With all the waste motor oil that's illegally dumped every year, maybe it's time to stop do-it-yourselfers from changing their oil in their driveways.

Millions do lug their waste oil to recycling centers, parts stores, car-repair shops or other authorized locations. But many apparently find it easier just to dump their black ooze into a gutter, sewer or field, creating a toxic nightmare.

Nearly 40% of the pollution in America's lakes and rivers is due to used motor oil, says California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery reports.

Easy solution: Ban it. Prevent retail sale of bulk oil or oil filters. Or require hefty deposits on these items that can be redeemed only for returns of used engine oil.

Needless government intrusion? Perhaps. But look at how no one complains about how they pay such a deposit pending return, usually $10 or more, when they buy a car battery.

California, the nation's top motoring state, also is trying to cut the used oil problem with a campaign now to entice motorists to change less often — to follow their car's owners manual on oil change, which usually allows longer use than going by the three-month or 3,000 mile interval long propounded by the quick-lube industry.

That state is seeing 114 million gallons of used motor oil created every year, enough to to fill 173 Olympic-size swimming pools. (Anyone for a dip?) Imagine how much is not recycled.

Of course, banning home oil changes could be boon to the quick-lube industry. Prices would surely rise if there was no longer competition from do-it-yourselfers.

While changing your own oil is an American tradition, and about the only maintenance function involving the turning of a wrench that motorists can still perform themselves.

But maybe the time has come.

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