Definition
Used lubricating oil that has been processed to remove contaminants, water, and degraded additives so it can be reused. The reclaiming process typically involves filtering, settling, heating, and chemical treatment to restore the oil to a usable condition, though reclaimed oil is generally not approved for use in certificated aircraft engines.
Plain English
Old oil that has been cleaned up and treated so it can be used again, rather than thrown away.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance and engine lubrication discussions, especially when identifying what type of oil is acceptable for servicing an engine or component.
Derivation
From the Latin 'reclamare', meaning 'to call back'. The sense here is that the oil has been 'called back' from waste into useful service.
Why Pilots Care
Using properly reclaimed oil can reduce costs while maintaining engine protection, but only if it meets the same standards as new oil to avoid lubrication failure.
Intuition Check
Do not assume reclaimed oil means “new oil.” It means used oil that has been processed and may be reused only if it meets the required standard for that use.
Example Sentence 1
The shop uses reclaimed oil in its ground equipment, but only new, approved oil goes into the aircraft engines.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance records noted the use of reclaimed oil after confirming it passed all required quality tests.