For every person who takes their car to a mechanic when it is due for an oil change, there is another person who prefers to change the oil in their car themselves. Once you learn how to change the oil in your car, you can often save time and money by doing it yourself.
But there is one challenge that you will face that people who go to a mechanic won’t have to deal with, and that is figuring out what to do with the used motor oil. In this post, learn what you can do with used oil to dispose of it safely.
Catching the Used Oil During an Oil Change
To make it as easy as possible to dispose of the used oil, you should choose a consistent method of catching the used oil during the oil change. The National Motorists Association (NMA) suggests that you pour the oil from your oil pan into an empty jug that has a cap or lid that seals tightly.
Examples of good jugs can include old laundry detergent or milk jugs. It is very important to allow the used oil to cool first before attempting to pour it into a jug. Otherwise, if the oil is still too hot, it may melt the container itself!
Once the oil feels cool to the touch, you can pour it into a sealable jug. Be sure you close the lid or cap tightly. For extra protection, you may wish to place the sealed jug inside a plastic bucket or trash bag for transport.
Safely Transporting the Used Oil
No matter how careful you are and how many precautions you take, there is always a chance that the oil will somehow leak out of the jug, bucket, or trash bag during transport. For this reason, it is a smart idea to lay down another trash bag, some old towels, or a clean floorpan where you can place the oil jug while you are driving.
If you can, have a passenger ride with you to keep the oil jug upright and steady. As an alternative, put the oil jug on the floor in the front seat on the passenger’s side and bolster it with boxes, a pile of old newspapers, or a thick layer of old towels to keep it upright as you drive.
Where to Dispose of Old Oil
Depending on where you live, you may have several options for where to take your used motor oil. The American Petroleum Institute (API) offers several suggestions for places where you can recycle your used oil instead of just disposing of it.
Here are some disposal and/or recycling options to look for in your local community:
- Service stations and mechanics. Many repair centers will take your used oil and won’t charge you any fee to dispose of it or recycle it for you.
- Earth 911 recycling facilities. Earth 911 is a neat recycling organization that offers local centers based on your zip code. You can search for a facility near you using their zip code database.
- Neighborhood or curbside recycling centers. Some areas have designated neighborhood recycling centers and others even offer curbside recycling on certain preset dates. You can contact your local city services to find out if you are permitted to recycle your used motor oil using neighborhood or curbside recycling services.
NOTE: If you live in California, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, used oil is currently classified as a hazardous waste and you may have to adhere to additional special procedures to dispose of or recycle it.
Used Recycled Motor Oil is Needed!
There are a lot more uses for used recycled motor oil than many people realize. For example, your used motor oil can be repurposed as furnace fuel, marine fuel, lubricating oil, or fuel to run electrical power plants.
Used motor oil can also be re-refined to be used in your car a second time.
What to Do if Your Used Oil is Not Pure
Sometimes, other substances like dirt or residuals in a jug you pour the oil into can get mixed in with the used oil itself. In these cases, your options for disposing of it may become more limited.
The best way to dispose of impure used oil is to take it a designated toxic waste disposal site in your local area. You can call your city services hotline to find out where the closest site may be located.
By responsibly disposing of or recycling your used oil, you are giving still-useful oil another chance at a second life. You are also helping the planet by ensuring used oil doesn’t get into your local land or water supplies.