Editor
Re-refined oil is used motor oil that undergoes an extensive re-refining process to remove contaminants to produce a good as new base oil. This base oil is then sold to blenders who add additive packages to produce lubricants such as motor oil, transmission fluid, and grease. The main difference between re-refined and virgin oil products is that re-refined represents the responsible choice for the environment.
Lubricants made from re-refined base stocks must undergo the same testing and meet the same standards as virgin lubricants in order to receive the certification of the American Petroleum Institute (API). Vehicle and engine manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and Detroit Diesel have issued warranty statements that allow the use of re-refined oil as long as it meets API standards. Many government and private fleets have used re-refined lubricants in their vehicles for years and report no difference in performance from virgin lubricants.
Re-refined oil is good for the environment and it's priced competitively to regular motor oil. Also, do it yourself oil changers "close the recycling loop" with re-refined oil by turning in their old oil and purchasing motor oil that has been used, re-refined, and put back on store shelves for reuse.
Buying re-refined oil reduces our dependence on imported oil, reduces the depletion of natural resources, eliminates waste material, and helps create jobs. By using and promoting the use of re-refined lubricants, you accomplish the following:
Preserve a non-renewable resource-oil.
Demonstrate your commitment to a cleaner environment through recycling and proper waste management.
Help protect the environment against pollution.
Re-Refined Oil by the Numbers : It takes one gallon of used oil to produce 2.5 quarts of re-refined oil.
If all used motor oil generated by the public was collected and re-refined, it would provide enough oil for more than 8 million cars each year.
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) promotes closed loop recycling and the use of re-refined lubricants. Cal Recycle's used oil program awarded a contract to the California State University Long Beach Foundation to promote the use of re-refined lubricants. The Long Beach Foundation project focuses on fleet manager training. Fleet manager training increases the market demand for re-refined oil by educating fleet managers on re-refined oil quality and successful uses.
Some of the Many Users of Rerefined OIL
Thousands of different cars, trucks, and fleets around the world use rerefined oil. A few users include: Coca-Cola, United Parcel Service, California Highway Patrol, Southern California Gas, County of Los Angeles, City of Sacramento, Waste Management, the U.S. Postal Service, Frito-Lay, Caltrans, City of San Francisco, and Ventura County including all emergency vehicles. Rerefined oil is even used on the NASCAR race circuit.
Rerefined oil-an exciting renewable resource-is designed to reduce the environmental impact of used oils by conserving valuable oil resources. Rerefining oil is an energy efficient and environmentally beneficial method of managing used oil. Less energy is required to recover a gallon of rerefined base stock than a base stock from crude oil. Rerefined oil takes about one-third the energy of refining crude oil to lubricant quality. Rather than using the oil once, rerefining extends the life of a nonrenewable resource by converting it into a usable material that can be recovered and used again.
By law, auto manufacturers cannot endorse a particular brand of motor oil. Many have gone on record, however, to state that using re-refined oil does not affect warranty coverage. As long as an oil is API certified, it doesn't matter if the oil is re-refined, mineral oil based, synthetic, partly synthetic, or hydrocracked. Here are a few positions:
"Ford recommends using engine oil meeting Ford Specification ESE-M2C153-E and licensed as certified for gasoline engines by the American Petroleum Institute (API). Re-refined oils are capable of meeting these requirements... it is the responsibility of the oil marketers to ensure that their products meet the requirements consistently and continuously. It is Ford's view that a re-refined oil produced with stringent manufacturing controls, batch to batch testing of low temperature viscosity performance and other significant characteristics, would comply with Ford's recommendations."
"G.M recommends for use in its vehicles oils that meet performance requirements specified in the latest Performance Standard and Approval Committee Minimum Performance Standard, and that are certified by the American Petroleum Institute. Oils meeting those requirements can be made with either virgin or re-refined base oils. General Motors encourages the use of properly qualified re-refined products which consistently satisfy recommended performance requirements.
"Chrysler cannot condemn or endorse re-refined oils. It recommends engine oils meeting the requirements of API Service category SG of SG/SC and of SAE 5W-30 or 10W-30 for the gasoline engines it sells."
"Detroit Diesel favors the recycling of waste oil and permits the use of re-refined oils in all engine product lines provided the re-refined oil meets the SAE Viscosity, API, and Military specifications."
Go Green: Repower Your Vehicle's Engine
When serious engine trouble hits, the non-profit Car Care Council reminds vehicle owners that repowering their current vehicle rather than buying a new one is the cost effective, "green" way to go.
"When it comes to your vehicle, it's great to be green," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "By repowering the vehicle you already own, you will extend its useful life and significantly reduce its impact on the environment. Repowering also makes the vehicle more fuel efficient which decreases harmful emissions further helping to protect our planet."
With repowering, a vehicle's engine or an identical one from another like vehicle is completely disassembled, cleaned, machined and remanufactured/rebuilt. Unlike used or junk yard engines with an unknown performance and maintenance history, remanufactured engines are reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs.
Remanufacturing also saves an incredible amount of raw materials that would have been used in building a new engine and energy used in processing discarded engines and vehicles.
"Engine remanufacturing is not only an environmentally sound decision, but it lets you keep more 'green' in your wallet," said White. "For the cost of an average down payment on a new car or truck, you can repower your current vehicle, gaining years of reliable service and improved fuel economy all without monthly car payments and higher insurance rates."
To learn more about making your car more environmentally friendly, visit the Car Care Council website at http://www.carcare.org/go-green/. The Car Care Council also offers many free tools to help consumers drive smart and save money, including the popular 60-page Car Care Guide and a custom service schedule and e-mail reminder service.
It doesn't matter if the car you're driving is new or old, big or small. There are preventive maintenance steps every vehicle owner can take to make sure their car is as "green" or environmentally friendly as possible, according to the Car Care Council.
By following a few simple preventive maintenance steps, you can help protect the environment by improving gas mileage which in turn saves money at the pump.
A properly maintained vehicle can improve its efficiency, reduce emissions and save you money. Regular engine performance maintenance will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. This will include checking the spark plugs, replacing the fuel and air filters, replacing ignition system and/or emission system parts if needed and ensuring the onboard computer control system is working properly.
Improve gas mileage by 4% on a proper tune-up and up to 40% when fixing a serious maintenance problem such as a faulty oxygen sensor. Worn or fouled spark plugs can cause the engine to lose power or misfire and waste fuel.
Drive Smart How you drive has a lot to do with fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Minimize unnecessary miles by combining errands in one trip. Drive wisely and minimize unnecessary miles by consolidating errands, getting good directions and avoiding excessive idling. Other guidelines to follow include:
Lighten the Load Get the junk out of the trunk and the stuff out of your car with the exception of emergency items such as a spare tire and a first aid kit. Extra items weigh the vehicle down and cause an increase in gas usage.
Regularly check and replace dirty air filters An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture that causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter will improve your car's performance and acceleration, but not miles per gallon. The air filter should be inspected at each oil change and replaced annually or when restricted, torn, water or oil soaked.
Have spark plugs checked and replaced if necessary A vehicle can have four, six or eight spark plugs which fire as many as three million times every 1,000 miles. This results in a lot of heat, electrical, and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug also causes misfiring which wastes fuel.
Maintain the cooling system A cooling system thermostat that causes the engine to run too cold will lower the fuel efficiency of a car by as much as one or two mpg. There are also improved radiator caps on the market today that allow the cooling system to operate at a higher temperature before boiling over increasing the system's efficiency and reducing emissions.
Tire Checks Proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent or 10 cents per gallon.
Tire pressure should be checked at least monthly including the spare. Tires that are not properly inflated add rolling resistance that makes the engine work harder to move the vehicle. Remember, tires can lose pressure due to seasonal temperature changes. According to the Rubber Manufacturer's Association, a tire can lose up to half of its inflation pressure and not appear to be flat. Optimal tire pressure for your vehicle is listed in the owner's manual or on the car door sidewall.
Gas Caps Check your vehicle's gas cap. A loose, cracked or damaged gas cap allows gas to escape from your tank as a vapor, wasting fuel and increasing vehicle emissions. It's also wasting your gas money!
Fill-Ups When filling up your car, remember to stop when the nozzle shuts off! Topping off the gas tank can release harmful vapors into the environment and waste money. Remember, your tank needs some extra room to allow the gasoline to expand. Some pumps engineered to protect the environment draw extra vapors back into the pump, meaning you pay for more gas than you are getting according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A/C Maintenance and Use The A/C system should be inspected annually during which a technician checks pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures. Use the window to help keep the car cool.
Vehicle Fuel System By properly maintaining your vehicle's fuel system, such as replacing your car's fuel filter every two years or 24,000 miles and having your fuel injectors flushed our every 30,000 miles, you will not only have a cleaner, 'greener' car, but you will save money at the pump."
Emission systems - Emission systems control a vehicle's emissions, exhaust and pollutants using an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and the exhaust components. Emission systems substantially reduce harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and prevent harmful gasoline vapors from escaping at the fuel tank. Your car's emission system keeps the engine running cleanly and efficiently in all sorts of operating conditions, and keeping it in proper working condition can save money and protect the environment. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage by 40%!
Maintain and repair your car as outlined in the council's Car Care Guide The guide helps drivers understand their car, the care it needs, and when it needs it and why. Single copies of the free guide may be ordered here on the Car Care Council Web site.
Questions to ask your mechanic:
