GET's 5W-30 G-Oil.
(Credit: Green Earth Technologies)Green Earth Technologies (GET) announced Wednesday that its environmentally friendly motor oil for cars will soon be available on shelves across the U.S.
The manufacturer of the biodegradable, carbon neutral motor oil made in part from the animal fat of beef slaughter byproducts has been waiting on certification from the American Petroleum Institute before selling its G-Oil to the public.
G-Oil has received API starburst certification, a symbol put on a product's packaging to signify it meets specific standards and is recommended for use by leading vehicle manufacturers. GET's car oil was additionally granted the API service symbol donut, a seal signifying an oil product has "energy-conserving properties in a standard test in comparison to a reference oil."
Until recently, GET has only been selling a 2-cycle G-Oil and a 4-cycle 10W-30 G-Oil for use in small-motor things like lawn mowers and tractors.
Now that the API approval has come, GET, which will be showcasing new products at the AAPEX show in Las Vegas next week, says consumers will begin to see its G-Oil motor oil for cars and trucks at leading national chains. It already began selling its product at National Auto Stores, a Pennsylvania-based chain, as of October 1.
The announcement is not just good news for a company. If the majority of the general public starts buying motor oil that biodegrades rather than taints groundwater, it could have a meaningful impact on the environment. Used motor oil from a single oil change that is dumped into the ground can contaminate about 1 million gallons of fresh water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
But, of course, the motor oil has to work well with your car.
While the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series has adopted G-Oil as its official motor oil of choice, the real test will be whether or not the American driving public and car enthusiasts like how it performs in their cars.
While no formal announcement has been made, it's likely a deal is in the works with the retailers already carrying G-Oil for small motors. This would include chains like Amazon.com, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and True Value, among others.
G-Oil's 5W-30 motor oil is biodegradable.
(Credit: Green Earth Technologies)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.
The two groups announced the change in a joint statement released Thursday.
The sanctioning by the International Motor Sports Association is an added bonus for Green Earth Technologies for attracting consumers. The company's G-Oil SAE 5W-30 received certification in early March from the American Petroleum Institute for meeting the performance specifications standards for gasoline engine oils. It then got the go-ahead to use the certification logo on its packaging.
Prior to that, the Connecticut-based company was only able to offer a 2-Cycle G-Oil and a 4-Cycle 10W-30 G-Oil for use in things like tractors and lawn mowers.
"Green Earth Technologies' G-Oil and their eco-friendly business model is a perfect match for our series," Scott Atherton, the American Le Mans Series president and CEO, said in a statement. "We anticipate additional environmentally focused companies to follow Green Earth Technologies' lead."
The change is part of a big push by the American Le Mans Series to distinguish itself as the environmentally friendly racing organization.
All cars in IMSA's American Le Mans Series can now run on one of four alternative fuels: cellulosic E85, E10, clean sulfur-free diesel, or gas-electric hybrid.
The push began a few years ago, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy approached IMSA to help them with an image problem. In IMSA's own words, it was told that there was a need for "something to demonstrate to the U.S. public and automakers alike that fuel efficiency could be cool and sexy."
Unlike other racing entities, the IMSA organization in both the United States and Europe focuses on engineering innovations in the cars, rather than driver skills exclusively, which allows more leeway from year to year on how cars can be made and run. This made the IMSA a candidate for introducing green technology into racing, according to the American Le Man Series.
In 2002, the 24 Hours at Le Mans, the legendary French endurance race run by IMSA, was won by Audi, with its diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI. That year, E10 was also introduced at American Le Mans as a fuel option.
In 2008, American Le Mans introduced E85, which used only cellulosic ethanol, not ethanol from cereal products. This year, the first E10 electric hybrid car is racing.
The move to G-Oil, while interesting, in terms of giving the product more legitimacy, is less significant in terms of how it might change IMSA.
While the G-Oil logo will take prominence at racing events, and be used by all IMSA service vehicles, it has not yet been made mandatory for the race cars themselves. Of course, the racing season has already started. The American Le Mans Series could decide to include it as a rule for next year.
G-Oil from Green Earth Technologies offers a 'green' alternative for your lawn mower's needs.
(Credit: Green Earth Technologies)Green Earth Technologies claims that it's come up with a motor oil that is friendlier toward the environment.
G-oil is a more sustainable option than regular motor oil brands because it's made in part from beef slaughter byproducts, namely animal fat, according to the Stamford, Conn.-based company.
Green Earth Technologies also claims that its G-Oil exceeds the "Ultimate Biodegradability" standard (60 percent biodegraded within 28 days) of the international standards organization ASTM.
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.
Green Earth Technologies launched its product at about 2,000 stores in the United States at the end of January. Popular retailers such as Home Depot, Amazon.com, and Ace Hardware are among its carriers.
Don't get too excited.
While the company says it's awaiting approval for a car and truck motor oil, and has tested a race car-worthy version, as of right now, Green Earth Technologies only a 2-Cycle G-Oil and a 4-Cycle 10W-30 G-Oil.
That's good only for use in small-engine machines such as tractors, generators, pressure washers, and lawn motors.
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