Leaking oil goes from your car to the street...

Oil sheen in street

  ...and is washed from the street
into the storm drain and into 
our creeks, streams and
the Yadkin River. Now imagine
the number of cars in the area
and you can imagine the amount of
oil that finds its way from leaky
gaskets into our water.
So please, fix oil leaks.

What's the problem with motor oil?

Oil does not dissolve in water. It lasts a long time and sticks to everything from creek banks to bird feathers. Oil and other petroleum products are toxic to people, wildlife and plants. One quart of oil can make a slick larger than eight football fields. Oil that leaks from our cars onto roads and driveways is washed into the storm drain and then into the closest creek. Used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollution in our lakes, streams and rivers. Americans spill 300 million gallons of used oil each year into our waters. This is 25 times the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska.

How can you use and change your motor oil and help keep our waters clean?

  • Stop drips. Check for oil leaks regularly and fix them promptly. Keep your car tuned to reduce oil use.
  • Use ground cloths or drip pans beneath your vehicle if you have leaks or are doing engine work.
  • Clean up spills immediately with an absorbent material such as kitty litter.
  • Collect all used oil in containers with tight fitting lids.
  • Do not mix different engine fluids.
  • Never dispose of oil or other engine fluids down the storm drain, on the ground or into a ditch.
  • Recycle used motor oil. Take it to 3RC The EnviroStation or to an auto supply store or gas station that accepts used oil.

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