What can you do with used motor oil

About the Certified Centers

CalRecycle encourages the recycling of used motor oil by certifying used oil recycling collection centers throughout the state. 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.

What About Contaminated Oil?

Certified used oil center managers will not accept used motor oil that has been contaminated with other fluids such as antifreeze, solvents, gasoline, or water. So please, do not mix your used oil with anything. However, if your used oil is contaminated, your certified center manager can tell you where to take it for proper disposal. Alternatively, you can get information from your local government contact about how to deal with suspected contaminated oil.

Public Service Announcements

3000 Mile Myth: Audio (00:00:30) | Transcript (2008) More information…

How often do you think your car needs an oil change? YouTube (00:00:30) | Transcript (2013)

Used Oil Recycling (2007)

  • English (Used Oil Should Be Recycled): YouTube (00:00:32)
  • English (Used Oil Should Always Be Recycled): YouTube (0:26)
  • En Español (Recicle Aceite Usado): YouTube (00:0:26)

Do you change your own oil?

If so, please make sure to recycle your used oil and oil filters to help keep California safe and free of pollution. Use an interactive form on our site to find out where you can recycle your used oil and oil filters. Most car makers no longer recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles. Many suggest 7,500 miles or more. Visit our  Check Your Number web page for more information about how often you should change your vehicle’s oil! YouTube (0:30) | Transcript (2012)

Used engine oil from home car maintenance is an environmental hazard. Make sure you recycle yours responsibly.

What can you do with used motor oil

Here at Castrol, we understand the importance of looking after the environment by recycling used motor oil. In fact, Castrol group companies are already working on ways to make sure that every ounce of used motor oil is recycled and re-refined, as you can see at www.nexcel.co.uk

You can play your part by making sure that you dispose of your old motor oil responsibly. The simplest way to do this is to put it inside the container your new oil came in, and either return it to the retailer you bought it from, or take it to your nearest auto workshop.

If neither of these options is available, you can take your used motor oil and filter to your nearest recycling location, which you can find via the United States Environmental Protection Agency website.

The Oil Recycling Process

Find a Recycling Center Near You

Many service stations, repair facilities and quick lubes will accept used oil and used oil filters. Additionally, your local government or recycling coordinator may be able to identify curbside or other recycling programs in your area. The best way of locating a nearby collection center is to visit the website www.Earth911.com. This website allows you to search for collection centers by ZIP code. It also has information on recycling other items like batteries, electronics, and aluminum.

The automobile, a now necessary element of everyday life for billions of people across the globe, is one of the greatest technological advancements of all time. Unfortunately, the cost of its convenience is an unparalleled negative environmental impact. Cars guzzle resources, belch out pollutants, and create a staggering amount of non-biodegradable waste like tires, plastic chassis, transmission fluids, and motor oil. 

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Of all these, motor oil is one of the most difficult to get rid of on your own — but did you know that you can actually recycle motor oil rather than throwing it away?

What can you do with used motor oil

Source: Getty Images

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Where do I take my used motor oil for recycling?

There are many recycling programs out there, many of which can be found through a basic Google search. Many states and municipalities have programs for getting rid of used oil as well. However, retailers that sell motor oil, including Advance Auto, AutoZone, and Walmart, all accept motor oil for recycling. Many service stations will also accept used motor oil, so check in with your local Jiffy Lube or independent service station. 

That said, many places prefer you pass your used motor oil through a filter before handing it over, so make sure to check with the retailer or service station before bringing in your motor oil for recycling. 

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What is motor oil?

Motor oil’s purpose in an engine is to reduce friction, clean, cool, and essentially protect the engine from the normal wear and tear created by fast-moving, high-temperature parts. According to Pennzoil, old motor oil used to be a mixture of some type of base oil and additives that accomplished the aforementioned functions. The synthetic motor oils available today are far more complex and designed to do more than just lubricate and cool. 

Modern synthetic oils not only reduce friction, but they also enhance engine performance and protect the car in a way that ensures a longer life of the engine and the car. In some ways, synthetic motor oil is actually better for the environment than its predecessors. Unfortunately, the many unnamed “additives” can still cause a lot of trouble for the environment.

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What additives can be found in motor oil?

As mentioned earlier, motor oil consists of base oil and some mixture of additives. The base oil, which is usually created from crude oil or natural gas, is itself a pollutant and nonrenewable resource. This oil base makes up 70 to 90 percent of the mixture. What remains, according to Elf.com, can be a variety of dispersants, detergents, corrosion inhibitors, viscosity index improvers, and friction modifiers — basically, a load of chemical enhancements that we can guarantee are not eco-friendly.  

What can you do with used motor oil

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What happens to used oil?

Aside from its obvious uses, motor oil actually has a number of other practical uses. Despite its many additives, used motor oil can be recycled and re-refined into a base stock for creating new batches of motor oil. It’s a process similar to the way crude oil is refined, and while it isn’t the best thing for the environment, it’s better than dumping it down a storm drain. According to the EPA, the used oil from one oil change can contaminate 1 million gallons of water if it finds its way into the water table. 

The other use for recycled motor oil is to burn it for energy or to fuel power plants or cement kilns. The large industrial boilers capable of burning the oil can allegedly do so while producing minimum pollution. That is according to the American Petroleum Institute, which we agree does sound a bit like an organization with an agenda, so take it with a grain of salt. But, if you look on the bright side, it’s still recycling. 

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What can you do with used motor oil

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Why should you recycle motor oil?

The recycling of petroleum products is not as widely recognized as it ought to be. This is due to misinformation and a lack of agencies reaching out to communicate with businesses that might not know that they can recycle their customers’ used motor oil. Individuals don’t really know that it’s possible either — though most at least know that they shouldn’t dump their old engine oil down the drain. 

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Recycling anything, be it plastic, glass, paper, or motor oil, is a way of creating something renewable out of something that, for a long time, was not. Even 1 gallon of used oil can contaminate huge amounts of water, so spreading knowledge about the existence of these recycling programs is paramount to keeping this gunk out of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Clean water and clean air are essential to our continued existence, so we need to be mindful.

What can you do with used motor oil

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Can used motor oil be used for anything?

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. So, how is used oil recycled?

Can you make money from used motor oil?

CalRecycle encourages the recycling of used motor oil by certifying used oil recycling collection centers throughout the state. 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.

Is used motor oil valuable?

Used motor oil is a valuable resource. If it is disposed of at a used oil collection facility, it can be recovered and re-used, without posing a threat to humans or the environment.