We recommend switching to electric vehicles, but if you prefer diesel or gasoline-powered ones, how often do you change your motor oil, and what is your disposal routine like? Motor oil keeps the engine functional, and given the number of gasoline cars on the road, the recommended 3,000-mile (4,500-kilometer) oil change interval results in a significant amount of used engine oil being changed and disposed of. Improper disposal has environmental consequences.
According to a report, about 5% of the 2.3 million Americans who change their motor oil improperly dispose of this fluid. This number is quite concerning considering that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that it only takes a gallon (3.78 litres) of used motor oil to contaminate a million gallons of drinkable water.1
The EPA has different laws when it comes to the proper disposal of used motor oil. Every state has its regulations regarding the safe disposal of used oil and the rules are environmentally focused to prevent soil and groundwater contamination.
What Is Motor Oil?
According to Pennzoil, motor oil was a mixture of base oil and additives generally used to lubricate engine parts – to reduce friction, cool, clean, and protect the motor engine.2
Pennzoil describes modern synthetic engine oil as a complex mixture of base oil and additive components for performing different mechanical tasks such as reducing engine wear, cooling engine parts, enhancing engine fuel efficiency, helping to protect the emissions system, separating and lubricating moving parts, etc.
Learn more: Petrol Vs. Diesel: Which Is More Eco-Friendly?
Proper Oil Change Interval
The recommeded of 3,000 miles (4,500 kilometres) oil change interval is considered necessary for proper engine maintenance. Although there are advances in oil chemistry and engine technology, it’s still recommendable that engine oil is changed at every 3,000 miles (4,500 kilometres).
Most auto manufacturers recommend in their service manuals that the interval should be higher at either 7,500 or 10,000 miles (11,000 or 15,000 kilometres).3
The oil change interval as recommended by auto manufacturers is an opinion worth considering. It guarantees low maintenance costs and it’s also less time consuming.
How to Properly Dispose of Motor Oil
Illegal disposal of oils pollutes the environment, alongside the carbon emissions from diesel and gasoline vehicles. Since the vehicles are already causing irreparable harm to the environment, it’s only important that used oils that keep the engine lubricated and functioning are carefully disposed of. How you do this as someone who owns a gasoline-powered vehicle matters.
Ensure the Motor Oil is Contained
Changing used oil can be done at home or in an auto shop. If you are taking the responsibility to get your hands dirty with used engine oil, you must do it properly with the intent to protect the environment.
Firstly, you have to avoid any spillage when changing your engine oil. To achieve this, use a tarpaulin to cover the floor where your car is parked. After placing the tarpaulin, get a drip pan to place under the oil pan plug to collect the draining oil.
Next, clear out the oil filter. Carefully emptying the oil filter is the right way of disposing of your used engine oil. Once you have removed the used oil filter, carefully place it threaded side in a position that allows all used oil to drain out.
Avoid mixing the used oil with other liquids such as water, antifreeze, or brake fluids. It will be impossible to recycle when used oils are mixed with these other fluids. Make sure to use a storage container that has not been used to store other liquids.
Safely Store Used Oil
Choose a safe place to store your used oil. After draining with a drip pan, pour into a safe storage container. The container should be durable and safe to carry around or transport.
We recommend you use the storage container the oil initially came in. Close the cap tightly and store in a cool dry safe place, away from children and pets.
Learn more: How to Dispose of Gasoline Properly
Where to Dispose of Motor Oil and Oil Filters
After getting your hands dirty changing engine oil for efficient engine performance, where is the perfect place to dispose of the fluid and oil filter?
According to Total Oil, some auto parts stress and some service stations will be happy to take used oil and oil filters off your hands. These auto parts and service stations accept used oil and filters for recycling.4
Total Oil claims that they collect used oil and you only have to contact their sales manager to get the best advice. They strongly advise that you should not throw any of the used liquid into a trash can.
Where Not to Dispose of Used Oil
Engine oil is no ordinary liquid that can be tossed into a regular trash can or poured down the drain. Improper disposal poses environmental threats like soil and groundwater contamination.5 So, places not to dispose of used oil include:
The Soil
It’s unwise and environmentally hazardous to dump motor oil on the ground. It’s important to avoid this at all costs and adopt sustainable measures to protect the environment.
Learn more: How to Recycle Used Paint Thinner
Storm Drains
Storm drains are no place for dumping used oil. It’s not only illegal to do so, but a careless habit like this can contaminate drinking water sources.
Garbage Cans
Engine lubricant is a toxic pollutant that doesn’t belong in regular garbage cans. They should be carefully drained from cars and stored in durable storage containers for recycling or properly disposed of.
The Right Place to Take Used Motor Oil
Look for a municipal recycling centre nearest to you for proper disposal of engine lubricant. Materials recovery centres for example accept engine lubricant and oil filters for recycling.
Find the nearest used oil-certified collection centres. Earth911 and CalRecycle are platforms that can help you find the closest collection centres.
Conclusion
The best gasoline-powered vehicle owners can do to protect the environment is to ensure that used motor oil is properly disposed of. Learning and implementing the simple steps involved saves the environment from more contamination and pollution from diesel and gasoline vehicles.
Avoid pouring used engine lubricant into a storm drain or garbage can. It is unhealthy to dump oil and oil filters just about anywhere. The best option remains to properly dispose of motor oil through certified collection centres.
Sources
- McKenzie-Mohr & Associates: “Used Motor Oil Disposal.” ↩︎
- What is motor oil? (n.d.). Shell. ↩︎
- How often should I change the oil in a car? | Kia British Dominica. (n.d.). Kia British Dominica. ↩︎
- How to dispose of motor oil. (2022, February 22). TotalEnergies Philippines. ↩︎
- Purepath. (2024, April 29). Waste engine oil recycling of environmental protection measures – PurePath. PurePath. ↩︎