By on November 7, 2007

g-oil.jpgYou may not  be able to put a tiger in your tank any more, but you can put a cow in your crankcase. Gizmag reports that Green Earth Technologies has introduced G-OIL, a biodegradable motor oil made from beef tallow. The oil will hit the U.S. market next year in a variety of  viscosities and performance levels. To jettison your G-OIL, you mix it with G-DISPOSOIL, which breaks the goop down into biodegradable particles. Manufacturing is just as efficient; the company claims they can turn one barrel of animal fat into one barrel of motor oil. Plastic surgeons take note.

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27 Comments on “Greenies Can’t Beef About This Oil...”


  • avatar
    glenn126

    In the early 1950’s, when sperm oil (from whales) became unavailable, auto engineers despaired of ever having a “decent” automatic transmission fluid! So organic oils are not outside the realm of reason for use in automobiles….

  • avatar
    KatiePuckrik

    I can’t see this being a big seller in India……..?

  • avatar
    Sammy Hagar

    Oh geeze…this is really gonna rock the barbershop vibe of the old coots over at BITOG. Dino vs. Synth vs. PreDino Moo Juice! That should be good for 10k posts and years of arguing…

  • avatar
    shaker

    I predict a new form of engine failure: Oil Galley Stenosis…
    Seriously, when a NASCAR can finish a 500-mile race with the stuff, then I’ll consider it “tested”.

  • avatar

    Greenies Can’t Beef About This Oil

    Sure they can. Raising beef is much more energy-intensive than growing crops. But for those of us that like beef, it makes sense to use more of the animal.

    Green Bull gives your car wiings!

  • avatar
    quasimondo

    I can imagine the warranty claims that come out of this when a hapless driver (or careless mechanic) tosses in a bottle of disposoil by mistake when the dipstick reads a quart too low…

  • avatar

    Raising beef is much more energy-intensive than growing crops

    But is producing oil from beef fat more energy-intensive than finding, drilling, pumping, transporting, and refining crude oil?

  • avatar

    Ooh, now I won’t feel as bad when I dump my used motor oil in that little hole I dug in my backyard…

    Seriously, though, this sounds like it could be really neat. It just better lubricate dang well or nobody in their right mind will use it. I’m not sacrificing engine life for green cred, nosiree bob.

  • avatar
    philbailey

    If it isn’t listed as an approved product in your owners’ manual, and/or by the SAE, don’t even THINK about it.

  • avatar
    Gardiner Westbound

    Alternatively, use less lubricating oil. Phil Bailey, an occasional correspondent here, has published a relevant article.

    Space Age Engine Lubrication

  • avatar
    1996MEdition

    Isn’t cow flatulence another big source of greenhouse gases?….If you believe that sort of thing.

  • avatar

    But is producing oil from beef fat more energy-intensive than finding, drilling, pumping, transporting, and refining crude oil?

    I don’t know. We do currently use a lot of diesel fuel and natural gas fertilizer to produce the food for the cattle. If food becomes costly or scarce, expect attacks on beef production.

  • avatar
    Heep

    Well, as long as I end up with less gristly steaks, I’m all for it.

  • avatar
    Robert Schwartz

    Beef Tallow should be used, as Ray Kroc intended it to be used, to fry potatoes. It is much better for you than trans-fats and the fries taste better.

    I, on the other hand, intend to schedule a liposuction ASAP.

  • avatar
    jazbo123

    Let’s see it get API certification. Also, do they have any synthetic cows because I only run synthetic oil.

    I’m also waiting to try Car-Y jelly.

  • avatar
    bfg9k

    Why not? Renewable Lubricants has motor oils made from veggie oil (http://www.renewablelube.com/).

    So long as the oil meets API specs, go for it. Heck, if they release a 5w20 I’ll try it in my wife’s Odyssey.

  • avatar
    stuntnun

    i wonder if vegetarians and members of peta will be allowed to run this in there cars? it might make a good gravy or base for a soup when you go to change the oil.

  • avatar
    John

    So you mix this stuff with God-knows-what, it then biodegrades into God-knows-what-else, you dump it down the drain, and that’s greener than recycling/reusing conventional oil? Short their stock if its listed.

  • avatar
    jkross22

    It’s all balls bearings these days.

  • avatar
    dhanson865

    If you believe the web site

    Available Weights:
    * 5W-20
    * 5W-30
    * 10W-30
    * 10W-40
    * 15W-40
    * 20W-50
    * SAE-30

    Exceeds requirements of API SM, CI4 and previous API gasoline & diesel engine standards.

  • avatar
    jazbo123

    Used motor oil will never be green, no matter what you put in it to “break it down”. It comes out of the engine loaded with dissolved hydrocarbons and other poisons including toxic heavy metals from the engine and bearing components.

    I call BS.

  • avatar
    cRacK hEaD aLLeY

    My 1981 Fairmont, it has leaky valve seals.
    Will G-Oil smell like BBQ?

  • avatar
    autoacct628

    Great. And I suppose this will give dogs more reason to chase cars, as the tailpipe emissions may reek faintly of cooked beef?

  • avatar
    Robert Schwartz

    “i wonder if vegetarians and members of peta will be allowed to run this in there cars?”

    Dude, have you forgotten Castrol? It used to be derived from castor beans. Unfortunately for vegans, it is poisonous.

  • avatar
    Ryan Knuckles

    Robert Schwartz :
    Except vegans nor PETA are exactly “activists” for vegetables (ref: Castrol), but they do kinda get upset when you find new reasons to kill animals. (ref: oil made from cows)

  • avatar
    Joseph

    So, can I get lypo and an oil change at the same time now?

  • avatar
    Labman

    Anybody remember me from BITOG? I was forever bad mouthing vegetable oil lubricants because they unsaturated and inherently unstable. Tallow is a completely saturated fat, and highly stable. It is also an ester. I don’t see any problems with it as an oil base stock.

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