Environmentally Friendly Oil Change Choices

Concern for the environment is growing every day, as we further understand the impact we have on the world around us many of us try to make small changes to reduce our personal environmental impact. One area of everyday life that can cause the most damage to the environment is improperly maintained vehicles or the incorrect careless disposal of automotive waste products. Oil changes have both benefits and unfortunately can cause large issues, for example a single gallon of poorly discarded motor oil can contaminate a astounding million gallons of water according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The benefits of regular oil changes not only include keeping your car running properly and efficiently but also cleanly, reduced vehicle emissions from well maintained engines reduce the strain on the environment from your car. Using new synthetic motor oils ensure a longer life for engine oil and less waste product they are also better for your vehicle, reducing sludging and breakdown keeping your engine running better, longer. Spending a small amount more money on higher quality synthetic oil while replacing your motor oil may be more expensive in the short term but over the long term it is a cost saving option.

One of the most important environmental concerns during an oil change is how waste oil is disposed of, because improper or careless disposal can wreak havoc on the environment. Waste oil does not biodegrade efficiently and contains particles and chemicals that are damaging to the planet and the creatures that inhabit it. Waste oil is one of the leading causes of contaminated waterways in the United States and will stick to everything from animal feathers and fur to soil and sand. It is one of the primary environmental concerns affecting a large amount of land and water and it's harmful for humans also so contamination of the water table could be more costly than previously thought.

Many oil change locations and auto repair shops now offer waste oil recycling services. A large number of automotive supply and parts stores also offer this service, so if you are one of the many who do their own oil changes this service is also available to you. In many cases this service is free to encourage proper disposal and recycling of waste motor oil which makes it even more cost effective to perform to replace your own oil yourself in your own garage or driveway. With a little care choosing the right location, replacement motor oil and how waste oil is disposed of you can make sure that keeping your vehicle in great working order and keeping your environmental impact low do not have to conflict with each other.