Originally Posted by
isuzurover
Sump oil is absolutely full of soot, and also contains wear metals. Don't know if it is still legal - not sure.
When regulations came in for large diesels that the breathers could no longer be vented to atmosphere, the manufacturers quickly found that the small amount of soot-laden blowby oil mist would kill the turbocharger bearings/bushes very quickly. For this reason all large/heavy duty diesels in Europe and the US now have CCV (closed crankcase ventillation) filters fitted. This small amount of oil mist was also causing difficulties in meeting emissions regulations.
Primary diesel soot particles are 30 nanometres or so in diameter - too small to be removed by filters. Although they are very small, they are good at doing damage. I wouldn't like them in my expensive fuel pump and injectors, even in low concentrations.
Waste oil is usually recycled or burnt in industrial furnaces (as a fuel), where any emissions can be properly treated/controlled.