Can we do more with used oil?

[53' Stude]

Good Morning folks. Can we do more like make gasoline from rerefined/reclaimed and recycled oils? I know lot of it gets burned for heat and fuel. Didn’t know if anything has changed or no.

Thank You

 

[Wrenchturner44]

In my area, most motor oil is recycled into asphalt mix. We also have a large cement plant about 70 miles from the urban center and they are known to use spent solvents, ground rubber, and paint reclame residues to fire their kilns. They have triple scrubbers on their stacks so not much is left that goes out into the air or environment.

 

[kschachn]

Of course. Given enough time, money and effort you can synthesize or reform any hydrocarbon into another. For example, you can make fuel from coal if you are so inclined.

But it's not worth it. The volume is just not there and besides, there is no shortage of crude oil.

 

[Tdbo]

I'm not sure what the difference is if it is used as fuel oil or reformulated into gasoline.
Seems like an exercise in futility to me.
I think the real question is what can be done with used plastic?

 

[cptbarkey]

In my area, most motor oil is recycled into asphalt mix.

Huh, you got me going down a rabbit hole to see how to make asphalt. Thank you.

 

[kschachn]

Used motor oil is not being reformed into high molecular weight asphalt, it is used for other purposes. Some reclaimed asphalt fragments are using it as a "solvent" to soften the fragments. Residue from motor oil redistillation is used as well.

But in neither case is the lighter hydrocarbon being reformed.

 

[cptbarkey]

Used motor oil is not being reformed into high molecular weight asphalt, it is used for other purposes. Some reclaimed asphalt fragments are using it as a "solvent" to soften the fragments. Residue from motor oil redistillation is used as well.

But in neither case is the lighter hydrocarbon being reformed.

this was an interesting read. There is a tire processing plant not far from my family ranch that "processes" tires, maybe this is what they are up to for another company I've been watching which has stirred up the local community quite a bit for their plans on "yet another" concrete/limestone plant.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1026918520300172

 

[Foxtrot08]

It’s already turned into VGO’s, a precursor in the refining process to make fuels.

The problem is mostly, the freight side of things. It gets expensive to haul, which makes refining costs go up. Which makes its usage go down.

 

[kschachn]

this was an interesting read. There is a tire processing plant not far from my family ranch that "processes" tires, maybe this is what they are up to for another company I've been watching which has stirred up the local community quite a bit for their plans on "yet another" concrete/limestone plant.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1026918520300172

Yes, using rubber granules.

 

[53' Stude]

I'm not sure what the difference is if it is used as fuel oil or reformulated into gasoline.
Seems like an exercise in futility to me.
I think the real question is what can be done with used plastic?

Someone told me that we can’t turn used oil into gasoline. I never got a answer though as to why

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I use it on a lot of wood to avoid pressure treated.

 

[Fordiesel69]

I knew a guy that had a cummins 5.9L p-pump log skidder, and to "save" burned used motor oil mixed with kerosene, diesel, etc....... Whatever was cheap or free.

The used oil ended up accumulating in the crankcase that presented as an overfull condition. Also popped a headgasket deep out in the woods.

 

[oil pan 4]

Good Morning folks. Can we do more like make gasoline from rerefined/reclaimed and recycled oils? I know lot of it gets burned for heat and fuel. Didn’t know if anything has changed or no.

Thank You

I soak fire wood in used oil and burn them.

 

[thastinger]

I soak fire wood in used oil and burn them.

I'm guessing you need a good base fire going first?

 

[oil pan 4]

Someone told me that we can’t turn used oil into gasoline. I never got a answer though as to why

For most of the US used motor oil probably can't be hauled back to an oil refinery for cheaper than what it costs for the oil refinery to just buying crude oil.
The last time I remember used motor oil being in demand by the oil industry was when oil had been over $100 per barrel for extended time and was headed towards $140. This was a hundred dollars in like 2009 dollars, not post covid build back better Monopoly money.

 

[oil pan 4]

I'm guessing you need a good base fire going first?

Ya. I burn them in a coal furnace so it drafts from the bottom and can burn up wood really fast.

 

[kschachn]

Someone told me that we can’t turn used oil into gasoline. I never got a answer though as to why

Hydrocarbons are like Tinker Toys, given enough effort you can disassemble and reassemble them any way you wish.

 

[53' Stude]

Hydrocarbons are like Tinker Toys, given enough effort you can disassemble and reassemble them any way you wish.

Good to know. He mentioned something like “you already broke some chains of petroleum down; so doing more is more complex”. I wanted a real answer not his bs one

 

[53' Stude]

I knew a guy that had a cummins 5.9L p-pump log skidder, and to "save" burned used motor oil mixed with kerosene, diesel, etc....... Whatever was cheap or free.

The used oil ended up accumulating in the crankcase that presented as an overfull condition. Also popped a headgasket deep out in the woods.

I doubt that led to demise of the engine in skidder

 

[gfh77665]

I know many will scoff but the Mobil 2 concept still works perfectly fine in a beater. A quality synthetic drained out after 5000 miles still has servicible life left. Will easily go another 5000 in a beater. Just sayin'.