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Synthetic Motor Oil
Name: Cegrubbs
Status: Other
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Does using synthetic motor oil lessen auto emissions? Is it worth
the extra cost? If you were to use it, how often would you change the oil and
filter?
Replies:
No, using synthetic motor oil will not reduce your auto emissions.
The exhaust gases are gasoline combustion products, not the products of oil
break down. Even if your car burns a lot of oil, refined oil and synthetic oil
produce the same pollutants when burned. I would have to say that synthetic
oil is not worth the extra cost. If I were to use it, however, I would change
my oil and filter every 3,000 miles or 3 months (just as I do with refined
oil). Your best bet is to make sure whatever oil you use meets your car
manufacturer's specifications (listed in your owner's manual) and to change
the oil at the intervals above (these are meant to increase engine life not
reduce pollution). To reduce pollution your best bet is to take your oil in
for reclamation.
Approximately 450 million gallons of used oil are disposed of
annually on the ground or waterways, landfilled, or burned in non-energy
recovery incinerators (this includes crankcase, transmission,
two-cycle/aircraft, and industrial oils). Also, if you change your own oil and
have not heard this before you should note that used motor oil may cause skin
cancer if repeatedly left in contact with the skin for prolonged periods. This
is unlikely unless you handle used oil daily, but you should still wash any
used oil off your skin as soon after handling as possible (using only soap and
water, not ridiculous scrubbing techniques).
Eric Dallman
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Update: June 2012
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