Tips to Enjoy the Benefits of Proper Motor Oil Disposal in New Orleans, LA
October 3, 2019
Changing your own oil can help you save some money, and it can also be a rather fulfilling task for people with an interest in vehicles. Of course, once you’ve completed the oil change, it’s important you know what exactly to do with the oil you’re no longer going to be using.
Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about proper motor oil disposal in New Orleans, LA:
- Put it in a proper container: You’ll need to have a container that can safely catch the used motor oil when you remove it. You’re going to want to catch every single drop of used oil while you’re draining the crankcase and removing the filter—any spillage could result in stains that are difficult to clean up. You can use old buckets or drain pans. It can be helpful to place a screen on top, which allows you to catch the drain plug or filter if they fall down. If you’ve changed your oil before, you’ve almost definitely dropped your drain plug in your bucket at some point, and it can be a pain to fish it out. Any oil that drops on the ground should be covered with kitty litter or absorbent powder and swept up.
- Prep for transportation: There are certain steps you should take to prepare the oil for transportation to be disposed of. Pour the oil into a clean plastic or metal container that has a lid that will keep a tight seal. You can just use the containers from your previous oil change for this. Never mix oils with other automotive fluids, as they may not react well. Wrap the containers in plastic bags just in case they don’t have a completely tight seal.
- Know where to go: Not every dump will accept used oil or other types of automotive fluids. Never, ever throw your oil in the trash or pour it down the drain, because that could wreak havoc on the environment. Instead, you can take it to an auto parts store or oil change facility, as most of these locations will accept used motor oil. There may be a recycling fee associated. There are other dealerships and recycling facilities that will accept used oil. Look up oil recycling facilities online to find the closest option in your local area.
- Try to reduce your usage: There are certain types of oils that can be reused and recycled, and others that require you to make fewer oil changes. Synthetic oil helps you to cut down on how frequently you need to change your oil. The three-month, 3,000-mile oil change is no longer really a thing with most modern vehicles. Now, it’s not unheard of for vehicles to get 7,000 or 8,000 miles on the low end before needing an oil change, depending on the kind of oil they’re using. Less oil used means less worry about where to take it to recycle it.
For more information about safe motor oil disposal in New Orleans, LA, contact Safeway Used Oil and Grease today.
Categorised in: Motor Oil Recycling