To dispose of motor oil properly, you need to take it to a designated recycling center, auto parts store, or service station that accepts used oil.
Why?
Used motor oil should never be poured in any drain or on the ground as it can contaminate soil as well as water sources and harm the environment.
Here’s how to handle and dispose of used motor oil the right way:
1. Recycling Centers:
Several auto parts stores and service stations with recycling programs accept used motor oil, so check for such collection centers in your area. Some communities also host household hazardous waste collection events — keep an eye out for those in your neighborhood.
Moreover, you can use Earth911, an online resource that helps locate local recycling centers and provides guidance on properly disposing of materials like motor oil.
2. Curbside Pickup:
Check with your local government or waste management services to see if curbside pickup is available for recycling used motor oil. If yes, be sure to follow their specific guidelines for packaging and placement.
3. Proper Storage:
Always store used motor oil in a clean, tightly sealed container to prevent leaks or spills. Additionally, never mix it with other fluids like antifreeze, as this can make recycling difficult. Label the container clearly and keep it upright during transport.
4. Oil Filters:
Used oil filters should be recycled too, as they retain residual oil that can harm the environment. Many recycling centers that accept used motor oil also take used oil filters. Be sure to follow the center’s specific disposal instructions, as some may require special handling.
If this feels like too much to manage on your own, it’s best to leave it to a professional mechanic who knows how to handle and dispose of used motor oil safely.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps a mechanic typically follows to dispose of used motor oil responsibly. We’ll also cover why recycling matters and point out a few common mistakes to avoid.
And if you’d rather not drive to a shop, AutoNation Mobile Service can come to you and take care of the oil disposal right from your driveway.
This Article Contains:
- How to Dispose of Motor Oil in 7 Easy Steps
- What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Disposing of Motor Oil?
- Why Should You Recycle Motor Oil?
- 3 FAQs on Motor Oil Disposal
How to Dispose of Motor Oil in 7 Easy Steps
Collecting and disposing of motor oil involves working with hazardous waste, which can be dangerous, especially since motor oil is flammable. So, it’s best to have a mechanic handle it.
Here are the tools they’ll use to collect the old oil:
- Large plastic sheet or a tarp
- Drip pan
- Screwdriver
- Clean plastic container with a tight lid
- Funnel
- Rubber gloves
- Absorbent material (cloth, paper towel, etc.)
Now, let’s go over how a mechanic handles the motor oil disposal process:
Step 1: Set Up Your Vehicle
The mechanic will park the car on a level surface and engage the parking brake. Then, they’ll run the engine for a few minutes to warm up the oil (warm oil drains faster).
They’ll turn off the engine and let the oil cool slightly.
Step 2: Prepare the Work Area
If accessing the drain plug and engine oil is difficult, they’ll raise the vehicle on jack stands and secure it with a jack. The mechanic will then place a plastic tarp under the vehicle and an oil pan under the engine.
Step 3: Drain the Oil
They’ll use a socket wrench to remove the oil drain plug and allow the waste oil to drain completely into the pan.
However, if they’re replacing the oil filter, they’ll puncture it to drain the waste oil (for about 12 hours) instead of removing the drain plug. This helps drain the oil stuck in the filter to ensure it’s safe for disposal.
Step 4: Remove the Oil Filter
The mechanic will also change your oil filters along with the engine oil. Since used oil filters are hazardous, most states don’t allow you to dispose of them as regular solid waste.
So, once the oil from the filter has drained out completely (as mentioned in the step above), they’ll remove the old oil filter and carefully place it in a clean, leak-proof container.
Step 5: Replace the Oil
Since engine oil is essential for your vehicle’s functioning, the mechanic will clean and reinstall the drain plug, replace the oil filter, and pour fresh oil into the engine.
Step 6: Contain the Oil
Once they’ve collected the oil, the mechanic will transfer it into one of their motor oil containers for safe transportation to the recycling facility. This involves placing a funnel over a leak-proof plastic container (with a “used oil” label), pouring the oil into it, and sealing the lid tightly.
Some drain pans also come with a lid to work as a sealed container, so they may store the oil in the pan itself. They’ll typically avoid using any oil bottle that could break easily.
Lastly, they’ll use an absorbent material (e.g., cloth, rag) to clean up any oil spillage. Then, they’d place these oil-soaked rags in a sealed, fireproof container and dispose of them according to local hazardous waste regulations.
Step 7: Take It to a Recycling Center
Depending on the city, the mechanic may hand over the used engine oil and old oil filter to the city’s curbside collection service.
These certified household hazardous waste collection centers take in used oil and other solid waste. However, if household hazardous waste collection isn’t available, they may drop off the motor oil container at a recycling center.
Proper disposal of motor oil requires great caution to avoid an oil spill, contamination, or safety hazard.
Next, check out how you can support environmental protection through some best practices.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Disposing of Motor Oil?
During the process of oil drainage and disposal, it’s important to:
- Avoid disposing of the oil in a drain: Never pour motor oil down drains, as oil contamination can negatively impact water sources and aquatic life.
- Keep the motor oil uncontaminated: Avoid mixing motor oil with other chemicals or substances, as this can create hazardous mixtures and complicate the recycling process.
- Seal the motor oil container: Use a tightly sealed container (ideally polyethylene) or specialized motor oil containers, as improper storage can lead to leaks and spills. Avoid using a glass oil bottle as it’s more prone to breakage.
- Never put oil in household trash: This will allow heavy metals and other chemicals to contaminate the environment and pose a fire hazard.
- Dispose of the oil promptly: To avoid accidents like an oil spill, promptly take the oil to one of the oil collection centers or drop-off locations in your area.
- Check local oil regulations: Hazardous waste disposal regulations vary by location, so contact an environmental protection agency to ensure compliance.
The steps involved in oil disposal may seem overly cautious. However, they’re essential given the importance of oil recycling for environmental protection.
Let’s explore this in detail.
Why Should You Recycle Motor Oil?
Incorrect motor oil disposal isn’t just harmful — it’s illegal and may result in a fine or jail time. Beyond the legal consequences, proper disposal of used engine oil is a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint.
When used oil is dumped into storm drains, it can carry heavy metals and toxic chemicals into surface water, threatening aquatic ecosystems. These chemicals could also seep into your drinking water supply and pose serious health risks.
On the other hand, properly disposing of engine oil allows it to be re-refined and used as new oil in a vehicle, giving it a second life.
Moreover, recycling oil reduces our reliance on virgin oil (unrefined crude oil).
Did you know?
It takes around 42 gallons of crude oil to manufacture just 2.5 quarts (less than a gallon) of refined virgin oil. In contrast, recycling just 1 gallon of used oil can produce the same amount — making it a far more efficient and sustainable option.
Still curious about motor oil recycling?
Find the answers to your questions below.
3 FAQs on Motor Oil Disposal
Here’s everything else you should know about recycling motor oil:
1. What Happens to Old Motor Oil?
Waste management institutions can repurpose used oil in several ways:
- Recycled oil can be used as a base for new lubricating oil. The process is almost similar to refining crude oil.
- Refined old oil can be repurposed as fuel oil for power plants or cement kilns, offering an efficient energy source for industrial use.
- Small quantities of recycled oil can be safely burned as fuel in specialized space heaters.
- Used oil filters contain scrap metal that steel producers can recycle and reuse.
2. Can You Recycle Mixed or Contaminated Oil?
No, mixing different oils (like fuel oil, gear oil, and engine oil) can prevent them from being recycled.
Motor oils have different chemical properties and viscosities, so mixing them may make it difficult to separate impurities. At the very least, oil contamination increases the cost and complexity of separation.
Also, avoid mixing engine oil with another solvent or automotive fluid (e.g., hydraulic fluid or brake fluid), especially gasoline. This will not only make the contaminated oil non-recyclable but also pose some safety hazards, as gasoline is flammable.
3. What Other Car Fluids and Parts Should You Properly Dispose of?
All car parts and fluids should be recycled properly to avoid environmental harm. Improper disposal of any automotive fluid (motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid) and certain car parts (e.g., batteries) is illegal.
Many automotive fluids, like hydraulic fluid or brake fluid, contain hazardous chemicals that can contaminate soil and surface water if not handled correctly. Additionally, car parts, like batteries, tires, and old filters, require special disposal due to their toxic or non-biodegradable materials.
In most cases, you can take the fluid or component to dealers, service stations, drop-off locations, or oil collection centers.
That said, you should always consult an environmental protection agency to confirm if your waste management methods comply with your area’s regulations.
Don’t Dump It – Dispose of Motor Oil the Right Way
Improper disposal of old motor oil can harm the environment and pose dangers to human health. To avoid any legal consequences, you should always contain the oil properly, avoid contamination, and hand it over to a recycling facility.
Feeling uncertain about disposing of it yourself?
AutoNation Mobile Service will perform an oil change service from your driveway and handle the disposal process for you. We offer easy online booking and provide a 12-month,12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
Contact us for an oil change and disposal, as well as all other auto maintenance needs.