Is engine oil edible or is it poisonous? The answer may seem obvious, however, let us not jump the gun here! We are going to scientifically probe into the matter. Today, in this article, be prepared to find out just how good or bad engine oil can be if poured into your digestive system.

Let’s start.

Engine/motor oil contains hydrocarbons, such as alkanes, cycloalkanes, and monoaromatic hydrocarbons, combined with additives like detergents and viscosity agents. So, it is very obvious that motor oil is not just oil. Although motor oils do contain mineral oils, then too, we must remember that mineral oil is nothing but a side-product of crude petroleum refining. It is used as a laxative in medicines.

It is very clear from the chemical making of engine oil that it is not good for health. Typical engine oil is not a drink for refreshment. However, the question remains: How bad it is? Is it toxic or, worse, fatal?

We have so far established that motor oil is not just made of mineral oil. It contains additives and toxic elements. Without these catalysts, the engine oil falls weak.

 These additives are present to enhance the performance of the lubricant. Additives include detergents, viscosity modifiers, and foaming agents. While your vehicle needs this oil, your body clearly doesn’t. All of these are poison to the human body.

What Happens if You Swallow Engine Oil

So far, we have learned: Engine oil in your tummy is no good news for you! Let us further back this with facts.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has proclaimed that swallowing 8 ounces of engine oil might cause long-term gastrointestinal issues. But, then again, no one just goes around sipping 8 ounces of anything!  This is especially difficult for something as thick as engine oils. The consistency of a commonly found engine oil is pretty thick.

Needless to say, the texture or taste of this fluid isn’t delectable. So, you may throw up right off the bat. As soon as you swallow it, do expect nausea!

However, in this whole process of consumption and vomiting, the engine oil can sneak inside your lungs.

Now, lungs are no experiment zones. It’s best if the harsh chemicals present in motor oils do not make their way down your windpipe. This will, for sure, cause irritation and damage body tissues in the long run. The alkanes present in the oil may break down, however, they are not going to be easy on your gut. Their digestion is a lengthy process. In the end, you would develop a severe case of diarrhea and gut infection.

Can Engine Oil Kill You

So, by this point, we hope no reader is considering this oil for consumption. However, let us assume the worst! You accidentally swallow a small amount of engine oil.

Do not panic. Depending on the oil you have chugged, your troubles could be lesser severe. Nowadays, we have engine oils that are lesser harmful than the ones we used to have before. If you have chosen more synthetic oils with not much of base oil in them, you should rush to a doctor.

The key here is to not waste time. You must act quickly while also maintaining your calm. The first thing you’ll find from any source is that engine oil is harmless. It’s highly unlikely that someone will die of this.

However, it is an MTL (Minimal Toxic Lubricant), and since it contains highly indigestible compounds, you’re in for quite some metabolic drama.

From your windpipe to your food pipe, no organ would be happy about this new entrant. They will revolt. You may experience migraines, nausea, stomach aches, difficulty breathing, aggressive coughing, sneezing, and more as your body attempts to throw this rude intruder out.

When the engine oil comes in contact with your skin, it will, without a doubt, clog the pores. Prolonged contact with harsh oils will lead to a bad acne skin disorder. Your sense organs too wouldn’t be left untouched. You will experience a burning sensation and dryness in your eyes.  

However, the degree of the burn and damage varies as per the composition of the motor oil. The more artificial it is, the more damage it will cause!

Bottom Line: Engine oil will not kill you, but the experience will not be fun either.

Is Engine Oil More Hazardous Than Other Lubricants

Although engine oil consumption does no good, it’s not really fatal. When you compare it with lubricants of the same grade like gasoline and petroleum, the adverse effects of consuming engine oil seem lesser.

The base oils present in gasoline and petroleum are far more dangerous, and sometimes, even fatal. Gasoline contains toxins in a huge amount. These chemicals will cause a harsh allergic reaction, especially attacking your lungs. This allergy leads to swelling in your tissues, and so, blocks your windpipe. You guessed it- With no air to breathe, you’ll suffocate and pass out in a few minutes. If the patient isn’t provided immediate healthcare, they may even die.

The fact that engine oil is free of PAC (Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds) makes it a far lesser dangerous by-product of petroleum. Gasoline produces PAC when it combusts, so, if you consume used engine oil (which mixes with gasoline inside the engine), you may end u chugging these compounds as well.

This is what makes used engine oil more hazardous than fresh engine oil. The very contact with gasoline pollutes the engine oil with heavy metals and toxins.

What Happens When You Swallow Used Engine Oil

Motor Oil chemicals, for the larger part, are hydrocarbons. These chemicals are rather easy to find, given the highly reactive nature of both – Hydrogen and Carbon. From coal to petrol, all fossil fuels contain high amounts of hydrocarbons. What makes them such good fuels is the grade of hydrocarbons they possess.

Used engine oil is a mixture of engine oil and petrol/gasoline. This is a great match for your vehicle. You will have a lubricant making your vehicle machinery churn, while the fuel makes it run. Despite all good things said, used engine oil isn’t so good for your windpipe.

 Plus, engine oil is a lubricant, so the hydrocarbons would have no trouble slipping down your windpipe.

Moreover, used engine oil would have the heavy metals and toxins that are mixed into Gasoline. Some of them are larger particles, capable of blocking the passage that lets air in and out.

The process results in vomiting and is called aspiration. These hydrocarbons and toxins will irritate and sensitize your airway to the point of infection. Your food pipe isn’t going to be left untouched. The food pipe is close to the respiratory tract. These pollutants in the oil enter your gut through it. The hydrocarbons with low viscosity lead to more aspiration.

When a small amount of engine oil enters the stomach, it is expected to act as a laxative. You will suffer from mild diarrhea.

However, if the motor oil leads to aspiration, this is a red-alert situation.

Symptoms of aspiration include:

1.       Difficulty breathing

2.       Light-headed

3.       Coughing

4.       May faint after 10-15 minutes

5.       Inflammed lungs

6.       Sweating

7.       Loss of smell; this may become a permanent damage if not cured in time.

As we have already mentioned above, the new variants of motor oil that have come about have been manufactured so that their environmental impact is minimal. The new motor oil prototypes contain next to no environmental contaminants.

This being said, we can’t be careless while disposing of engine oil. Handling the after-use product is a delicate chore. If we leave the oil just lying around, someone might even consume it. You have to dispose of the used engine oil properly. It is always better to reuse something, and fortunately, engine oil happens to be recyclable.

So, don’t leave used engine oil out in the open. This becomes especially more hazardous when you have unsuspecting children or visitors around you. Used engine oil can put the consumer at a higher risk of aspiration. However, a mild one-time contact with used engine oil will cause aspiration and nothing more.

How to Dispose of the Engine Oil Properly

We know that leaving used engine oil unattended can be hazardous. So, every time you change your oil, clean the parts or do anything which requires you to expose the used engine oil, you should make sure there are no children around.

Use gloves and masks to avoid unnecessary contact with the oil. Contain the used oil in a clean and leak-proof jar and seal it air-tight. Loose containers will lead to easy vaporization. Make sure you put that engine oil somewhere dry and cool. Label it correctly so that people do not mistake it for other things. It’s important you do not mix it with other lubricants because it can be hard to refine.

Contrary to popular opinion, used engine oil does not have poor quality. Reusing it would have no disadvantage over the vehicle’s performance.

However, if you still decide that you do not want to recycle the used engine oil, you can always dispose of it. The right way to do so would be to hand the jar over to your nearest auto dealership.

Refrain from flushing it down the toilet or emptying it on the streets. It’s highly volatile, flammable, and contaminates the ecosystem, and your drainage pipes too won’t like being introduced to such toxins and metallic pollutants.

Final Words – Is Engine Oil Edible?

In conclusion, no variant of engine oil, no matter how environmentally safe or mineral oil-rich, is edible. It is poisonous. However, its toxicity is far lesser than gasoline or kerosene-based oil. Fresh engine oil will cause less damage to your body as compared to used oil.

In addition to additives and detergents, the used oil contains more toxins and heavy metals. It is recommended you dispose of the used engine oil properly.