It's not unheard of. I read a story that claimed they were using some sort biological cleaner for the Exxon Valdez spill. I've even read story about using sunflowers to clean up toxic dumps, and industrial sites, and then composting the sunflowers. Nature has a way of fixing it's self.

Absolutely go for it. Even the organic ranchers around here use diesel mixed with molasses to kill weeds under fences.

I can't believe this. Diesel or carrot oil has been used to lay down dust on farm roads and to kill weeks for nearly a hundred years. There are experiments is genetically engineered bacteria that will in time eat oil.

I once tried to compost a few bottles of cooking oil, a highly refined product, and ended up with oil on everything before it finally disappeared (probably volatilized away.)

The bacteria was worse than the crude in the Alaskan spill.

While research has found there are some types of bacteria that will digest things such as motor oil it is not very likely that your compost pile will have those. Dumping any pertoleum product down a sewer is illegal and dumping any petroleum product into your septic ststem is insane. If you have no motor oil recycling station near you, check for someone that can use that for heating, but do not add it to your compost unless you know for sure that you have the bacteria that will digest motor oil.

With just the small amount you have, mixed with the soapy water, I do not believe you will have any problem. My experience has been that such quantities are quickly consumed, and do not cause a problem. I doubt that you will even be able to tell that you put the mix into the compost pile a few days after you do so. Note that it is almost certain that the bacteria that could decompose the material are already in the environment. The particular ones that can more readily decompose this material will start reproducing more as the result of your addition. Also, as noted above, folks in the country often utilize old oil to kill weeds along fence lines. If you look at these fence lines a few years after such an application, it is quite obvious around here that no permanent harm has been done; the oil has decomposed, and plants are growing along the fence again.
Renais

Good luck.

When we cleared a section of the farm for cropping, we had to excavate and dispose of oil soaked ground as hazardous waste. There used to be a machine shop/repair shop for the ranch on the area. Razed some 32 years earlier.

Well there are certainly all kinds of things that have been proposed as additions to compost piles over the years here. This is a candidate for the '10 least popular' list IMHO.

It's a small diluted amount as you say, but consider it from the compost pile's perspective. Motor oil is more than refined crude. There are many chemical additives - detergents, dispersants, oxidation inhibitors, rust inhibitors - what do bacteria do with these? Neither oil nor soap are a treat for compost organisms.

I would never add motor oil or any other petroleum products to my compost piles. Kimmsr and paulns are absolutely correct, in my not-so-humble opinion. I want healthy organisms only....

This thread surprises me, I guess I have not figured out this crowed. Miracle Grow gets bashed but old oil isnÂt a problem?

Quote fertilizer guy:

"This thread surprises me, I guess I have not figured out this crowed."

Laughingly, ONE of the voices in my head said to me:

This FORUM surprises me, I guess I will never figure out this crowd! LOL

As for the OP, I'd consider the volume of oil against the volume and operating temperature of the compost. I'd also consider what type of soap was used. If the oil is a minuscule amount, I'd probably try it in a large pile just for curiosity. Might have to watch out for that spontaneous combustion and keep the phone number for Red Adair handy! (That's a joke folks, Red passed away a few years ago)

Lloyd

Another thought - Texas being an oil state I would think it is at the forefront of used oil recovery and waste disposal regulation. I don't live in an 'oil province' but even here in the boonies there are oil recycling drop-offs within a ten minutes' drive, at the fishing wharfs (or wharves).

I've tossed soapy water from washing gasoline or oil off my hands on the ground many times, in the same general area, keeping in mind the location of our wells and the movement of groundwater. This seemed a better option than pouring it down the sink; the more elements it's exposed to the better, I figure. Pouring it on the compost pile would seem mean and pointless - like pouring it on our dog's head.

Bacteria are not very particular about what they eat. Carbon is carbon, and oil has plenty of carbon in it -it comes from decomposed plants after all. There will be other additives in it that won't be edible, like the deliberate additives, and the metals that come off of the engine parts. But - everything in moderation.

There's an old abandoned junk yard outside of town here that the local dept. of ecology was mad about, the owner was going to have to do a major hazardous waste cleanup on the site because of all the abandoned vehicles dripping gasoline and oil for decades, but somehow the soil cleaned itself up before he could be forced to do it! those darn bacteria.

Soil bacteria are everywhere. They can't get up and walk to their food source, so they go dormant and 'migrate' in time instead of space. Your average garden soil or compost pile will have a variety of bacteria in it naturally, waiting for the right food source to come along. Small amounts of oil should not pose a problem. Composting is a legitimate way to break down and treat a variety of otherwise hazardous wastes.

I'm thinking a little common sense would go a long way here. There are so many things you can compost without hesitation.
The OP asked for opinions, and mine is that this is not a good idea, that one should dispose of motor oil properly.
Might is work out OK? Yes. Might it not? Yes. Why take unneccessary risks?
We've each given our reasons for our opinion. And ultimately it is us that lives with our decision, mine was made because it is way too much work to cope with if using oil was a bad call and there are so many many alternatives that taking that risk isn't worth it to me.

There is no question that microbes will break down petroleum products, I would be concerned about the associated contaminates such as the chlorinated compounds, lead and other heavy metals, benzene etc.

Not in my backyard compost!

Check with your county Extension office. In Illinois they have once/year collection of stuff like used oil, old paint, etc.

NIMBYC!! laughing my proverbial ass off.....

Recycle it properly.

If you agree with those who believe dumping motor oil into your compost is "organic," go for it. It certainly is simpler than doing the right thing, in my opinion.

Out of curiosity, what did Howard Garrett advise you to do?

Wayne

Well, its your yard.....and your garden. You planning on eating anything you grow?

Personally, I wouldnt do it, too ICKY!

The small amount of oil the OP was talking about would have decomposed already if he had put it(what sounds more like rinsate than motor oil.
I a big advocate of proper oil disposal and oil recycling programs and go s far as finding recycled oil to use to support the cause . But placing a few oily rags or a few drips of oil into an active compost oil is not really an issue. I shouldn't pour an oil change into my pile for example but a rinsate from cleaning tools or equipment using a non detergent soap.. no problem.

Again a large spill or application of liquid hydrocarbons can seep into groundwater or be washed by rains into the storm water system. This is a good reason to recycle used oil. But If I have some oil rags from my oil changes that I would rather not send to the landfill I see no reason not to compost them.

Check out this link from the US geological survey on bioremediation.

A quote

"One possible solution was a new technology called bioremediation. Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) had shown that microorganisms naturally present in the soils were actively consuming fuel-derived toxic compounds and transforming them into harmless carbon dioxide. Furthermore, these studies had shown that the rate of these biotransformations could be greatly increased by the addition of nutrients. By "stimulating" the natural microbial community through nutrient addition, it was theoretically possible to increase rates of biodegradation and thereby shield the residential area from further contamination."

With that said, I would use your judgement but I believe a small amount is ok, to be safe I may only add it to my lawn (away from the wells).

There are several types of fungus that contain microbes that will actually consume oil. There are studies of this type going on now. The fungus named was found in the rainforests of Oregon, me thinks. Myself, I wouldn't add any oils to my compost pile. I recycle all oil, and add my left over fry oil to a restaurant bin for recycling. Just my .02 TiMo

Attached is a link about a navy project regarding remediation of clay soil contaminated by diesel fuel for whatever it is worth.

You can read an EPA article about bioremediation of various nasties with compost at: http://www.mcgillcompost.com/PDFs/EPA%20compost-bioremediation.pdf

That said, the emphasis in these articles is more about remediating existing and very costly problems than encouraging the use of petroleum in compost.

Here is a link that might be useful: Navy and Diesel Fuel

I worked on remediation research with petrolium contaminated soils when I was in college. Yes it works, but the idea is to make the best of a bad situation. I wouldn't use it to justify intentionally putting burnt motor oil in my garden.

I look at it like this, like you say its a small amount. Composting a small amount of oil will not change the world to a significant degree, but it has the potential to do significant damage to the garden (or maybe not).

I would just skip it, Im not telling you what to do, just telling you what I would do.

:)

This reminds me of discussions rationalizing the presence of pesticide residues on food or in the environment. "How can 5 parts per million of X make me sick? We eat big food and drink with much larger loads of potential toxins."

Consider recycling instead. "Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new oil, processed into fuel oils and used as raw materials for the petroleum industry. One gallon of used motor oil provides the same 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil as 42 gallons of crude oil."

It is true that hydrocarbons can be broken down by microorganisms, fungi and plants, but used motor oil also contains heavy metals (lead, cadmium, barium, etc.), that can travel up the food chain. Personally I wouldn't eat anything from your garden. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: US EPA: Used Oil Management Program

C'mon people! It appears half of you have not comprehended the original post. He's talking about a bucket of soapy water with some oil in it. Not "pouring oil on the compost." How do you suggest he 'recycle' that at his local recycling center, if there even is one? They won't want a bucket of water.

I don't think it would do any harm, but I would also add that your septic tank is a very lively bacterial environment that would probably work about as well. Me, I would pour it on my rock driveway.

Finally, regarding fertilizersalesman's post: "There is no question that microbes will break down petroleum products, I would be concerned about the associated contaminates such as the chlorinated compounds, lead and other heavy metals, benzene etc.":

There will not be significant chlorinated compounds or lead in used motor oil. Metals, yes, low levels in the oil itself, mostly iron from the steel engine, but not enough of anything to speak of in soapy oily water. Finally, benzene, a major component of gasoline, is at once very toxic, volatile AND biodegradable much faster than lube oil in an aerobic environment!

"Might have to watch out for that spontaneous combustion and keep the phone number for Red Adair handy! (That's a joke folks, Red passed away a few years ago)"

Distraught, the OTHER voice in my head said;

"Red Adair is dead?"

Lloyd

"Red Adair is dead?"

I hate to be the one to break this news to you but so is John Wayne. (sniff...sniff) Go Hellfighters!

Val

LOL! Great movie. I always wondered what they used in place of oil for those scenes where it got all over everyone.

Hi Val, good to see you back.

Hellfighters was the first movie I saw at a drive-in and will be forever imprinted on my neanderthal mind.

Saddle up!

Lloyd

I shoulda said...

"geopaleontolological mind"

:-)

Lloyd

C'mon people! It appears half of you have not comprehended the original post. He's talking about a bucket of soapy water with some oil in it. Not "pouring oil on the compost." How do you suggest he 'recycle' that at his local recycling center, if there even is one? They won't want a bucket of water.

I don't think it would do any harm, but I would also add that your septic tank is a very lively bacterial environment that would probably work about as well. Me, I would pour it on my rock driveway.

Thats kinda what I was thinking as well. I wouldnt put it in my compost pile as I would not put soapy water in there (might kill some good bugs) but I wouldnt hesitate to pour it someplace such as a rock driveway or on a patch of weeds.