower, and palm) and animal fats. Because of the expanded U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuels are in high demand.
Basic Information on Handling Used Oil at Home
If you are one of the many people who change their own motor oil, you too need to know how to properly manage the used oil. After all, used oil fro...
The Benefits of Reusing and Recycling Used Oil
Recycling and reusing used motor oil is preferable to disposal and can provide great environmental benefits. Recycled used motor oil can be re-refi...
How It Works: Recycling Used Oil and Oil Filters
Used oil can be re-refined into lubricants, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the refining and petrochemical industries. Addi...
How to deal with used motor oil?
Here’s another option – create less waste oil. The best way to deal with used motor oil is to create as little as possible. The motor oil market today contains multiple oils recommended for extended drain intervals. Some even allow you to go a full year between oil changes if you choose.
What Happens to Used Motor Oil That’s Recycled?
Used motor oil can be used to power industrial plant boilers or other industrial heating applications.
What would happen if all vehicles in North America used synthetic motor oil for extended drain intervals?
If all the vehicles in North America used AMSOIL synthetic motor oil for extended drain intervals, we could eliminate billions of gallons of used oil. Not only that, but changing oil less often also reduces packaging waste, not to mention the time you spend changing oil.
How long can you run a household with two gallons of oil?
In fact, recycling just two gallons of waste oil can generate enough electricity to run the average household for nearly 24 hours. It can also be distilled into diesel or marine fuel. Used motor oil can also be re-refined and used to make new motor oil.
How long does an EA oil filter last?
Our line of Ea® Oil Filters is recommended for up to 25,000 miles (normal service) or one year, whichever comes first, helping you generate fewer used oil filters each year while providing your engine excellent protection.
How long does synthetic oil last?
We also offer XL Synthetic Motor Oil, which is recommended for up to 12,000 miles/one year, or longer when recommended in owner’s manuals or indicated by electronic oil life monitoring systems.
Can you mix antifreeze with motor oil?
Avoid mixing used motor oil with antifreeze. Some collection centers won’t take motor oil mixed with antifreeze. Don’t forget the oil filter. Most collection centers also recycle used oil filters. In fact, since used oil from discarded oil filters can leak into the soil and water, many state and local governments have banned their disposal in area ...
Why is oil used in lawn mowers?
However, during normal use, impurities such as dirt, metal scrapings, water, or chemicals, can get mixed in with the oil, so that in time, the oil no longer performs well .
Why is it important to recycle used oil?
Some of the many reasons to reuse and recycle used oil include: Recycling used oil keeps it from polluting soil and water. Motor oil does not wear out—it just gets dirty—so recycling it saves a valuable resource.
How much oil is in a gallon of motor oil?
One gallon of used motor oil provides the same 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil as 42 gallons of crude oil.
How does a used oil filter work?
How it Works: Recycling Used Oil and Oil Filters. Used oil can be re-refined into lubricants, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the refining and petrochemical industries. Additionally, used oil filters contain reusable scrap metal, which steel producers can reuse as scrap feed.
How many people recycle motor oil?
On average, about four million people reuse motor oil as a lubricant for other equipment or take it to a recycling facility. If you plan to recycle your used oil, take care not to spill any when you collect it and place it in a leak-proof can or container.
Can you reuse oil?
The same consumers and businesses that use regular oil also can use re-refined oil, since re-refining simply re-processes used oil into new, high-quality lubricating oil. Any vehicle maintenance facilities, automobile owners, and other machinery maintenance operations that use oil also can use re-refined oil. In some cases, fleet maintenance facilities that use large volumes of oil arrange to reuse the same oil that they send to be re-refined—a true closed recycling loop.
Is it good to recycle motor oil?
The Benefits of Reusing and Recycling Used Oil. Recycling and reusing used motor oil is preferable to disposal and can provide great environmental benefits. Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new oil, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the petroleum industry.
Why Should You Recycle Motor Oil?
If you already handle your own oil changes (or have considered starting), you've most likely had someone tell you how important it is that you recycle your used oil. Is recycling really that important though? What's the worst that could happen if you just toss it in the garbage or dump it down the drain? Surely one person's choice not to bother doesn't make that big a difference, right? Actually, one batch of oil from a single oil change can make a massive difference one way or the other. Here's how:
How to recycle oil?
The key to successful, responsible oil recycling is making sure you capture it all. Lay down a tarp or plastic sheet underneath your work area. Then position a proper container on top of your tarp and underneath your engine to catch the oil as it drains.
How to drain oil from a filter?
Make sure you include your oil filter in your efforts! Start by puncturing a small hole in the dome of your filter and allowing it to drain thoroughly into your drip pan along with the rest of the oil you've collected. Then seal the filter into a plastic bag.
How much oil can be recycled?
Two and a half quarts of clean, user-ready motor oil requires a whopping 42 gallons of crude oil to produce. However, that same amount of clean oil can be repurposed from just a gallon of previously used motor oil. Naturally, recycling is significantly easier on the environment, not to mention a powerful way to reduce your own carbon footprint.
How much water does one oil change affect?
The amount of oil involved in just one oil change has the potential to affect up to a million gallons of water.
Why do you need to change your own oil?
There are many great reasons why a vehicle owner may prefer to handle their own oil changes. To start with, oil changes are relatively easy to tackle, even for those who are brand new to DIY car maintenance. Changing your own oil can save you a lot of time and money, especially over the long haul. Learning how to take care ...
Is it better to recycle motor oil?
Naturally, recycling is significantly easier on the environment, not to mention a powerful way to reduce your own carbon footprint. The process of recycling used motor oil is actually pretty simple. Here's how you can go about doing a thorough job each and every time your ride is due for a fresh batch.
How to use motor oil instead of throwing away?
And finally, here’s how to use the motor oil instead of throwing it away. 1. Mix with Creosote to Weatherize Wood. Even though many people have used plain motor oil to preserve wood over the years, it is best to mix it with some creosote in order to avoid dry rot.
How to release motor oil from a filter?
To release, the oil, simply punch a hole in the top of the filter, and let the oil escape from the bottom into a clean container.
Can you use motor oil on pets?
Chances are, you have also felt quite helpless when your pets developed allergies to modern flea medications, or worse yet, got very sick from them. Surprisingly enough, motor oil can be used to get rid of fleas, mites, and mange. Just be sure to wash it off thoroughly and use with caution.
Can you burn motor oil outdoors?
Burn as Fuel. When you have nothing else for fuel, used motor oil can be burned to provide heat. But used motor oil has many contaminants in it that can be toxic when burned and then released in the air. You will be better served by burning used motor oil outdoors.
Is motor oil a waste?
Motor oil is commonly considered a waste material, but it may become something of value to people trying to put their lives back together in a post-crisis world. People will try to scavenge whatever may be of use, and it’s understandable since it will take some time for mechanization to re-emerge with new products.
Can you handle used motor oil without a safety precaution?
While used motor oil is a common part of daily life, that does not mean it can be handled without precautions, and here are a few of them.
Can you use penetrating oil on a bolt?
If you are plagued by corroded or stuck bolts, screws, or other fasteners, then you may be well accustomed to using penetrating oil to try and loosen them up. While you may already have a few cans of good quality oil in your stockpile, the need for penetrating oil will never end as long as there are metal fasteners to contend with.
How much diesel to mix with oil?
I recommend mixing oil and diesel in a 50-50 ratio — maybe 2 liters of oil and 2 liters of diesel. Do this in a separate container and shake to mix properly. Adding diesel to the oil makes it thin and allows it to pass through the filter as you fill your spray bottle.
What oil is used to protect wood from scratches?
Also known as flaxseed oil, Linseed oil soaks deep into the wood grains to protect them from external factors, like humidity changes and scratches. It is an eco-friendly oil that is easy to maintain and provides a satin finish that displays the color and wood grains below.
What Is the Best Oil to Preserve Wood?
Oil-borne preservatives have been a popular wood-treating ingredient for years since they are easy to repair and provide a more textured grain pattern than other choices.
How to filter a spray bottle?
To filter the liquid, spread your old piece of cloth inside the funnel and direct it toward the spray container of a bottle. Close the top of the spray and proceed to the fences.
Is oil good for wood?
While oil furnishes do not provide the same protection and durability as lacquer or varnish, they still make an excellent choice in preserving wood. Here are some of the best oils for preserving wood.
Is mineral oil toxic?
Mineral oil is a derivative of petroleum. It is a clear, odorless, food-safe, non-toxic substance commonly used for wood kitchen utensils, cutting boards, wood bowls, and most wooden products used for handling food.
Can you paint wood with oil?
Even if you want to apply paint on your wood, it would be a great idea to treat it with oil first. The used oil doesn’t have to be from your motor; it can come from your tractor, marine oil, or farm equipment.
How To Dispose Of Used Motor Oil?
We have already discussed all the health and environmental hazards related to improper disposal of used motor oil.
What Are The Options for Recycling Motor Oil?
While most people are aware that draining old motor oil down the drain or trash is not a feasible option , there are other alternative solutions that they are unaware of.
Why Is It Essential To Safely Dispose Of Used Motor Oil?
Did you know that used motor oil has the tendency to contaminate one million gallons of freshwater?
