So has anyone heard of Green Earth Technologies' biodegradable motor oil? I believe it's only currently used for off-road and recreational vehicles but automotive applications are schedule for Fall 2008. I figured I'd let everyone know about it in case you didn't hear. Green Earth Technologies Free Video - Business and personal finance news from Fortune The CNN/Money video shows their President/CEO saying it "doesn't smoke and is particulate-free,[...] and cut total emissions down 82%." The reporter states the motor oil is made from beef tallow, cow fat (so I guess this pits PETA again environmentalists ). GETG - GREEN EARTH TECHS INC - Google Finance As a side note, they started 2008 with a stock price of 0.20 and is now trading at 4.00! Too bad I didn't hear about them sooner. They also sell auto detailing products, among others, which I discovered last last night and mentioned in http://priuschat.com/forums/care-maintenance-troubleshooting/23657-detailing-your-vehicle-6.html
Standard motor oil is biodegradable if you utilize the correct bio-systems to break it down. The problem lies not with the oil itself but with the toxic metals and such that accumulate in the oil during use in a internal-combustion engine. Those are much more difficult to remove and store safely.
F8L, So motor oil being biodegradable is just a marketing ploy to try to sell to consumers who want to buy "green?" On the other hand, it isn't derived from petroleum so maybe it's green in that sense. I also wondered what "cut total emissions down 82%" means. Do you think they use less energy to produce their motor oil? Any thoughts?
The wording they use might be considered "green washing" but I do not know exactly how their product is produced and what it is made with so I cannot say for sure. Expect there to be a ton of products using the greenwashing techniques though. I'll look at the links when I have some free time. Thank you for providing them. Who knows, maybe it's good stuff.
I always say this, so it's pretty boring: Someone needs to use the oil in Prius and obtain used engine oil analyses at intervals after. Only in this way can we find if it breaks down fast/same/slower than other oils, and if it does or doesn't allow 'wear metals' to accumulate the oil. If it passes those tests, great. A little less petroleum consumption would be a good thing. I imagine that animal fat from the meat industry is underutilized at present. But providing excellent engine protection is not negotiable! Passing ACEA, ISLAC, etc. just means that it is suitable for the Prius-testing I mentioned above.
