Used oil refers to any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used and is no longer fit for its original purpose. As oil serves its function in various applications, it can pick up impurities such as dirt, metal shavings, water, or chemicals, changing its properties and making it "used."
Understanding Used Oil
When an oil product completes its intended use, it often becomes contaminated or degraded. This used oil can originate from a wide range of applications in vehicles, machinery, and heating systems. Proper identification and handling of these different types of used oil are crucial for environmental protection and potential recycling efforts.
Specific Types of Used Oil
Based on the products that become used after their service life, the different types of used oil include a variety of common lubricants and fuels.
Examples of products that, after use, can be labeled as used oil are:
- Hydraulic oil: Used in hydraulic systems to transmit power.
- Transmission oil: Lubricates the gears and components in vehicle transmissions.
- Brake fluids: Used in hydraulic braking systems (often considered part of the used oil stream despite different chemical composition in some cases).
- Motor oil: Lubricates internal combustion engines.
- Crankcase oil: Specifically referring to used motor oil drained from an engine's crankcase.
- Gear box oil: Lubricates gears and bearings in gearboxes.
- Synthetic oil: Artificially produced lubricants used in engines and machinery, also becomes used oil after its service life.
- Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 fuel oil: Heating or furnace oils that have been contaminated or are no longer usable as fuel.
These examples highlight the diverse origins of used oil, spanning automotive, industrial, and heating applications.