Letters from Auto and Equipment Manufacturers on Use of Re-refined Oil
- For statements for Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors
- For statements from Caterpillar
- For statements from Detroit Diesel, visit page 13 of Lubricating Oil, Fuel & Filters
Statements from Manufactures Supporting the Use of Re-Refined Oil
If these rerefined oils are
manufactured correctly, there is then no reason not to use them. We
approved the use of rerefined engine oils for use in our engines
decades ago. The requirement is, above all, that the rerefining
process is perfect and the oils are alloyed correctly just like
virgin base oils.
Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
Oils that display this registered
mark on the front of the container are certified to meet all the
requirements of the International Lubricant Standardization and
Approval Committee (ILSAC) GF-1 standard for engine oil. This
specificationA concise statement of a set of requirements to be satisfied by a product, material, or process; indicating whenever appropriate the procedures to determine whether the requirements are satisfied. As far as practicable, it is desirable that the requirement be expressed numerically in terms of appropriate units together with their limits. does not differentiate between products made from
virgin base oils or re-refined base oils. The marketer of the
product must make sure that not only the initial product, but every
batch of oil, meets the requirements of this specification. Oils made from re-refined base oils
can meet these requirements; however, not all of them do. By careful
control of re-refining and blending processes, some marketers
produce good quality oils from re-refined base oils. These are
acceptable for use under the Chrysler New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Low or inconsistent quality oils may cause engine damage not covered
by warranty.
Chrysler Corporation
Ford recommends using engine oil
meeting Ford Specification ESE-M2C153-E and licensed as certified
for gasoline engines by the American Petroleum Institute (API
Certification). Both virgin and re-refined engine oils are capable
of meeting these requirements by qualifying against a series of
rigorous tests designed to ensure their suitability for modem
gasoline engines. While these tests confirm a specific sample of the
oil qualifies with acceptable performance, it is the responsibility
of the oil marketers to ensure that their products meet the
requirements consistently and continuously.
Ford Motor Company
General Motors recommends for use in
its vehicles engine oils which meet the performance requirements
specified in the latest International Lubricant Standardization and
Approval Committee (ILSAC) Minimum Performance Standard (currently
ILSAC GF-1), and which are certified by the American Petroleum
Institute for use in gasoline engines. Such oils may be identified
in the marketplace by looking for the Certification Mark Shown below
on the front of the engine oil container. Engine oils meeting these
requirements can be made with either virgin or re-refined base oils.
General Motors
Re-refined base stock oils are
acceptable for use in Caterpillar engines and in Caterpillar
machines if these oils meet the performance requirements that are
specified by Caterpillar for a particular compartment. Each
compartment has requirements for lubrication and requirements for
lubrication specifications in order to ensure proper lubrication and
life of the system. Re-refined base oils can be used exclusively in
finished oil or in a combination with new base oils. The U.S.
military specifications and the specifications of other heavy
equipment manufacturers also allow the use of re-refined base oils
that meet the same criteria.
Caterpillar
With over one billion gallons of
waste oil generated annually in the U.S. alone, disposal of waste
oil has become a serious environmental concern. Re-refining waste
oils provides an environmentally viable way of handling this
material. Several states have established collection and recycling
programs. A few states have also designated used oil as a hazardous
waste requiring special handling and disposal. Detroit Diesel favors
the recycling of waste oil and permits the use of re-refined oils in
all engine product lines, provided the rerefined oil meets the SAE
Viscosity and API specifications previously mentioned.
Detroit Diesel
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Less Hazardous
Products containing hazardous chemicals can pose health risks to employees and the public, as well as threaten the environment. In addition, hazardous products often require special and costly waste disposal methods. Buy products that are labeled with none of the following signal words or those with the lowest level of hazard possible (but that still get the job done).- Caution: mild to moderate hazard
- Warning: moderate hazard
- Danger: corrosive, extremely flammable, or highly toxic
- Poison: highly toxic
If less-hazardous alternatives are not readily available, use the least amount of a hazardous product needed to accomplish a task. Use up all of the product before throwing the container or packaging away.
Conserves Energy
Reducing energy use is important because most energy production contributes to problems such as carbon dioxide emissions (tied to global warming), mercury releases, acid rain, volatile organic compounds, and nuclear waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy developed the Energy Star label to help purchasers identify energy-efficient products. These products reduce utility bills and help the environment.
Recycled Content
Recycled-content products save energy and resources, while also keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators. Recycled-content products can be made with post-consumer content, pre-consumer content, or a mix of both. Products made with post-consumer recycled content support our recycling programs at home and at work. If people do not buy products with post-consumer recycled content, manufacturers will no longer want the paper, cans, glass, or plastic we separate from trash. Pre-consumer content comes primarily from manufacturer scrap, and as such does not directly support such recycling efforts.
Prevents Waste
Minnesota generates over 5 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, and this amount is increasing every year. Much of this waste comes from disposable and over-packaged products. Preventing waste can conserve natural resources and avoid the need to build new, expensive waste disposal facilities. You prevent waste when:- Reducing the amount of material you buy to accomplish any task;
- Reusing a product in its original form; or
- Using repairable, refillable, or durable products.
Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs evaporate ("volatilize") easily at room temperature and often have a sharp smell. They are contained in many products, such as office equipment, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, paints, solvents, pesticides, and cleaning products. Some VOCs can cause cancer in certain situations, especially when they are concentrated indoors. When VOCs hit sunlight, they create ozone, an air pollutant harmful to both people and plants. Many low-VOC versions of products reduce risks to human health and the environment.
Conserves Water
Less than 1% of the Earth's water is available for human consumption. There is no "new" water on Earth. Dry spells have reminded us that our water supply can be threatened - even in the Land of 10,000 Lakes - resulting in watering bans in some municipalities. Choosing products and services that conserve water, such as automatic flushers and low-flow faucets and toilets, can conserve this vital resource while reducing water and sewer bills.
End of Life Management
What happens to a product after we use it? Some materials cannot go in the trash because they are hazardous in some way and therefore need separate - and sometimes expensive - special management. Some products are more easily recycled than others that do the same job. Making wiser buying choices can prevent a disposal concern at the end of a product's useful life, keep hazardous materials out of the environment, and expand options for recycling and reuse.
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Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised April 12, 2008 - 11:08pm