Abstract
M.Sc.
It is estimated that there are approximately 6.9 million vehicles operating on South African roads, four million (58%) of which represent passenger cars. (Mbendi, 2002a). The number of vehicles operating on national roads increase annually. For motor vehicle engines to perform optimally, among other components, they require engine oil.
Nationally in 2002, approximately 40 million litres of motor oil were sold at service station forecourts. For the same period, Gauteng motor oil sales exceeded 17.5 million litres while 76% of these sales occurred in Johannesburg (Maneveld, 2003b). When motor oil is poured into an engine there is always an amount of oil that remains in the container. In this study the author quantifies the amount of unused motor oil that is discarded into the environment via the containers that carry it and makes an assessment of the associated environmental implications. In the South African context, no documented data regarding this problem exists.
Chapter one provides the background and motivation to the study, an explicit description of the problem being researched, objectives of the research, the study area and a brief description of the research methodology. This chapter defines the parameters within which the research took place.
Chapter two briefly describes the South African oil and lubricants industry. It also focuses on lubricant manufacture, blending, composition, use and properties of lubricants.
Chapter three details the research methodology and data collection procedures. This is followed by an analysis of the pilot and main study encompassing statistical interpretation and synthesis. Graphical and photographic illustrations are used. Conclusions were reached on the basis of factual information.
Chapter four collates the information from previous chapters, which enables the author to make projections and quantify the amount of unused oil discarded into the environment. An assessment of the associated environmental implications is then determined.
In the last chapter, limitations of the study are discussed. This is followed by concluding statements, proposals for further research and recommendations to address the research problem.