When you sell your old vehicle to a salvage yard, they go through an involved process to prepare the vehicle for scrapping. Along with stripping the car for reusable or recyclable parts, they will drain the engine of its fluids. This eco-conscious practice allows them to safely dispose of these chemicals, which would be harmful to the environment if allowed to leach into the soil.

5 Fluids a Salvage Yard Safely Disposes

1. Engine Oil

Engine oil mostly consists of natural gas or crude oil drilled from deep beneath the earth. It may also contain some additives, depending on the type of oil you use, such as detergents or antioxidants. It is distributed through the engine to clean and lubricate the moving parts. After being sent through the engine, it goes through the oil filter to clean it and is stored in the oil reservoir.

2. Gas

Gasoline is made of refined crude oil, which consists of hydrocarbons. When it is refined, it’s heated up to break it down into its baser components. One of these is used for gasoline. Gas is stored in the tank, where the fuel pump pushes it out into the fuel lines. While in the lines, it passes through a filter to remove any impurities. The injectors then push it into the combustion chambers, where the fuel is combusted to move the car.

3. Antifreeze

Antifreeze or coolant is based with distilled water, typically mixed with the chemical ethylene glycol. The mixture promotes an easy heat transfer, which helps it regulate the engine’s temperature. The fluid is pumped through the engine, pulling the heat with it. It then goes through the radiator, where the heat is dissipated to the air outside.

4. Transmission Fluid

Vehicles use this fluid to power the transmission and manage its temperature. Most fluids are made by refining crude oil, though there are synthetic oils created through chemical reactions. When the time comes to change gears, the transmission fluid provides hydraulic pressure by transferring the torque to the appropriate parts. It also lubricates and cleans the transmission as it moves through it.

5. Brake Lubricants

Brake lubricant or grease is typically silicone-based. It is designed to provide lubrication without harming the rubber and plastic seals in the system. The lubricant is applied to the are applied to the moving parts of the system that don’t create the friction used to stop the car. It reduces wear and tear, prevents unpleasant sounds such as squealing, and helps everything run smoothly.

Stewart’s Used Auto Parts is an environmentally responsible and professional salvage yard in Barkhamsted, CT. When you’re ready to sell your junk car, they make the process easy by hauling and dismantling it for you. No car is too old or deteriorated for them to salvage. Learn more on their website and call (860) 379-7541 to schedule a car pickup.