PLEASE NOTE: These bulletins, published since 1997, are historical. The content is not updated.
Vegetable oil-based lubricants are emerging as an environmentally preferable alternative to established petroleum oil products. Users are finding that vegetable oils can offer even better performance than petroleum oils in some applications, with the added benefits of being less toxic, renewable and biodegradable. Vegetable-based oils pose a greatly reduced threat to human health and the environment and corn, canola, soy, and other vegetable oils are being used to produce a wide range of lubricants, many which meet Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) performance and warranty requirements.The development of these new fluids is timely, as King County agencies are working to comply with provisions of the Federal Endangered Species Act and other regulations intended to protect our sensitive waterways and groundwater.
The King County Renton Equipment Shop now specifies that new turf equipment be filled by the manufacturer with vegetable-based oils and is moving ahead with the purchase of these hydraulic oils for all their equipment.
Vegetable Oil-Based Hydraulic Fluids
The majority of companies manufacturing plant-based lubricants have focused primarily on industrial oils. Within this category, certain applications are best suited for plant-based lubricants. These include hydraulic oils, total loss lubricants, metalworking oils and other general oils. Vegetable oil-based lubricants that meet original equipment manufacturer (OEM) product requirements, using the same American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards as petroleum based fluids, are currently on the market.
What do hydraulic fluids do?
There are a great number of mechanical systems with hydraulic components.
Hydraulic systems use fluid (hydraulic oil) to transfer energy to move parts in such systems. In an automobile, for example, a particular kind of hydraulic fluid (brake fluid) transfers pressure on the brake pedal to the brake shoes, and stops the car.
The problem?
Hydraulic oils are utilized in large quantities in a variety of applications and are susceptible to spillage. When spilled, they pose an immediate threat to the surrounding environment. Spilled oil can contaminate streams, kill vegetation and harm wildlife and remediation is costly.
What are the advantages of vegetable oil-based lubricants?
- they are excellent lubricants (were used significantly before the 1900's)
- they are made with renewable resources (plants)
- they have a high viscosity index (they remain at a consistent thickness throughout temperature ranges)
- they have a longer life (due to high viscosity index)
- they are readily biodegradable (petroleum can persist for years)
- they reduce spill liability (due to low toxicity)
Price?
Vegetable oil-based lubricants are more expensive than petroleum based products. According to an article entitled "Harvesting Lubricants" published in The Carbohydrate Economy (Volume No. 3, Issue No. 1, Fall 2000) "Purchase price, however, is not an accurate measure of overall cost. Because vegetable oil-based lubricants evaporate less quickly and adhere better to metal surfaces, end users often use less product per application. Other cost benefits associated with vegetable oils may include reductions in environmental and safety penalties in the case of spills, parts wear and maintenance costs and disposal fees. As is the case with many plant-based products, once factors such as these are considered, plant-based lubricants appear to be competitive in cost with petroleum oils."
Lubricants
from Vegetable Oils
Industrial Products from the Soil
by Jessica Nelson
2001, 20 pages; $12.00
published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
(ILSR)
To order a copy of "Lubricants from Vegetable Oils" go to the website at:
www.carbohydrateeconomy.orgLubricants from Vegetable Oil provides an overview of the use of vegetable oil-based lubricants in industrial and automotive applications, and identifies companies that sell these products. The report is the third the Carbohydrate Economy's Industrial Products from the Soil series.
The following companies are currently marketing vegetable oil-based hydraulic fluids:
- Gemtek
- Phoenix, AZ
- (602)265-8586
- (800)331-7022
- E-mail: info@gemtek.com
- "Safe Lube" brand
- Greenland Corporation
- Lethbridge, Alberta Canada T1J3Y4
- (403)328-3111
- E-mail: grld@telusplanet.net
- "Greenplus" brand
- HydroSafe Oil Division, Inc
- East Lansing, MI
- (800)500-5058
- (517)351-0030
- E-mail: hydrosafe@hydrosafe.com
- "Hydrosafe" brand
- International Lubricants
- Seattle, WA
- (800)333-5823
- E-mail: contact@lubegard.com
- "Lubegard" brand
- Renewable Lubricants, Inc
- Hartville, OH
- (330)877-9982
- "Stabilized" brand
- Terresolve Technologies
- Eastlake, OH
- (800)661-3558
- E-mail: memiller@terresolve.com
- "EnviroLogic" brand
- West Central Soy
- Ralston, IA
- (800)843-4769
- "SoyPOWER" brand
Environmental Purchasing Program
The King County Environmental Purchasing Program assists County agencies in implementation of King County Executive Policy CON-7-1-2, which requires agencies to use recycled and other environmentally preferable products wherever practicable.
The program assembles information about these products and makes it available to specific agency users who can evaluate them and develop applications in County projects.
These environmental purchasing bulletins contain information about the results of product evaluations and other accomplishments of County agencies. We hope this information will help you find ways to use recycled materials in the work of your agency and that you will contact us if we can help you with further information or if you have suggestions.
- Environmental Purchasing Program
- King County Procurement & Contract Services
Published: January 11, 2001
Return to Environmental Purchasing Menu |
Bulletin List
Updated: January 11, 2001
King County
| News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County.
By visiting this and other King County web pages,
you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site.
The details.
E-mail