ECO Lube
I just had my oil changed at the only green oil business in all of California. ECO Lube on El Camino put “re-refined” oil in my car. It’s just as clean as new, unused oil and it’s better for the environment. Apparently, used motor oil is normally used to make other kinds of fuels, like kerosene and diesel. But now it can be refined a second time and used in automobiles. This can be done over and over again. This is a really new idea and there are only 3 oil changing businesses in the United States that are doing it. One of them is in Mountain View.
The owner, Kevin Phan, gave me a tour and told me about his new business. He just opened 3 weeks ago and he’s very excited about being in such a progressive city that has a reputation for being environmentally correct. He is in the process of becoming a “Certified Green” business. He has re-refined oil, but also has other options incase customers want to use something that they are more familiar with. He showed me how the old oil filters are crushed and sent out to be recycled just like a Coke can. The used motor oil is collected every few months and sent to a company that removes the contaminates and prepares it to go back into cars. “Oil never wears out” Kevin told me. “It just needs to be cleaned, so that’s what we do. We send it out to be cleaned.”
One thing that Kevin pointed out to me on my little tour is the fact that he doesn’t use kitty-litter to clean up spills in his shop. That’s because the kitty-litter would go in the garbage and it would have oil on it and the oil would contaminate the ground. He uses rags and the rags are sent out to be cleaned when he sends out his employees uniforms.
He also has special green energy efficient light bulbs in his shop, but he doesn’t turn the lights on unless they are needed. If it’s a bright sunny day there’s no need to turn the lights on. He uses recycled paper and cleaning products.
And ECO Lube is offering a special promotion. If you have your oil changed, you can get a coupon to go across the street and get a free carwash at Harv’s on El Camino. Actually, they gave me the choice between a free tire rotation or a free carwash.
The carwash idea is great, but I’m totally sold on the concept of putting re-refined oil back into my car, especially when I watch the news and see all the damage that is being done to the Gulf of Mexico due to oil drilling. I feel good about taking a tiny step towards conservation. And ECO Lube isn’t a chain or franchise. It’s just one guy, Kevin Phan, and he’s trying to run a business based on the idea that we all want to do something that is good for the Earth. Since I need to have my oil changed every once in a while, I plan on doing it in the most environmentally correct way possible. Kevin, I’m glad you opened your green business in Mountain View!
Not only is it quick, but you can have it all done without getting out of your car. In and out in a flash. They are great!
Thanks “Proof Reader”
Please continue to keep an eye on me!
Heidi
Just “El Camino” not “the El Camino”
That would be slightly worse than “the Castro Street” since “el” means “the” in Spanish (“the the road”).
Man I love the use of green & natural things. I am sure the business will be buzzing with business, like bees to honey. Btw, do you have any Solar Panels? That would help a lot to addition to saving energy.