Oil Used For More Than Keeping Your Car Running

Tuesday, December 4th 2007, 6:22 pm

By: News On 6

With colder weather, heating bills can get expensive. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports one Green Country business has found a unique way to beat the high cost of heat. Like most auto repair and service shops, James Hodge Ford in Muskogee goes through a lot of used oil and fluids. In Hodge Fordâ€™s case as much as 600 gallons each month.

"It is stuff we had to have hauled off before, but now we've got a use for it," said employee Michael HolyBee.

The service department now uses the old stuff to fuel a large waste oil heating system, instead of using natural gas.

"Used oil, used transmission fluid, used rear axle lubricant and it will burn all of that," said Service Manager Willie Kiefer.

The used fluid goes into a 250 gallon storage tank, is filtered, and then pumped into a burner. A blower then sends the hot air on its way to heat the entire garage.

The waste oil heating system costs about $10,000 to buy and install, but the dealership expects to recover those costs in energy savings in just one year. The dealership expects to save $2,000 on heating costs some months.

"We want to recycle. We want to help the environment and that's a big part of why we do this,â€ said Kiefer.

James Hodge Ford predicts more garages and other businesses will eventually get the heating systems too, especially after considering the savings and convenience.

"Transmission fluid and hydraulic fluid, this thing likes that like vanilla ice cream," said Kiefer.

The dealership says the heating system has worked so well in Muskogee that the owner plans to use it in eight other dealerships.

Watch the video: Oil Used For More Than Keeping Your Car Running