King County is proud to have purchased re-refined motor oil since 1992. This helps the environment by reducing the impacts of refining and also conserves a non-renewable resource.

Engine Lubricating oil does not "wear out." Producers can re-refine oil to remove contaminants introduced during its use and replace the "additive packages" that confer its specific properties, such as viscosity. Current technologies allow used oil to be re-refined into a high quality base-stock and several oil companies now market products that have been certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API). API Certification is the basis for warranty requirements of motor vehicle manufacturers and thus is used in specifications of motor oil buyers.

Other technologies, such as simple filtration, have also been used to recycle used motor oil. Though not suitable for the production of high-grade lubricating oil, these technologies are often sufficient to make used oil useful as a substitute for virgin oil in fuel applications. Economics will determine the best way to recover used lubricating oil in any given locality, but the highest-value product is obtained by re-refining it for the manufacture of new lubricating oil.

In addition to using re-refined motor oils, King County began using vegetable-based hydraulic oils, in 2001. See details in the "Vegetable-based lubricants" section, below.

Vegetable-Based Lubricants

Vegetable-oil based lubricants are emerging as a high-performance, environmentally preferable alternative to the more commonly purchased petroleum oil lubricants. Users choose these lubricants because they can perform as well or better than petroleum oils, are readily biodegradable and low in toxicity, and offer worker safety advantages.

Hydraulic oils are of specific concern because they are lost to the environment in the normal course of equipment operation. The Renton Maintenance Facility has purchased vegetable-based hydraulic oils for use in their equipment since 2001 to comply with provisions of the Federal Endangered Species Act and other regulations intended to protect our sensitive waterways and groundwater. Bio-based lubricants were tested and found to perform as well or better than petroleum oils, are readily biodegradable, low in toxicity, and offer worker-safety advantages. The agency also specifies that manufacturers fill new equipment with vegetable-based hydraulic fluid. In the past year, they purchased 1,050 gallons at a cost of approximately $16,150.

In the Fall of 2001, King County contracted for vegetable-based hydraulic oil, two-cycle engine oil, and bar & chain oil.  Following are the specifications used in the Invitation-to-Bid.

Here is the language that is added to new equipment bids under minimum specifications: “Hydraulic system must contain bio-based biodegradable hydraulic oil at the time of delivery. Documentation must be provided at time of delivery.”

Specifications

It is the intent of these specifications to describe the minimum acceptable performance standards for obtaining Bio-Based Biodegradable Hydraulic Tractor Fluid.  The specifications are not intended to limit competition, but to ensure that only quality products are received.  King County shall be notified, and these specifications amended, when new industry standards are set or existing standards are superseded.

Hydraulic Tractor Fluid

Description:

Hydraulic Tractor Fluid or approved equal is a readily biodegradable and non-hazardous ISO 40 grade hydraulic tractor oil for use in general purpose hydraulic systems. This oil must be a direct replacement for petroleum oil based hydraulic tractor fluids. Oil must meet or exceed the requirements of petroleum oil based hydraulic fluids and have excellent anti-wear characteristics.

A.      Products supplied to King County shall be rated as Commercial and/or Industrial Grade.

B.     Contractors need to bid their nationally known, first line, premium quality products.

 C.     All products shall be API certified and the vendor shall furnish documentation of the certification upon request.  Products must meet the performance and warranty requirements of the manufacturers listed in the specifications.

 D.     Technical Requirements

General:

	Meets or Exceeds Spec.
Must be readily biodegradable and non-toxic ISO 40(J-20-C) grade tractor oil for use in heavy-duty brake, transmission and hydraulic systems.	_______________________
Must be based on natural ester technology and a direct replacement for petroleum oil based tractor fluids.	_______________________
Must exceed the requirements of petroleum oil based tractor fluids and have excellent anti-wear characteristics.	_______________________
Must meet John Deere, Caterpillar, Vickers, Denison and Military specifications	_______________________

Physical Properties:

				Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Flash Point	ASTM D-92	220*C	_______________________
2.	Specific Gravity, 60o F	ASTM D-1298	0.90	_______________________
3.	Viscosity @ 40o C, cst.	ASTM D-445	46	_______________________
4.	Viscosity @ 100o C, cst.	ASTM D-445	10.1	_______________________
5.	Viscosity Index	ASTM D-2270	>200	_______________________
6.	Pour Point	ASTM D-97	-36*C	_______________________
7.	Brookfield Viscosity @ -35* C, cPs	ASTM D-2983	11,500	_______________________

Equipment Requirements

Tractor:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	John Deere	_______________________
2.	New Holland	_______________________
3.	Case Corp. (Case I.H.)	_______________________
4.	AGCO Massy-Ferguson	_______________________
5.	Fiat	_______________________
6.	Kubota	_______________________
7.	Transmissions/Wetbrakes MIL-L-2105C	_______________________
8.	Caterpillar TO-2	_______________________

Gear Performance:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	GL-4 Requirements	_______________________

Hydraulic Applications:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Vickers	_______________________
2.	Rexroth	_______________________
3.	Denison	_______________________
4.	Sauer-Sundstrand	_______________________
5.	Commercial Intertech	_______________________
6.	White	_______________________

Friction:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Ford, Brake Noise and Capacity, Ford 6610	_______________________
2.	John Deere, Power Shift Transmission, JDQ94	_______________________

Antiwear:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Ford 3000	_______________________
2.	Final Drive – High Torque	_______________________
3.	John Deere JDQ95	_______________________
4.	Spiral Bevel – High Torque	_______________________
5.	FZG	_______________________
6.	Low Speed High Torque	_______________________

Thermal/Oxidative Stability:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	John Deere JDQ16	_______________________
2.	Allison C4	_______________________

Seal Compatibility:

		Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Ford M2C134D	_______________________
	a. ATRR 100 Nitrile	_______________________
2.	John Deere JDQ9	_______________________
	a. BUNAN	_______________________
3.	Allison	_______________________
	a.Polyacrylate	_______________________
	b.Silicone	_______________________
	c.Viton	_______________________

Corrosion and Water Sensitivity:

				Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	Rust Protection, hours	ASTM D1748	>100	_______________________
2.	Copper Corrosion	ASTM D130	1a	_______________________
3.	Water Sensitivity Solids, % Additive Loss 0.0 (0.5% Volume H2O)			_______________________

Biodegradability and ecotoxicity:

			Meets or Exceeds Spec.
1.	CEC L33A93	80-90%	_______________________
2.	WGK Rating*	1	_______________________
	Rating: 0 = least harmful
	3 = most harmful

Updated: November 2007