How to Dispose of Motor Oil Without Harming the Environment

Motor oil, also known as engine oil, is a lubricant used to keep your car’s engine up and running. On the other hand, it is hazardous to the environment. Therefore, used motor oil disposal is strictly not allowed anywhere as its chemicals can poison wildlife, groundwater and plants, and pollute the soil. Also, the chemicals in car oil take many years to naturally break down as it becomes dangerous for the environment till it remains on earth.  

In case you need to dispose of car oil, you can do it on your own by following precautionary measures and then take it to the used motor oil recycling company in the UAE or to motor oil shops that accept used engine oil. 

Today, we are going to discuss how to dispose of car oil safely with proper precautions. 

SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO FOLLOW FOR USED MOTOR OIL DISPOSAL 

Irrespective of the type of car engine oil, it is important to take care of your eyes and hands as you dispose of car oil. Hence, it is better that you wear safety glasses and gloves when you dispose or change motor oil yourself.  

HOW TO DISPOSE OF CAR OIL 

For motor oil disposal, you will require the same tools that are used in changing it. The steps to dispose of engine oil are almost the same. Let’s find out in detail how to dispose of car oil safely on your own:

1. When you intend to dispose of motor oil for recycling, don’t put any other chemicals. Otherwise,  the motor oil will be contaminated and cannot be recycled. 
2. Collect the engine oil into a clean plastic container and then transfer it into empty oil bottles. 
3. Make a hole in the oil filter’s dome and drain the old oil filter into the container. Seal the oil filter in a plastic bag so that the remaining oil in the filter does not create a mess in the surrounding.
4. Clean your garage floor or driveway, where you have disposed of car engine oil. 
5. Keep all the oil bottles in your car’s trunk or carry them safely to one of the used motor oil recycling companies operational in your respective Emirate.

It is worthwhile to note that don’t put the container of used engine oil on your car’s seat or floor. Even a single drop of it will stain the car’s upholstery and will stain everything else that comes in contact. Furthermore, if you have disposed of used engine oil in bottles, then place them in a cardboard box or plastic tub to keep them upright in your car. 

Recycling and handling of used motor oil are strictly controlled in the UAE. It is, therefore, advised to take the used engine oil to one of the authorised recycling companies in the UAE. Also, unauthorised sale, collection, and transport of used engine oil is strictly prohibited, and doing so results in hefty fines and penalties. 

Since disposing of motor oil anywhere is hazardous to the environment. Therefore, it is recycled and reused. The used engine oil is processed and refined to make various petroleum-based products. For instance, hydraulic fluids, lubricants, oil-based paints, and gear oil. Moreover, used motor oil can also be refined and processed into fuel. 

Here our guide on how to safely dispose of motor oil comes to an end. If you are interested in buying a used car in the UAE, don’t forget to ask the seller when they disposed of and changed the engine oil. If it wasn’t done recently, then you can do it on your own by following the steps detailed above. There are many benefits of changing the engine oil regularly and hence, it should not be delayed to keep the car’s performance up. Besides, if you don’t hold relevant expertise then its better to take assistance from a professional technician or head to an auto service centre.

Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog for more maintenance and repair guides on different automobile parts and a lot more.