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FACT BRIEF

Did Popular Science magazine publish a tip in 1963 that disposing of used engine oil in the ground is OK?

By Marlo Lee
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YES

But disposing of used oil in the ground wasn't a good idea in 1963 and it's not a good idea now, six decades later.

Used motor oil dumped in soil can make its way into groundwater.

A social media post picked up a small article from the January 1963 issue of Popular Science describing how to dump used oil. The post's caption—"It's actually okay, because oil comes out of the ground, correct ... "—has a satiricial ring but anyone taking the post seriously should realize that oil dumped into the ground can create problems.

Toxic substances such as benzene, lead, zinc, and cadmium can be carried into lakes, rivers or groundwater, according to experts.

The American Petroleum Institute says that "many service stations, repair facilities and quick lubes will accept used oil and used oil filters" for proper disposal or recycling.

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
American Petroleum Institute Engine Oil Program Find a recycling center near you
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Changing your oil: An earth-friendly guide for do-it-yourselfers
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.