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http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/03/motor-oil-from-animal-fat-is-first-bio-oil-to-win-api-service-mark.html


This looked interesting. Anyone know anything about it? Negative impacts of use on engine?


Motor Oil From Animal Fat is First Bio-Oil to Win API Service Mark


http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/Goil.jpgFor many consumers, the donut-shaped API Service Symbol (http://www.api.org/aboutoilgas/motoroil/api-quality-marks.cfm) on a quart of motor oil is akin to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on an oven or a dishwasher. The familiar logos arguably take some of the guesswork out of shopping by instilling a sense of confidence in the product.
So count on Green Earth Technologies (http://www.getg.com/index.php) to drum up as much publicity as possible in the wake of today's announcement that its biodegradable, fat-based motor oil, G-Oil SAE 5W-30, is the first bio-based motor oil to win the American Petroleum Institute's certification. In short,the product meets API's performance specifications for gasoline-engine oils.
G-Oil is manufactured from fat from American-bred livestock, the company says.
It has a molecular structure that is similar to traditional, petroleum-based products (Hey, some regular oil also comes from animals - well, big lizards. They've just been dead a long, long time.)
The company boasts that "it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but it only takes one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-Oil."
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/API.jpgGreen Earth Technologies will incorporate the API label, like the one pictured at left, into product packaging later this year when the first G-Oil shipment to begin to show up in stores nationwide.The company said it will market the bio-based motor oil as "the environmentally safe 'green' solution" for those who'd like to be able to stop using conventional motor oils.
"It's been almost two years in the making and a true team effort, but I am happy to say that G-OIL motor oil is finally ready for retail," Green Earth Technologies co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Jeffrey Loch said in a statement.
Green Earth said it plans to seek API certifications for its 10W-30 and 5W-20 weight products later in the year.

Greg Johnson, Contributor
Posted byJohn O'Dell March 10, 2009, 12:33 PM

jkp,

If the API will give it a passing grade, there's a very near zero chance that using it is a risk to your engine.
Just make sure the API grade in question (SL/SM/etc) is compliant with your vehicle's manual.
Also, if your car requires any ILSAC (like GF-3) or ACEA (like A3) specs for its oil, make sure your oil meets those too.

Where do they get their animal fat from? As a vegetarian I have serious questions about what kind of practices take place to produce this oil. Just because it comes from animals in my mind does not make it immediately green and environmentally friendly.

Where do they get their animal fat from? As a vegetarian I have serious questions about what kind of practices take place to produce this oil. Just because it comes from animals in my mind does not make it immediately green and environmentally friendly.
Most likely a byproduct of food production. So it would just be using something that would otherwise be wasted.

I think it would be more environmentally friendly than motor oil produced from petroleum.

I know this is off topic, but oil, let alone bio-oil, was used for writing programs for Windows. XD

Sorry... carry on!

Most likely a byproduct of food production. So it would just be using something that would otherwise be wasted.

I think it would be more environmentally friendly than motor oil produced from petroleum.

In any case from the vegetarian perspective the money that you spend on that motor oil still goes up the chain and part of it goes into the hands of those engaging in what I feel to be immoral practices. It all depends on how strong of a vegetarian you are. I know I still eat some products that contain very small amounts of gelatin that come from cow and pig's hooves. I consider it okay because the amount is so tiny. However I would never buy a full leather jacket. I would need to do more research to decide to use such a product.

Anyone know who might be selling this product?