Oil Biodegradeability

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MolaKule

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This swipe was taken from the Oil Additives secton from some good comments by Family Guy.

I thought this might invoke some discussion.

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Used motor oil and gasoline are carcinogenic and not terribly biodegradable. So I'm a bit confused about the preference for a non-carcinogenic and biodegradable additive for same.



Regarding biodegradeability:

I am referring to fully formulated oils or additives that will decay or bio-degrade quicker than present formulations when spilled onto or may enter the environment. True, the whole topic and definition Green or biodegradeable is somewhat a relative term.

However, there is biodegradeability standrd to which Bio or green oils can be test to and that is ASTM Standards (2.1 ASTM D-5864).

In formulating new oils, the trend is to formulate to the most biodegradeability possible.

I hope that used motor oil is disposed for reclamtion instead of poured into the environment.
 
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Any oil can be tested to this standard, but only oils having a high level of biodegradeable components would be rated well.
 
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RLI, Motul, and Fuchs all make oils that have biodegradability as selling points. Not sure if they meet that ASTM standard though.

Great idea IMO.
 
Interesting, I wondered how it helped used oil to be biodegradable. Yes, if it enters the environment by dumping or accident, it's less toxic. That's still not a great thing. It's frustrating that we can't stop the guys who put it in trash, dump it on the ground, or pour it down drains.

RLI, Motul, and Fuchs Silkolene are expensive oils. It's ironic, because the people who buy green oils are the last ones who would illegally dump them. Dumpers buy the cheapest oil possible. In that case, I like that trend to make cheap oils biodegradable.

MolaKule, is it any easier to recycle biodegradable oil? No difference?
 
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Recycling oil, Whats wrong with that idea? I'v been recycling many consumer bi-products for many years.


Whenever someone calls cartalk with an oil leak, frick and frack recommend just pouring more in the engine.....because it is the cheapest way to deal with the problem.

Why use something harmful to the environment, if a suitable less toxic option is available.
 
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The company says more than 90 percent of used G-Oil will biodegrade in just nine days. That's a considerable claim. Used motor oil from one oil change dumped into the ground contaminates about 1 million gallons of fresh water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which has been encouraging the recycling of used motor oil for years.


http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10162482-54.html?tag=mncol

I orginially brought this up when I found out GET was the official oil of ALMS.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/get-g-oil-is-the-official-motor-oil-of-alms.122825/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-10201011-72.html

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G-Oil, made from in part from animal fats, is a now the official motor oil of the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series.
 
How do the emissions compare with non dead animal oil? I think most folks are educated in preserving the enviroment. The only place I see this oil making a positive impact would be in the Exxon Valdez. How Much is a QT. of this oil?
 
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Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
So this standard only applies to oils claimed to be Bio or Green. Presumably RLI meets this standard or does it?


RLI Technology

"Renewable Lubricants’ Biobased Products are environmentally responsible lubricants that are formulated from renewable agricultural resources. They should be especially used where low toxicity and biodegradability properties are required. Renewable Lubricants’ bio-formulas have been evaluated and extensively tested as Biodegradable according to ASTM D-5864 Aerobic Aquatic Biodegradation of Lubricants (over 40 bio-studies have been performed), and when noted, are Ultimate Biodegradable Pw1, (ASTM’s highest rating) and meet/exceed the acute toxicity (LC-50) criteria adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. EPA. The bacterial microorganisms used in biodegradation tests are some of the simplest forms of life, and like all living organisms, are adversely affected by the presence of chemical toxins. The low toxicity of these biobased products is demonstrated by the microorganism’s ability to multiply and biodegrade Renewable Lubricants’ Biobased Products in ASTM biodegradation studies."

I don't know which products are noted as such.
 
How does this oil fair UOA's with extended OCI's? How much of this oil does it take to kill a lab rat in comparison to synthetic & conventional oils. Again, the products benifits are seemingly far more benificial for a distant land where eviromental standards don't get consious attention such as Hong Kong, Bombay, Moscow, ect... Engine oil is already relativly low toxcity. Has any one done a study on the effects of asphalt on the enviroment? Can you safely go 12,000mi on an OCI? Does 3 OCI's in 12,000mi make it a wash enviromental benifits? I just have this feeling that this product is as silly as corn liquor in gasoline. The false benifits only going to corn farmers.
 
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Engine oil is already relativly low toxcity. Has any one done a study on the effects of asphalt on the enviroment?


?

How is a reduction in pollution a false benefit. You seem to be suggesting that a release of used oil has no environmental impact. That is just ridiculous.
 
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Engines love lead, no. Corn liquor. How does it reduce pollution? Tell me. Out the tailpipe? Are ya sure about that? How was the 9/10ths of a gallon gasoline benefited by a 1/10 of corn liquor? The energy used to produce that 1/10 mix costs twice as much as the gasoline it replaced. It also lowers the efficiency of the gasoline, you use more. Go have a picnic within a couple of miles of one of these corn liquor refineries and then tell me how much less pollution is benefited. How does it compare relative to a oil refinery. For political reasons farmers have been roped in to a false economy that is about to bit them in the a_ _. Food cost have risen due to corn becoming a falsely more profitable crop motivated by environmental/political reasons. The Economy trumps the environment you know that. Lead free is a good thing, pollution is a bad thing. if you can't afford to buy 9/10ths of a gallon of gas, the problem is solved.
 
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