Motor oil, antifreeze and other car fluids all need to be changed on a regular basis. Many vehicle owners turn this routine maintenance into a do-it-yourself (DIY) activity.

What you may not realize is that if car fluids are not recycled or disposed of properly, they can easily make their way into our water supply and other natural habitats. Check out Earth 911′s tips on handling your fluids responsibly.

Both antifreeze (also known as engine coolant) and motor oil can have negative impacts on the environment. Let’s go more in-depth on each product.
Motor Oil

Check out these facts:

* One gallon of oil can contaminate a million gallons of water
* Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals
* It is slow to degrade
* Oil can stick to everything from beach sand to bird feathers
* It is a major source of contaminated waterways and polluted drinking water

Antifreeze

Consider this:

* If discarded into sewers or storm drains, antifreeze will eventually make its way into bodies of water
* As antifreeze biodegrades in large quantities of water, it lowers the level of dissolved oxygen and kills aquatic life
* Antifreeze tastes sweet (take our word for it), which makes it enticing and potentially deadly to animals and children

Another thing to consider is that these resources are also made from non-renewable resources. This makes recycling them even more important, because it preserves the resources to produce them.

Both state and local agencies have set up recycling locations for automotive fluids. To find an automotive recycling center near you, use Earth 911′s recycling locator.

You’ll see a lot of options in the motor oil aisle. There are a few things you’ll need to know before picking one. Conventional motor oil is derived from crude oil. It usually is cheaper than synthetic oil but synthetics are made to make your engine run more efficiently so you’ll get better gas mileage and more horsepower. And now, there’s something new on the motor oil market. Valvoline is one of the first major manufacturers to offer motor oil made from 50 percent recycled oil. And, this motor oil works just as well as any synthetic variety. You can use it when you change the oil yourself or you can take it to one of Valvoline’s oil change centers and ask for it.

Full article at Seattle Times

Oil Can Henry’s, which operates 88 service centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, has earned its reputation as “The One You Can Trust” by involving customers in the service and educating them about their vehicles. “Our customers remain in their vehicles, where they can watch and listen as our trained technicians perform the services they request,” said John E. Shepanek, chairman of Oil Can Henry’s. “We also help them understand their vehicles’ maintenance needs by explaining the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended service schedules and how preventive maintenance services can help their vehicles run better and last longer.”

Oil Can Henry’s is committed to reducing impact on the environment by recycling used oil, antifreeze and other items from customers’ services. “By offering ECO ULTRA®, we’re helping our customers attend to the needs of their vehicles and the needs of the planet,” Shepanek said.

The U.S. produces approximately 1.3 billion gallons of used oil each year, but only 10% of it is re-refined. The overwhelming majority of used oil is either improperly disposed of (damaging the environment) or burned as an industrial fuel and gone forever. Dedicated to reversing this unnecessary waste, Universal Lubricants produces ECO ULTRA® recycled products, which when used for an average four quart motor oil change, reduces the national need to import two barrels of imported oil, every time. Additionally, by being part of Universal Lubricants proprietary closed-loop process in which it collects, re-refines, blends and distributes its own motor oil–never losing guardianship within the chain–ECO ULTRA® products safeguard our Nation’s waterways, as it only takes the used oil from one engine change to contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.

“Oil Can Henry’s educates its customers, who in turn make educated choices for themselves. Understanding the numerous benefits of premium re-refined motor oil, we’re seeing thousands deliberately choosing to be active stewards of the environment and to promote America’s shift towards greater energy security by asking for ECO ULTRA® by name,” said John Wesley, chief executive officer of Universal Lubricants. “So when it comes to something as simple and routine as an automotive tune-up, know that you too can take a stand against avoidable pollution and foreign oil dependence. You too can ask for ECO ULTRA®.”

For more information about Universal Lubricants’ ECO ULTRA® products, visit www.ecoultraoil.com .

About Universal Lubricants

Universal Lubricants is one of America’s oldest, most trusted used oil collection, re-refining and new oil distribution leaders. The company operates 28 facilities in 14 states and operates one of the world’s most technologically advanced re-refineries in Wichita, Kansas. Utilizing a tightly controlled closed-loop process, Universal Lubricants collects used motor oil from across the country, processes it through their advanced refinery, and then blends the re-refined oil into high quality API certified motor oils and lubricants that meet SAE requirements and current OEM specifications. To ensure performance and reliability, the company’s finished products go through rigorous lab testing and are real world proven for the most demanding driving environments. Universal Lubricants employs 380 American workers and is a Pegasus Capital Advisors portfolio company. For more information, please visit www.universallubes.com .

SOURCE Universal Lubricants

oil change coupons

You can schedule your oil change online

Online Oil Change Special from SEARS:

$26.50*

*We regret that because of the variance of filter sizes and pricing, oil filters cannot be included in the online purchase and will be purchased in store.

Still a great price, and the convenience of scheduling it yourself online. There are no disposal or shop fees for your vehicle maintenance.

The Oil Change service includes the installation of:

• Up to 5 quarts of conventional oil featuring Valvoline (Oil Filter price added in store)
• Lube of the chassis if needed
• Reset of oil light if needed
• Proper inflation of tires
• Topping off of the following fluids: windshield washer and power steering fluid.
• In addition, SEARS will perform a complementary check of: lights, brake fluid level, air filter, belts, wiper blades, antifreeze, tires and shocks/struts.
• In addition SEARS offers a copy of the Maintenance Service Interval (MSI) for your specific vehicle.

I looked around the web for an average review. I was surprised to see that many high end vehicle owners utilize Sears. One BMW forum had this comment:

I’ve used the nearby Sears for Oil Changes for years. They let me bring my choice of filter (they don’t stock most euro oem brands), and Valvoline is far from the worst oil out there. Personally I’d choose sears over an unknown indy shop, and you can always watch them do it. I’ve even used them for alignments – especially since the alignment tech could recite the correct procedure for my volvo 855 from memory and did a fantastic job.

Schedule your Sears Oil Change with the special online price.

Walmart is one example. They do not have any oil change coupons at this time, but most Walmarts will match other coupons.

Again, this is usually on a location-by-location basis. So, you should call your local Walmart to see if they will match a competitor’s coupon and then get the best coupon price from other local oil change companies, or use a deal site online to search for oil change coupons.

Check your local Wal-Mart for details.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, and every pint donated could save up to three lives. All donors at the September 13 Rochester Community Blood Drive will receive a coupon for $7 off their next oil change.

Most manufactures recommend that you change your vehicle’s oil and oil filter every 3 months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.  You should consult your owner’s manual for the exact specifications for your vehicle or ask us for a Free Manufacturer’s Scheduled Maintenance Guide for your vehicle.  Some newer vehicles are programmed for up to 6,000 miles under “normal” driving conditions.  Your owner’s manual will have “normal” and “severe” recommendations.  Severe driving conditions include driving in stop-and-go traffic making frequent short trips (less than 5 miles per trip), lengthy high-speed trips, driving in extreme temperatures (over 90*F or below freezing), and towing and hauling.  The average driver probably considers his or her driving conditions normal, but the truth is that most of us drive under severe conditions far more often that we realize and should time our oil changes accordingly.

(For more information read our article Do You Really Need To Change Your Oil Every 3000 Miles?)

Personally, genuine positive reviews carry more weight for me than genuine negative reviews. It’s always easy to complain about cost and if someone was “rude” (when in reality they might have just been really busy). It seems rare that someone will go the extra mile to write a positive review. Online review sites seem to be a breeding ground for negativity and half-truths.

I take this in mind when reading reviews of oil change centers and, like Midas, I was impressed with the amount of genuinely positive reviews by real people.

Tuffy has lots of useful car care information on their website, printable in PDF format if you so desire. They seem to take an unusually high amount of care in making sure their customers are well-informed and up-to-date on the necessary care required for their vehicles.

As usual, oil change coupons and a dealer locator are available for their customers on their website, and are also obtainable at various sites on the web.

OilChangeCouponsList.com rates Tuffy as “Highly Recommended”

Pennzoil oil change centers are easily navigable through their website, where you can type in your zip code and find various locations. The location finder generally shows authorized Pennzoil oil change businesses, which can be as diverse as mom-and-pop stores as well as large franchises, like Tire Kingdom. Additionally, the company has Pennzoil 10 minute oil change locations that are also rapidly growing in popularity and usage. You can also often find oil change coupons available.

Reviews on sites like Yelp and others generally give the 10 minute oil change locations high marks, as they seem to be perceived as a more high end option than it’s other chain, Jiffy Lube.

Penzoil is a wise choice and is definitely a recommended option by this web site.

Relation to other brands

Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and so forth, Pennzoil is also closely associated with Shell, Quaker State, and other popular oil brands. Jiffy Lube is a property of Pennzoil (actually Shell Oil Products).

For instance, Wal-Mart Oil Change and Jiffy Lube Oil Change services might suffer from an inordinate amount of horror stories online. But the reality is that since these operations are so large it stands to reason they would have a larger amount of negative reviews. Percentage-wise many of these budget oil change places aren’t any worse than any others.

Here at OilChangeCouponsList.com, we have been slowly reviewing nationwide oil change centers. Check back frequently, as we’ll be updating these on a monthly basis:

• Firestone Oil Change
• Jiffy Lube Oil Change
• Midas Oil Change
• Mobil 1 Oil Change
• Pennzoil Oil Change
• Sears Oil Change
• Valvoline Instant Oil Change
• Wal-Mart Oil Change

Please feel free to offer your experiences with any of these oil change centers, as well as any information on how to get the best deal via oil change coupons, specials, or unique tips to make the experience more pleasant.

Thanks for stopping by!

Since 2008, with the generous support of its customers, the franchise group of Jiffy Lube service centers has raised more than $100,000 to help the local AHA office fight heart disease. Since 2008, Jiffy Lube service centers from across the country have donated more than $2.3 million to the cause, and in 2010 Jiffy Lube seeks to raise another $1 million.

Heart disease is the nation’s number one killer of women and men and the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign leverages the strong parallels between properly maintaining a healthy heart and a healthy vehicle. Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day – an average of one death every 37 seconds. and according to the Car Care Council, 80 percent of the vehicles inspected during 2008 vehicle check-up events needed either service or parts! The Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign educates people about smart, preventive maintenance for their hearts and their vehicles.

“In the first two years, the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign has been remarkably successful in raising awareness and educating our community on heart and vehicle health. We are thrilled to embark on year three of the campaign and continue to raise much-needed funds to support heart disease prevention,” said Mike Beverly Jiffy Lube district manager. “Many people have been personally touched by heart disease, and I encourage everyone on the Central Coast to support the campaign and help us make an impact locally and nationally.”

During this past weekend, the Jiffy Lube franchise group on the Central Coast participated in a regional employee driven campaign that raised an additional $12,000 for the cause. Employees of the franchise group donated their personal wages to the campaign and participated in various service center events and activities. In all, more than 75% of the franchise group’s employees donated $50 or more from their wages!

The Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partner’s For Life campaign runs through March 14. During this time local Jiffy Lube service centers will promote heart health and vehicle health awareness with special events and the Maintenance Partner’s for Life Campaign. Customers can participate in the fundraising campaign by donating $3 to Go Red For Women at their local Jiffy Lube service center, and in return will receive a Maintenance Partners for Life book worth over $100 in savings.

“In the first two years of Maintenance Partners for Life, we have seen tremendous support and achievements in local communities by Jiffy Lube franchisees, employees and customers,” said Neil Meltzer, American Heart Association Board Chairman. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the local Central Coast Jiffy Lube service centers to raise funds that support critical research and education programs to help fight heart disease.”

For more information about the national Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign, visit (www.JiffyLubeGoesRed.com).

About Maintenance Partners for Life
Jiffy Lube, America’s largest fast-lube company, and the American Heart Association are working together to fight heart disease. Through the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign, the goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, which celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together and eradicate heart disease.

About Go Red For Women
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease — the No. 1killer of women. We want millions of women across America to take heart disease personally. Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease.

For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org.

About PCJL, Inc dba Jiffy Lube
PCJL, Inc is an independent franchisee of Jiffy Lube International. owned and operated by Edward and Natalie Petrilli and Sean Porcher. The franchise group operates 8 Jiffy Lube service centers on the Central Coast: Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta and Santa Barbara . Visit www.MyJiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

About Jiffy Lube®
Jiffy Lube International Inc. (“Jiffy Lube”), with more than 2,000 franchised service centers in North America, serves approximately 24 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.jiffylube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

Note: Jiffy Lube International and Shell Oil Company are not responsible for statements or information communicated by independent franchisees.