Auto enthusiasts everywhere understand that by selecting high-quality motor oil, they protect their cars’ engines—but in far too many cases, these same auto enthusiasts are simply unaware that by switching to top-grade recycled (re-refined) motor oil, they can not only keep their cars humming healthily, but can actively care for the environment, too. The green motor oil revolution, already underway and spearheaded by Universal Lubricants with products such as ECO ULTRA, promises environmental, social, and economic benefits unimaginable only a few years ago. Education and outreach will prove key in revving this revolution to full force, so here are three motor oil myths, debunked.
Myth 1
Used motor oil is a waste product
As a product, motor oil is approximately 85% oil and 15% additives (detergent, anti-foaming stabilizers, etc.) and it is the latter 15% which breaks down, necessitating oil changes. Since the oil molecules retain their chemical composition, spent motor oil simply needs to be cleaned (removing contaminants and the worn out additives) and re-refined into API approved base oil then infused with a totally new state of the art additive package, to transform what was once thought of as a waste discharge into a top-grade product.
This cycle is infinitely repeatable and as such, is the most sustainable car care practice in existence today.
Myth 2
As a car owner, there is nothing I can do to reduce my environmental impact while on the road
Many people mistakenly believe that the necessity of driving is irreconcilable with environmental stewardship, unless they are ready to make a multi-thousand dollar commitment to purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle—and those sorts are few and far between! In truth, there is myriad ways for the average car owner to lessen his or her environmental impact: condense trips, coordinate carpools, and of course, make a deliberate decision to use recycled motor oil.
When compared to motor oil made from crude, re-refined equivalents such as ECO ULTRA use 89% less energy and emit 69% less greenhouse gases during production. Additionally, as Universal Lubricants employs a “closed-loop” process in which it collects, re-refines, blends, packages and redistributes its own oil—never losing guardianship within the chain—the company completes a sustainable cycle eliminating the possibility of improper disposal. And that’s a big deal, considering all it takes is one gallon of motor oil to contaminate up to 1 million gallons of water. By making a few smart choices, American car owners can feel good about doing the right thing for the environment and actively safeguard the ecosystems they drive through on a daily basis.
Myth 3
Recycled motor oil sacrifices engine performance to benefit the environment
Like leading motor oils, re-refined motor oils, such as ECO ULTRA meet and exceed the toughest standards for performance and engine protection. But don’t just take my word for it, the performance is proven. ECO UTLRA is an American Petroleum Institute (API) certified motor oil. It also has one of the highest percentages of recycled oil content and meets Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) requirements and current vehicle manufacturers’ specifications as well. What’s more, the U.S. Department of Defense and many other federal agencies have been using re-refined motor oil for over 20 years. This includes U.S. military vehicles which often operate in the most adverse conditions, which rely on the recycled motor oil to ensure optimal performance.
Using recycled motor oil like ECO ULTRA matters; by protecting waterways, it matters to the environment, by sharply reducing energy consumption, it matters to the economy, by recycling rather than importing, it matters to our country’s efforts to lessen dependence on foreign oil. As a car owner, you can matter, too. Make an impact and join the green motor oil revolution, choose ECO ULTRA.
