Rerefined Oil

APIA and APIB logosDrivers throughout California have another option to using virgin motor oil: re-refined motor oil. And it’s easy to see why:

  • Test after test has shown that re-refined oil is just as good, if not better, than virgin oil.
  • Re-refined lubricants that are American Petroleum Institute (API) certified comply fully with vehicle manufacturers’ warranty requirements.

Rerefined oil products are subject to the same stringent refining, compounding, and performance standards applied to virgin oil products. API-licensed re-refined oils must pass the same cold-start, pumpability, rust-corrosion, engine-wear, and high-temperature viscosity tests that virgin oils do. The API and American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) have developed the Engine Oil Licensing Certification System (EOLCS) to ensure all engine oils consistently meet performance specifications.

Rerefining is an energy-efficient and environmentally beneficial method of managing used oil. Less energy is required to produce a gallon of re-refined base stock than a base stock from crude oil.

Lubricating oil does not wear out, it simply becomes dirty as it does its job. Once water and contaminants are removed from collected used oil, it is returned to a full and useful life as a rerefined base oil. There is no compromise in the quality of rerefined oil.

Select from the links below to learn more!

For more information contact: Used Oil & Household Hazardous Waste, UsedOilHHW@calrecycle.ca.gov