Your Corner Wrench: Keeping it clean and green

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The good old days of home driveway vehicle repairs might seem nostalgic, but they certainly weren’t environmentally-friendly. Few DIY shade-tree techs ever gave much thought of what all those automotive liquids running down their lanes into municipal storm-drains were doing to water sources, plant and animal life. And we really shouldn’t be looking down on them with disdain; most of us, as little as a few decades back, didn’t give much thought to what our waste could do. But now the majority of us are environmentally aware and more of our neighbours have something to say about what may drain down our driveways into storm sewers.

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Engine coolant

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No matter what colour your vehicle’s coolant might be, it contains ethylene glycol. Current debate on this product doesn’t overwhelmingly propose that it represents a major problem in storm water collection or run-offs, but when ingested it can be fatal for small animals and can damage sensitive plants with direct contact (reason enough to consider it toxic). The main problem with engine coolant is it smells and tastes slightly sweet, and comes in bright colours, making it attractive to a variety of species. Keep it stored safely and securely and well away from pets and children. Absorb any spills with absorbent shop pads or granular material rather than rinsing it into the drains. Use a proper catch basin when working on a cooling system and if it’s used exclusively for coolant, you can keep in clean and safely pour it back in to the radiator when repairs are completed.

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Oils and brake fluid

There’s no debate on this group of vehicle liquids: oil of any type it will contaminate ground water and run-off, and just a small amount can pollute a great many litres of water. On water’s surface it can cause problems for aquatic life, including plants. It can also pick up a number of nastier chemicals and metals during its life inside an engine or transmission, posing more of a threat to ground water or to any living thing that might ingest it. With quality catch basins costing less than $30, there’s no excuse for risking things, including some major fines and professional clean-up bills if your carelessness is witnessed and reported.

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Many municipalities maintain a public database of private facilities that accept waste oils and coolant in addition to any household waste sites they may run on their own. Your own favourite garage may be one of them. Check before heading out to find out if you can get any reusable containers back and make sure you don’t contaminate any product you might take to them with water or degreaser. Think before pulling any drain-plug or hose to drain any liquid. Do you know exactly where the outflow stream will land? Does your drain-pan have the necessary capacity?

Shop rags

Don’t forget about any oily, greasy shop-cloths. These represent a special challenge as not all municipal or private facilities will take them, and storing them improperly brings a major fire risk. They have to be kept in a covered metal container not exposed to any heat source (including sunlight). You may be able to break down the oils on them by submerging them in water with a suitably strong detergent. Regardless, anything’s better than using disposable wipes and then sending them off to a landfill.