Oil & Transmission Fluid Recycling

*Free oil recycling is available at most stores, unless prohibited by law.

How do I dispose of motor oil?
It's easy to go green and recycle your used oil! After changing the motor oil in your vehicle, safely dispose of it by bringing it to your local store. We'll ensure it is handled properly for safe oil recycling. For us to accept the used oil, you'll need collect it properly and bring it to us in the appropriate storage container. See our article How To Recycle Oil for step-by-step instructions. Free oil recycling is available at most stores, unless prohibited by law.

Can I recycle my oil filter too?
Yes. Oil filters contain both steel and oil and can be recycled at select Advance stores. Contact your local store to see if they accept oil filters. Punch a hole in the oil filter and let the oil drip into a catch container you are using to collect used oil. Even after draining, the filter can contain as much as 10 oz. of residual oil, so be sure to recycle the filter, too.

What is needed to recycle oil?
Items needed to collect used oil for recycling include:

• A tarp
• A drip pan. We recommend one with a built-in spout for easy transfer to a storage container.
• A sealed container made of a suitable plastic, such as PE (polyethylene). No milk cartons, please.

For additional details and instructions, see our article, How To Recycle Oil.

Is there a recycling limit?
Customers are limited to 5 gallons of used fluid per day.

What are the benefits of recycling oil?
When you recycle engine oil, you're contributing to a healthier, cleaner world. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the oil resulting from a single oil change could contaminate one million gallons of fresh water if disposed of improperly. Additionally, improper disposal is illegal and can lead to hefty fines. Another benefit is lubricating oil production. It takes one gallon of recycled oil to produce 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil. Compare that to the 42 gallons of crude oil needed to produce the same 2.5 quarts.

What happens to the recycled oil and oil filters?
Depending on the location of the store and the season, the used oil is:

• Re-refined into lube stock and blended with additive packages to be resold as engine and lubricant oils (Approximately 90% of oil collected at Advance Auto Stores is turned into re-refined oil products)

• Refined and resold as fuel oil for industrial burners or to asphalt plants as a component to asphalt.

The antifreeze is recycled to produce pure ethylene glycol. The recycled ethylene glycol is then formulated to manufacture new automotive and diesel coolants.

The oil filters are shredded and the separated into three components that are all recycled; scrap metal, oil that is re-refined, and paper/rubber that is made into a fuel for energy recovery at industrial burners.