Posted by Brian in Oregon on October 03, 2000 at 15:44:13:
In Reply to: Re: USED OIL/ DANGERIOUS posted by Gordon on October 03, 2000 at 14:37:03:
I can understand the health problem from pouring used motor oil into the fuel tank of your diesel and burning it. No question there. (It can also cost you some expensive injector tips as well, not to mention wearing out the injector pump.)
But using it in an oil bath air cleaner? When they properly work, the oil is not burned. In fact, the oil level increases because of all the ingested dirt.
True, you can absorb contaminates through the skin, but you take this risk checking your dipstick and when changing your oil if you aren't careful there either.
The only thing I see wrong with using used motor oil in an oil bath air cleaner is that it's already dirty. Clean oil holds more dirt. I suppose you could change it more often.
As for using transmission oil, think about it - you are using a much heavier grade of oil. That makes it harder for the air to get sucked through. If too difficult, you could run rich from air starvation and waste fuel, or start sucking oil from the valve guide or rings. Oil bath air cleaners are meant to run with certain grades of oil, and usually this is in the 30 weight range or less depending on temperature.
I think this whole issue started when some hippy-yippy-flippy love the earth mother magazine said to recycle by burning engine oil in your oil furnace. That definitely will put these particulates into the air. As will burning them in a diesel.