By: Abacan, Jan Christopher M. Noche, Jeffrey A.

Any oil that has been refined from crude oil and has been used is "Used Oil." The term "Used Oil" also applies to any oil that is no longer useful to the original purchaser as a consequence of extended storage, spillage or contamination with non-hazardous impurities such as dirt and water.

Crude oil straight out of the ground is processed into numerous products like gasoline, lubricating oils and asphalt. Uncontaminated Crude Oil is generally fully bio-degradable. Some products derived from Crude Oil through extensive refining and purification (White Oil) are actually so "pure" that they are used as Baby Oil, Petroleum Jelly, or Lamp Oil.

To make some of these products, an "additive package" is mixed with the crude oil for better performance. To manufacture lubricating oil for automobiles, some additives include detergents, corrosion inhibitors, and rust inhibitors. While automobile engine is running, the motor oil collects heavy metal (lead, cadmium, zinc, and barium), iron steel particles, and copper. Several of these contaminants are toxic and harmful to the environment.

The hazards associated with used oil result from the various additives used in its manufacture and from the heavy metal contaminants picked up from use in the internal combustion engine. Oil poured down household drains, or directly onto the ground, can work its way into the waterways and ground waters. Illegally disposed of oil can pollute the groundwater with contaminants such as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). One quart of oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.

Used Oil sources:

Automotive
Industrial

70%
15%

Mixed (Other)

15%

Used Oil destiny:

Improper Disposal
Collected for Re-cycling

40%
55%

Mixed (Other)

5%

How is Used Oil Recycled ?

The illustration shows typical sequence that Used Oil undergoes during it's Recycling process.

What Really happens with Recycled Oil ?

The well intentioned and well sounding "theory" that is propagated by environmentalists, State agencies and many other entities is a fact illustrated.
So in theory using similar "slightly" deceptive presentation it appears that recycling oil from two typical automotive oil changes would "save" 84 gallons of crude oil.

Unfortunately in a "real life" scenario, also availability as well as economy has to be considered. If something is more difficult to do, it is not done. If something is much more expensive to do, it is not done profitably

NOT ALL collected oil is Recycled MOST of "recycled oil" is NOT made in to automotive motor oil. Motor Oil made from "recycled" Basestock costs MORE and takes MORE energy, time and effort to make, than making Motor Oil from virgin Crude Oil Consumers perceive Motor Oil made from "recycled" Basestock as "USED" and therefore "NOT AS GOOD" and also they think it should cost LESS and not MORE

Collected" Used Oil destiny:

Proper Legal Disposal*` 33%

Recycled into other products

Burned as Fuel Recycled into Motor Oil Lost in Processing

18%

46% 1% 2%

REASON
To understand why the in theory good intentions of environmentally friendly consumers do not materialize in "real life" we have to go back to understanding what is produced from Crude Oil and in what proportions and quantities. The diagram below should help to illustrate this point:

The fact is that only 2.5 quarts of lube oil Basestock are produced from 42 gallons of crude oil (One barrel), is because there is very little demand for lube oil by comparison to Gasoline or Diesel Fuel. Unfortunately, not ALL of the crude oil can be converted into either Gasoline or Diesel 100% of Crude Oil, cannot be cost effectively converted into 100% of any of the desirable "fractions" and therefore there will always be some percentage of the barrel that can be utilized ONLY for lube Basestock. Some undesirable fractions are left; they range from Petroleum Gas to Tar and Asphalt. Some of this undesirable stuff is heavy oil, from which ONLY lubricants can be economically made. If supply matched the demand for this lube oil Basestock, life would be just lovely! Unfortunately, there is presently far more low-grade lube oil stock available than the world needs.

In most States and Localities there are already extensive motor oil recycling programs in place. And more State and Local agencies are trying to provide more opportunities for recycling used oil. As a result, many service stations now accept used motor oil from the public for a nominal charge, provided the oil has no water or materials added to it. A number of California cities have regular curbside pickup of used oil; several others have dropoff facilities. A number of communities holding household hazardous waste collection events have publicized the local waste oil recycling programs. Hazardous waste haulers have provided communities without used oil recycling programs with waste oil tanks for oil collection at collection events

Recycling is TIME consuming and it does require an EFFORT on your part. In many localities you are also charged MONEY when someone accepts your Used Oil from you. In short you "should" collect and make available for collection ALL Used Oil that your vehicles generate. That is the ONLY way to keep our EARTH clean! In many places it is also a LEGAL requirement that you dispose of Used Oil properly. But the fact is that majority of private individuals and "do-ityourself" Motor Oil changers dispose of Used Motor Oil and of other automotive fluids, either improperly or illegally. That is why over 40% of Used Motor Oil never gets collected, it just disappears into the environment, and someone always has do assist in that disappearing act as it does not happed by itself.

Drain the used oil into a clean container with a tight fitting cap. A one gallon plastic milk jug works well. Empty water container is preferable. Do not mix the recovered oil with any other liquid, and make sure the oil is free from dirt, leaves and other debris. Take the oil to a Used Oil collection site.

Reported by: Abacan, Jan Christopher M.

Aka JABACAN

Noche, Jeffrey A.
Aka NOCHEMAN