How to Crush an Old Car

Your old car has taken you many places and accumulated many miles. At some point, it's not going to make another Sunday drive. You then most likely must take it to your nearest salvage yard and have it crushed. Old cars are not simply dumped into the crusher-there are several preparatory steps necessary before crushing an old car.

Instructions

1. Drain all fluids from the old car. This would include transmission fluid, brake fluid, engine oil, power steering fluid and antifreeze. Dispose of these fluids properly according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

2. Siphon freon from the air conditioning system and compressor lines. Contact a company which has the proper equipment for removing freon. The EPA regulates freon removal and how much you can deposit into the air.

3. Remove all recyclable and reusable parts and separate. Batteries, tire rims and tires are all reusable. You can melt down gas tanks and radiators for their copper and aluminum.

4. Place the old car into the crusher. Operate the crushing machine according to manufacturer instructions. Some crush a single car at a time, while others can accommodate more than one vehicle.

5. Send or arrange for the pick up of the flattened remains of the old car to a place that accepts scrap metal. This is usually chopped up and used by the military or even shipped to other countries.

Tips & Warnings

• Have separate containers for the recyclable and reusable parts.

• If you don't remove the gas tank after draining, you need to puncture it prior to crushing.

• Some car recycling companies request a title or proof of ownership of a car before they crush it.

• Anyone who dismantles old cars for recycling must have hazardous waste operations and emergency response training.