It wasn’t that long ago that some people would just dump their used motor oil after changing it, but nowadays, more people understand the importance of taking care of the environment. Rather than letting dirty motor oil pollute the water supply, you can easily recycle your motor oil to do your part. If you know how to change oil, you should also know how to recycle it properly to avoid fines for improper disposal as well as to protect the planet. These tips can show you how easy recycling motor oil can be.
Good to the Last Drop
When you prepare for an oil change, you should lay out a tarp underneath your vehicle to prevent any used motor oil from running into the sewer system. Use a drip pan to catch the oil; see if you can find one with a spout on one end to make it easier to pour into a container.
Proper Storage
You can’t store your used motor oil in just any old container, so don’t think that you should save your used milk jugs and coffee cans. Look for an appropriate storage container at the best auto parts store to keep your oil until you have enough to recycle it. Some facilities may not accept less than five gallons of used oil, which can take a while to accumulate at home. That’s why you should get an adequate container that is intended for used oil storage to follow recycling rules correctly.
Keep It Pure
You may be tempted to combine your motor oil with other car fluids when you change your oil, but you should resist the urge. Used oil cannot be accepted if it has been mixed with other car fluids. Recycling facilities aren’t being unduly rigid; extracting the other fluids from the motor oil is not possible, which means that all of it must be thrown away.
Don’t Forget the Filters
Oil filters are also recyclable, so be sure to drain them well before adding them to your bin. Most filters are made of steel, which can absolutely be used to manufacture other products. You may need to puncture your filter to allow any excess oil to drain out completely.
What’s the Harm?
When you think about different vehicle manufacturers’ recommendations of how often to change oil, typically every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, you can imagine how much used motor oil can be found polluting water in landfills across the country. What if, instead, everyone did his or her part to protect the environment by recycling oil after having an oil change? That recycled oil could be used in furnaces to heat homes and offices, to operate boats and other marine vehicles, or even to be reused as motor oil after being re-refined, and it sure beats tapping into a dwindling supply of yet more crude oil.
You may want to check with the best auto parts store in your area to see if they accept used motor oil for recycling. You can also contact your local recycling center to see what their guidelines are. Doesn’t it feel good to know that you are taking good care of your car and the environment at the same time?
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