Used Aviation Oil - Contamination

skycowboy

skycowboy

New Member
Guys, I dunno if you all can answer this question or not. Its probably more of an OSHA regulatory question than anything, but as most of you A&P's and AMT's who work on piston aircraft are well aware the engine oil becomes heavily contaminated with the Tetraethyl Lead from the engine when the two mix, and the lead from the gas will contaminate the oil, to levels that are 70 times higher than the 100LL gas its self... Oil traps the TEL... Which makes disposal of the oil a bit of a problem.

However our A&P has a few barrells of the used oil in the MX hangar at my field. For some reason I have no clue why, some of the caps are off these barrells and there is just used aviation oil sitting there.

Does anyone know if any of the lead contaminants can vaporize back out of the oil and into the air? Is this safe?

I guess I could have posted this over in the "Petrol Chemistry Forum".... oh wait, we don't have one of those..
 
I wouldn't worry about the lead in the used oil. Lead is not all that toxic when compared to motor oil itself. Used motor oil has many contaminats that are more toxic than lead. Lead does not bond well with the tissues in your body and unless you are a child or severely mineral deficient it is only a minor concern. The lead is not going to leap out of the used motor oil; it is pretty much either suspended in the oil, or precipitated out of the oil (at the bottom of the barrel).

That said, avoid skin contact with used motor oil from any source.

It is poor practice to store large amounts of toxic waste and used motor oil is certainly toxic. A disposal plan would be in order. Find out where you can get rid of the used oil and if you are not asked about lead contamination do not bring it up. Aviation motor oil is such a small part of the total waste oil produced that the lead in it is not really much of an issue. The way it becomes an issue is when it is spilled, which you want to avoid.

Many auto parts stores will take used motor oil for recycling with a max of 2 to 5 gallons at a time. The county I live in has a recyling center that takes up to 5 gallons per visit. It is best to get rid of the waste oil as soon as it is produced and not let it accumulate.

-- StoneAge
 
Many places in the colder climates burn it in a waste oil furnace. So up here you just dump it into the furnace tank. I take my used car oil there too.

Sorry I can't really tell ya otherwise.
 
skycowboy said:
Guys, I dunno if you all can answer this question or not. Its probably more of an OSHA regulatory question than anything, but as most of you A&P's and AMT's who work on piston aircraft are well aware the engine oil becomes heavily contaminated with the Tetraethyl Lead from the engine when the two mix, and the lead from the gas will contaminate the oil, to levels that are 70 times higher than the 100LL gas its self... Oil traps the TEL... Which makes disposal of the oil a bit of a problem.

However our A&P has a few barrells of the used oil in the MX hangar at my field. For some reason I have no clue why, some of the caps are off these barrells and there is just used aviation oil sitting there.

Does anyone know if any of the lead contaminants can vaporize back out of the oil and into the air? Is this safe?

I guess I could have posted this over in the "Petrol Chemistry Forum".... oh wait, we don't have one of those..
Click to expand...

Lead is really heavy. Don't worry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top