AMSOIL and the Environment
Innovation, Efficiency & Solutions
Our mechanized society cannot function without lubricants. The dilemma is oil is
both necessary for our life-style and potentially destructive to nature. Quite
simply, we must select innovative, efficient products that will help solve our
pollution problems.
The introduction of AMSOIL synthetic motor oil in 1972 set all new standards for
motor oil quality. AMSOIL lubricants are 100% synthetic. They are specially
designed to protect engine components, reduce emissions, last longer, reduce
fuel consumption and prevent environmental pollution. From the beginning, AMSOIL
synthetic motor oils have out-performed conventional petroleum motor oils on all
counts.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils resist chemical breakdown and sludging, which keeps
engines cleaner. They have been specifically designed not to oxidize, volatilize
or shear back, resulting in a motor oil that lasts longer than conventional
petroleum motor oils. While petroleum motor oil manufacturers recommend oil
changes every 3,000 miles, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils protect engine components
up to 35,000 miles or 1 year, dramatically extending oil change intervals.
AMSOIL's Prescription For Prevention
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Pollution Prevention Requirements,
the first step in revitalizing a cleaner nation is pollutant source reduction.
AMSOIL accomplishes this by extending the interval between motor oil changes
which can reduce the source of motor oil pollution more than eleven times.
Consider this: in 1993 an estimated 189.5 million motorized vehicles were on the
road in the United States alone, and an estimated 700 million motorized vehicles
were in operation throughout the world. If, by petroleum oil manufacturer's
recommendations, these vehicles have their oil changed every 3,000 miles on an
average five-quart system, almost 1 billion quarts of used oil will be generated
each month. So are we drowning in oil? It is estimated at present that over 240
million gallons of oil are improperly discarded annually. Dumping 240 million
gallons of oil is nearly the same as two Exxon Valdez spills each month.
How dangerous is used oil? Just one quart can produce a two-acre oil slick. One
gallon of oil can make one million gallons of water too foul to drink and 35 ppm
of oil will kill fish. Improperly disposed used oil is dangerous.
Improperly dumped used oil seeps through landfills into ground water, disrupts
bacterial digestion in sewer treatment plants and washes into lakes and harbors. At present, used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollution in our
nation's waterways. Certainly the first thing we can do is not create so much
used oil to begin with . . . and the United States Department of Energy seems to
agree.
Where Does All the Used Oil Go?
|
40% |
is dumped on the ground or down the sewer. |
21% |
is thrown out with the trash, ending up in landfills. |
6% |
is burned. |
19% |
is reused for miscellaneous purposes. |
14% |
is recycled. |
Prevent Billions of Quarts From Being Dumped
Most automobile manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals of 3,000 to 6,000
miles for petroleum motor oils. AMSOIL recommends up to a 35,000-mile oil change,
which is 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes. Just think about the savings on the
environment if, for example, the 135 million cars (excluding trucks, buses and
taxis) in the United States were equipped with AMSOIL motor oil. Assuming an
average service-life of 100,000 miles and an oil capacity of 5 quarts each, 11.4
billion to 22.3 billion quarts of used oil will be generated during a regular
service lifetime (with regular oil changes every 3,000 to 6,000 miles). If you
put 22.3 billion quarts of used oil into 55-gallon barrels and loaded them onto
semi-trucks, a line of trucks would stretch end-to-end from Los Angeles to
Washington D.C. and back to Los Angeles.
AMSOIL Solutions
For nearly three decades, AMSOIL INC. has been recognized as the leader in
synthetic lubrication technology. AMSOIL was the first to introduce a synthetic
motor oil qualified by the American Petroleum Institute, the first to recommend
25,000-mile/1-year drain intervals, the first to recommend 35,000-mile/1-year
drain intervals, and the first to implement a system for dramatically increasing
drain intervals with oil analysis. Decades of research, laboratory analysis and
millions of engine miles have kept AMSOIL the leader in automotive applications
for synthetic lubrication. Although the results have paid off in maximizing
efficiency and minimizing waste, they are not conclusive. AMSOIL is the leader
in synthetics and with continued research, analysis, and product development will
remain the industry's leader.
Looking Toward the Future
In 1983 AMSOIL created the TRI-GARD system. The life of a lubricant is dependent
on the quality of oil and the filtration system's ability to keep it clean. The AMSOIL TRI-GARD system incorporates AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil, the AMSOIL Foam
Air Filter, the AMSOIL By-Pass Filter and oil analysis to dramatically extend
the oil change interval. Less oil changed means less oil disposal and less oil
pollution. With regards to the environment, the AMSOIL TRI-GARD System is the
most technologically sound, environmentally friendly motor oil program to reduce
oil disposal.
Other Ecological/Economical Benefits of AMSOIL
Reduces Emissions: Increases Engine Life
Each year nearly 600 million gallons of motor oil are burned and exit through
the tailpipes of cars and trucks, creating emissions pollution. Petroleum oils
volatilize (burn off) more readily than AMSOIL synthetic oils and create more
emissions pollution.
The graph at the right (will be available soon) shows the results of five oils
that underwent the NOACK Volatility Test. Of all the oils tested, AMSOIL shows
dramatically less weight loss ... less than half the weight loss of its
closest counterpart. Some oils tested lost 20 percent of their weight. That
means almost one fifth of the oil boils away and is released into the
environment. For most cars, that's approximately a quart of oil being burned and
expelled into nature.
The thicker oil left behind after volatilization contributes to damaging deposits,
sticky piston rings and oil blow-by, all of which cause reduced engine life,
reduced fuel economy and increased air pollution.
Greater Fuel Economy
The advanced lubricity (slipperiness) of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants has been
proven to increase fuel economy by 2-5%. AMSOIL reduces friction and allows your
engine to use its heat-energy more efficiently.
How Much Is a 5% Savings in Fuel? The average person drives slightly more than
10,000 miles each year. A 5% savings in fuel gives you more than $53 in savings
a year (assuming you get 30 mpg, at $3.20 per gallon).
Worldwide Vehicle Population: 1970: 245 million 1985: 520 million 2000: (est.):
800 million If, in the year 2000, these vehicles change oil 3 times each year
and have 5 quart systems, 1 billion quarts of waste oil will be generated each
month.
"Each month, petroleum products emit the equivalent of an 'oil
spill' into the Los Angeles Basin's air as massive as the 10-million-gallon
spill from the Exxon Valdez, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management
District." (Truckers' News Magazine)
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