Does Walmart Take Used Oil & Oil Filters? (Complete Guide)

If you are a do-it-yourselfer tackling an oil change on your own vehicle, a key question arises – what do you do with the used motor oil and filter after draining it? Improperly disposing of these materials can cause immense environmental damage. Thankfully, Walmart offers a free and convenient oil recycling solution.

Walmart stores with Auto Care Centers will accept up to 5 gallons of used motor oil per person per day for recycling. The used oil must be automotive engine oil and cannot contain any other fluids like transmission fluid, brake fluid etc. Walmart also takes used oil filters.

Below I’ll explain everything you need to know about returning used oil and filters to Walmart. You’ll also learn about environmentally safe disposal alternatives beyond Walmart and clever ways to reuse oil around your home.

Why Is Proper Disposal of Used Motor Oil Necessary?

Before getting into the details around Walmart’s policies, it’s important to understand why proper recycling or disposal of used oil is so crucial…

The United States generates over 1.3 billion gallons of used oil each year from sources like do-it-yourself oil changers, fast lube shops, dealerships and other auto repair Facilities.

Improperly disposed used oil from just one oil change can contaminate 1 million gallons of freshwater – that‘s a year‘s worth of water for 50 people!

Besides contaminating groundwater and drinking supplies when poured down storm drains or onto the ground, used motor oil also contains harmful chemicals like benzene, lead, zinc and cadmium. Burning used oil as fuel similarly releases toxic emissions into the air.

Thankfully, recycling old motor oil allows it to be re-refined and used again. The recycling process removes impurities and additives, returning equivalent quality oil matching new oil standards. Recycled motor oil is just as good at lubricating engines as new oil.

In fact, burning re-refined motor oil as auto fuel can eliminate 85% of used oil pollutants that would otherwise have gone into land, air or water ecosystems.

Clearly, keeping used oil out of landfills and our precious water sources is vital. The EPA estimates 68% of used oil is improperly disposed of in the US presently. We all must do our part to improve this recycling rate.

Walmart’s free used oil collection service creates a readily accessible solution for all do-it-yourself mechanics. Read on to understand policies around what types of oil Walmart takes, volumes allowed, contamination constraints and step-by-step directions on the oil return process.

What Types of Used Motor Oil Does Walmart Accept?

Walmart accepts used oil from gasoline car engines or diesel truck engines. This includes conventional oil, synthetic blends, high mileage formulations, and premium synthetics. Walmart takes all weights and brands of engine motor oil without limitation.

The Auto Care Center employees will visually inspect used oil brought for recycling. As long as the oil appears to be uncontaminated straight motor oil, Walmart will accept it.

However, they do not take oil or other automotive fluids like:

• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Coolant/anti-freeze
• Gear lube
• Hydraulic fluid
• Cooking oils
• Any other chemicals

If your used oil container appears to contain a mixture of motor oil and any other liquid, Walmart will kindly refuse it to maintain integrity of the eventual recycling process.

Simple precautionary steps like using separate clearly marked containers for each fluid type when draining will maximize acceptance rate.

Why Does Walmart Have Motor Oil Volume Limits?

Walmart sets a reasonable limit of accepting just 5 gallons of used motor oil per customer per day for disposal to balance convenience and recycling capacity at each store.

With a typical oil change for a gas engine requiring 4-6 quarts of new oil, 5 gallons would equate to the waste oil from 5-7 vehicle oil changes dumped at once. Often home mechanics tackle oil changes one car at a time, so this threshold works well.

For context, Jiffy Lube sets a more restrictive daily used oil limit of 2 gallons per person. Your neighborhood service station may not publish a firm limit but reserve right to refuse oversized loads straining their storage tanks.

In comparison, Walmart’s 5 gallon used oil acceptance capacity exceeds most DIYers needs in one trip without overflowing their available infrastructure. Still, the retailer wants to avoid commercial shops looking to offload extreme quantities from draining tanks across whole fleets of vehicles.

If you happen to have a scenario requiring disposal of over 5 gallons of waste motor oil, simply make multiple repeat trips on consecutive days. Walmart won’t track exact volumes by individual.

Step-By-Step Guide to Returning Used Oil and Filters at Walmart

Ready to safely dispose of some old used engine oil and the paired filter? Here is the play-by-play for what to expect when dropping these off for recycling at your local Walmart:

Step 1) Locate nearest Walmart with an Auto Care Center. Approximately 2,000 Walmart stores nationwide feature specialized automotive service shops, although not all Supercenter locations do. Use the store finder tool and filter by “Auto Services” to identify participating places close by.

Step 2) Transport used motor oil and filter to Walmart in a sealed container, ideally the original jug the new oil came in. As mentioned before, avoid mixing with any other fluids. Expect the Auto Care Center staff to visually inspect containers before accepting to check for contamination. Place the used filter in a small plastic bag or wrap with newspaper if leaky.

Step 3) Park and enter the designated Walmart Auto Care Center facility bay during open hours. This is typically accessible from a separate exterior door rather than passing through the main store. Wait for an automotive technician to become available or call attention to yourself.

Let them know you have some used motor oil and a paired oil filter to drop off for recycling and disposal under their policy. If the jug lacks an easy pour spout, they may assist transferring the thick sludge into Walmart’s bulk collection tank. Be sure to grab any paperwork they require signing to acknowledge the volume and pledge lack of contamination.

Step 4) Feel great that you just prevented hazardous materials from damaging ecosystems! Give yourself a pat on the back while also appreciating Walmart’s eco-conscious initiative supporting DIY oil changers through their recycling program.

Below are some visual depictions of what navigating Walmart’s Auto Care Center used oil return process resembling:

Example scenes of returning used motor oil and filter for recycling at Walmart Auto Care Center. Images courtesy Pexels free stock photos.

Pretty straight-forward overall!

Now that you understand the policies and procedures around disposing used oil through Walmart’s Auto Care shops, let’s explore a few extra considerations…

How Does Walmart Oil Change Pricing Compare?

Beyond just accepting used oil for recycling from external customers, Walmart also performs oil change services on customer vehicles. Pricing is linked below:

• Conventional oil change – $19.88
• High mileage/synthetic blend oil change – $23.88
• Full synthetic oil change – $28.88

These costs include chassis lube, new oil filter installation, and used oil/filter recycling along with labor.

Comparatively, smaller individual quick lube chains and local mechanic shops typically charge $35-60 for conventional oil changes and $50-75+ for synthetics. Even name brands aren’t as budget oriented as Walmart:

• Jiffy Lube conventional oil change – $44.99
• Valvoline Instant Oil Change synthetic oil change – $84.99

Clearly, Walmart offers very affordable oil change prices, although the work may take slightly longer than more customer service oriented chains with dedicated lube tech teams. Weigh convenience against cost savings to choose the best oil change solution for your needs.

If aiming for the lowest pricing though, Walmart is undoubtedly king. DIY oil changes would cost $20-40 depending on oil brand purchased. The key tradeoff is investing personal time versus paying for labor. Walmart’s happy medium strikes an ideal balance for many consumers.

10 Alternative Places To Bring Used Motor Oil Besides Walmart

While Walmart stands as the most ubiquitous retailer taking used oil through their Auto Care Center program, they aren’t the only business fulfilling this eco-friendly initiative. What other options exist for offloading old crude beyond Walmart stores?

Here are the top 10 additional establishments accepting used motor oil for environmentally friendly recycling and disposal:

1. Advance Auto Parts – Drop off for free recycling. No volume limits specified.

2. AutoZone – Also encourages free used oil recycling without set constraints.

3. Jiffy Lube – Accepts limited 2 gallon daily quantity per entity.

4. Pep Boys – Sets looser 10 gallon per visit and 20 gallon monthly ceiling.

5. Valvoline Instant Oil Change – Forbids commercial sources but welcomes DIYers oil.

6. NTB Tire & Service Centers – Tire retailers often owned by Big O stores with fluid recycling.

7. Sears Auto Centers – Select locations that haven’t closed accept used motor oil.

8. Goodyear Tire – Both company owned and franchise locations may take oil.

9. Local Repair Shops – Independent garages happily receive used oil from regular patrons.

10. Municipal Household Hazardous Waste Collection – County/city run periodic used oil events.

This list highlights the wide range of automotive service businesses accepting used oil. Beyond retailers like Walmart, AutoZone, NTB and others with robust footprints, smaller regional chains and solo shop owners generally accommodate used oil too.

Ask nicely at any repair shop, lube center or dealership near your hometown if they offer used motor oil collection. These facilities inevitably need to handle oil cycling through their own garage bays. Most gladly take a few extra gallons from DIYers given proper notice and space in their storage tanks.

Worst case, search “[your city] household hazardous waste” events to uncover occasional community collections catering to used motor oil and other toxic fluids from private citizens. Just be mindful of only transporting and transferring legal quantities suggested by organizers. Professional waste management companies operate these periodic events.

Innovative Ways To Reuse Used Motor Oil Around Your Home

Suppose you changed oil on a vehicle parked at a second home or facing a long journey to the nearest oil recycling center. Maybe you need greater quantity disposed than Walmart or others allow in one haul. Perhaps you want to get creative in leveraging this free petroleum product before final disposal!

While burning used motor oil as fuel or dumping down drains constitutes illegal pollution, several legitimate ways to repurpose old oil for your benefit exist. These handy applications take advantage of the protective, lubricating properties innately remaining:

• Preserve Wooden Tool Handles – Used oil rubbed onto wooden tool handles like rakes, shovels and axes moisturizes the grain to prevent cracking and splintering through seasons of yard work. The oil’s viscosity also fends off termites from feasting!

• Unstick Rusty Nuts and Bolts – Stubborn hardware that won’t budge can soak overnight in a bath of old motor oil. The penetrating liquid helps separate bonded surfaces. Wipe down and the parts may twist free with ease afterwards.

• Quiet Squeaky Door Hinges – Those annoyingly loud hinges on garage or gate doors can get lubricated by directly applying a coating of used motor oil. Just wipe away any initial dripping excess. The oil’s thick body keeps sounds muted without thinning away.

• Season Cast Iron Cookware – Some people swear by gently rubbing used motor oil onto cast iron pans and pots to supplement their seasoning layer living beneath the cooking surface. This certainly won’t make anything unsafe or impart weird flavors during use. But science supporting meaningful benefits over just keep cooking remains questionable. Use sparingly.

• Protect Machinery During Storage – Covering metallic surface areas prone to rust like garden tools, tractor equipment, generator frames and other idle steel bodies with an oil barrier protects against corrosion during wet weather and off-seasons. The film sticks throughout months of non-use.

If you remain determined to get every last drop of utility out of old used motor oil before properly recycling it, those ideas scratch the surface of possibilities. The key is applying very thin coatings onto appropriate stable materials avoiding runoff. Otherwise you risk indirectly polluting or at least making an oily mess!

Why Trust Walmart Versus Alternatives for Oil Disposal?

Between Walmart and the abundance of other automotive businesses accepting used motor oil, why choose one over another?

Every retailer brand has its unique advantages. However, Walmart emerges as the leading option for most everyday DIYers based on these compelling factors:

• Convenience – With over 5,300 stores nationwide including 2,000+ with Auto Care Centers, Walmart offers unmatched geographic access versus more regional players like NTB or Pep Boys.

• Efficiency – Walmart stores handle high customer volumes daily, so their oil disposal process keeps quick through specialty collection tanks. Waiting times should be minimal.

• Reliability – Whatever specialist supports a given shift, Walmart’s personnel follow standardized procedures you can trust without awkward inconsistencies.

• Familiarity – You already shop at Walmart regularly, making returning another product category like oil fit naturally into routines with no unfamiliar facilities.

• Free – Walmart does not charge any drop-off fees for used motor oil. Some smaller repair shops anecdotally attempt tacking on costs. Steer clear of these unscrupulous actors.

When a retailer diligently focuses policies around maximizing environmental responsibility of used oil, prioritizing customer convenience secondly, Walmart checks both boxes. With over 4,700 US store locations accepting used motor oil already, their sheer omnipresence across American towns intrinsically builds trust through top class corporate citizenship.

So next time an oil change comes due on your family or personal vehicle, feel fully comfortable dropping by the neighborhood Walmart Auto Care Center to dispose of the used black gold output afterwards. Support companies leading by example on recycling initiatives while being a steward for nature in your community.

Conclusion

Changing your vehicle’s motor oil at recommended intervals constitutes essential preventative maintenance. But that then leaves an environmental hazard in the drained out contaminated oil and paired old filter needing proper disposal.

Walmart provides a free, convenient solution to amateur home mechanics and professional shops alike through their Auto Care Center recycling program. Up to 5 gallons of used motor oil can be dropped off per person per day without any fees at participating Walmart stores.

Yet Walmart is far from your only option when responsibly dealing with used oil after oil changes. Thousands of other major retail chains, individual repair shops and community hazardous waste collectors welcome this troublesome waste too.

Wherever you elect to transport old crude, be sure it hasn’t mixed with other automotive fluids before expecting acceptance. Do your part to keep oil out of sewers and landfills by using recycling programs as intended. Our shared freshwater supplies and mother earth deserve thoughtful safeguarding from contamination.