Motor Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 49

Coast Guard Contains Oil Leak off California Coast

marine engine oil

Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Game officials responded to an emergency Monday morning that involved a leak of marine engine oil into Humboldt Bay, Calif., just inside of the Pacific Coast.

The leak came from a large wooden-hull boat tied to a dock in the town of Fields Landing. Coast Guard and Fish and Game officials were on the scene in roughly 30 minutes to contain the spillage, which involved the use of absorbent pads and a diver being sent down to patch up the source of the leak.

Officials said they had the situation under control and damage to the bay was kept at a minimum, though residents said they noticed a rainbow-colored sheen on the surface of the water. Authorities said the effects on the area’s wildlife were not clear. The name of the owner of the boat was not released.

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Change Your Oil, Protect the Environment

motor oil

The amount of motor oil used in a simple car oil change can contaminate up to one million gallons of water if improperly disposed of. Even still, an estimated 185 million gallons of used motor oil each year is dumped on the ground, poured down storm drains and thrown in the trash. This is why it’s important to know how to dispose of your motor oil after changing it.

You can not only help the environment by doing this, but you can also conserve resources. Take your used oil and filter to the used oil collection center nearest you, and you’ll be doing Mother Nature a huge favor. If your community doesn’t have a used oil collection center, check for an alternative location. These are often found at lube-and-tune centers, repair shops and dealerships.

The US Department of Energy recently determined that over 80 percent of used motor oil that comes as a result of do-it-yourself activities – including oil changes – is improperly disposed of.

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