In this day and age of do-it-yourselfers, I’m frequently asked many questions pertaining to the care and feeding of the automobile. Perhaps the question that tops the list is, “What should I do with the old oil when I change the oil and filter?” The obvious answer, of course, would be “dump it somewhere on Sadam Hussein’s front lawn,” but I quickly assume that most folks are looking for a location a little closer to home.

We could do as we have for the last zillion years and pour it on the weeds behind the woodshed, but if you’re like other Americans, you’ve grown tired of having a funny green tinge in your complexion created by this abuse of Mother Earth.

Interestingly enough, many service and repair facilities are no longer willing to accept used motor oil other than that generated by their own service work. This is largely due to the fact that used motor oil is considered a hazardous substance, and must be treated with a great deal of respect. Did I say respect? I meant to say fear.

Among other things, used motor oil contains methylethybadstuff and other ingredients that cannot be easily pronounced. Research has also proven that skin exposed to used motor oil has a higher cancer risk.

We’re now down to a few options concerning our used black goo-pucky, which is about 14,390 miles overdue for changing.

The options I refer to include calling ahead to service facilities, repair shops, (both independent and dealerships) etc., and inquiring as to their policy on used motor oil recycling. Don’t be surprised if you are met with some hesitancy or an offer to help in return for a monetary donation. Depending on the size of their used oil containment system, many repair facilities must pay to have their black crude hauled off to the recyclers.

The last option is to (gulp!) pay to have your oil and filter changed (gasp!). For some of us tightwads this thought send shivers up our oil filter wrench. With numerous local automotive businesses clamoring for our dollars, this last option may not be as dumb as it sounds. Typically, beyond the normal oil and filter change, many other safety related items are checked. At many facilities your automobile is even washed and vacuumed after the service. All of this for around 25 bucks plus tax. No muss, no fuss, and no black gooey stuff to dispose of.

And don’t forget Dr. Doug’s “Rule of Threes.” Change your oil and filter each after three months or 3,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Yeah, yeah, I know – the owners manual says you can go a bazillion miles between changes, but keep one simple fact in mind; they’re in business to sell cars.

Allow me to make one last observation. Your grocery getter cares much less about the weight of motor oil, and much more about the fact that it has clean bathwater for the engine’s expensive innards. The climate here is mild enough that a good quality 10W30 or 10W40 should work very well year-round. If in doubt, discuss the issue with your service facility.

Certainly, ecological sanity has its price and time penalties, but the environment will love you, not to mention the dandelions behind the woodshed.

(Editor’s Note: Doug Haughton is the owner of Liberty Bay Auto sales in Poulsbo.).