We Must Stop Polluting Our Natural Resources

Used motor oil is documented as the largest source of pollution in our waterways. This fact is all the more startling when you consider that one quart of oil can create a two-acre sized oil slick in a lake, pond or ocean and as little as 35 parts per million of oil in the water will kill fish. A gallon of used motor oil can foul a million gallons of freshwater, which equates to a year's water supply for fifty people.

How Can You Stop Oil Pollution?

There are really two ways to reduce pollution caused by the improper disposal of used motor oil. One way is to capture and recycle all of the used oil. This can only be achieved through the education of the consumer in the ramifications to our environment in pouring used motor oil on the ground or throwing it into the garbage. Improperly dumped used oil seeps through landfills and into ground water, which disrupts bacterial digestion in our sewage treatment plants. It is estimated at present that annually over 16 million gallons of oil are improperly discarded in Texas.

Waste or used motor oil should be taken to the proper disposal facilities. Most of your local automotive quick lube and repair shops will gladly accept your waste oil and filter for disposal as long it is in the proper container and is not contaminated with other chemicals or garbage. The State of Texas requires that these facilities have a proven, environmentally safe method for disposal of their waste lubricants. Almost all of them have contracts with oil companies that collect their waste oil on an as needed basis and take it to a recycler or sell it for fuel to shipping companies or refineries.

Extending Replacement Intervals

The second way to reduce pollution is to reduce the amount of motor oil being used by extending the replacement intervals between oil changes in our vehicles. Using synthetic lubricants in your vehicle allows you to safely extend the replacement intervals without fear of damage to the vehicle's critical components (i.e. engine, transmission, differential) due to lack of lubrication. Companies that promote the extended replacement intervals are quick to demonstrate that the amount of used motor oil can be reduced significantly. A side benefit to extended replacement intervals in our landfills is the immense reduction in the amount of discarded packaging material associated with decreased product usage.

Reduce Our Dependence On Foreign Oil

You can reduce our dependence on foreign oil by using synthetic lubricants instead of petroleum lubricants. Synthetic lubricants are specially designed to protect engine components, reduce emissions, reduce fuel consumption and allow you to safely extend the mileage interval between oil changes in your vehicle. Industry tests have shown improved fuel economy of 2-5% in vehicles using synthetic lubricants. Fewer oil changes means less oil used. Using synthetic lubricants reduces our dependence on foreign oil.

Vehicle Manufacturers Are Extending The Replacement Intervals Through Improved Technology

Even today with rising oil prices, some oil companies are still bombarding motorists with propaganda promoting 3,000 mile oil changes. However the automotive industry is having a change of mindset and is going back to 5,000-7,500 mile oil change intervals. In the last few years some vehicle manufacturers have also started incorporating oil life monitors into their cars and trucks which allows the vehicle owner to monitor the life of the engine oil and alerts drivers when the oil needs changing. In a quick office survey of 2003-2004 Chevrolet and GMC truck owners whose vehicles were equipped with oil monitoring systems, reported their oil change intervals had extended past the 10,000 mile interval.

In Europe the average motor oil drain interval for current gasoline-fueled vehicles, using the same lubricant manufacturers we have in the U.S., is about 10,000 miles whereas in the U.S. the average draininterval followed by most drivers is somewhat less than 5,000 miles. This too-short drain interval in the U.S. results in the annual unneeded production and usage of 300-400 million gallons of motor oil, millions of unnecessary oil changes resulting in nearly 100 million gallons of motor oil being improperly disposed of in the U.S. environment.

Why Are Synthetic Lubricants Better?

Synthetic motor oils are designed for extended drain intervals. Due to the lower volatility, synthetics do not boil off or vaporize as much as petroleum motor oils. Petroleum motor oils can lose up to 20 percent of their mass in the high heat conditions created by the internal combustion engine. Synthetic lubricantswill lose only 4 to 10 percent of their mass in even the most extreme conditions. The synthetic molecules are uniform in size and shape, which resists the vaporization that boils off the smaller molecules of conventional motor oils. This results in thicker, higher viscosity oil that may compromiseproper motor lubrication resulting in a higher wear situation on critical components.

Do your vehicle and America a favor and change over to synthetic products. Together we can decrease pollution and lessen our dependence on foreign oil.