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City Vehicles to Run on Recycled Oil
October 12 , 2010
Starting this fiscal year, the City will be using recycled oil for fleet items such as vehicle motor oil, automatic transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and heavy-duty motor oil as part of Fleet Management's renewable energy initiatives.
Fleet Management bought its first re-refined oil product in 1981. That early foray into green technology was aborted when it proved to be a nonstarter, due mainly to "antique" technologies of the time. Today, the technology has become so advanced that there is no longer any difference between recycled oil re-refined with modern processes and refined oil from virgin crude. This has long been demonstrated not only in the laboratory but also in large-scale fleet operations such as those in the Los Angeles Rapid Transit District and Orange County Transportation Authority.
A vehicle can get the same level of performance from a re-refined oil product as from a virgin oil product because used motor oil can be re-refined into lubricating oils that meet the same American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications as virgin motor oil.
Re-refined oil product prices and disposal costs are lower than that of virgin oil products. By switching from 15/40 motor oil made from virgin crude to the re-refined oil equivalent, we can get the same level of performance at a lower cost and generate enough savings in a little over two years to buy a brand new compact for the car pool fleet.
Recycling used oil reduces the demand for foreign oil, which moves us closer towards energy independence. Moreover, it takes less energy and natural resources to produce re-refined oil from used oil than refining oil from virgin crude. Lastly, we get a cleaner environment by reducing waste (used oil) since the waste in one industry is put into productive use (re-refined oil) by another.
Improperly disposed used oil that ends up in landfills, back yards, sewers, or storm drains contaminates the soil and water supply. One quart of used motor oil can pollute 40,000 square feet of soil, making it non-productive for farming or plant growth for up to 100 years. Used oil from a single oil changes can ruin a million gallons of fresh water, a one year's supply for 50 people. Used oil pored down a sewer line can damage water treatment systems, contaminating our drinking water and costing untold dollars in clean up and repairs.
All things considered, it is a switch worth making.
