re: Biodegradeable Oil

[William Elliott <CN=William.Elliott/OU=Corporate/O=MEI#064#MMS%lngw@wtgw.corp.mei.com>]

<<No disrespect to our Green Friends in Europe, but no one over there as
mentioned using any biodegradeable oil, so I can only guess that either
cost killed these oils, or, they did not offer sufficient protection to the
engine, in which case, the engine would end up polluting worse than if
it ran dino or synth.

Anybody know different?>>

I'm not sure... and it's been a long time since anybody's discussed it, but 
I'll take a stab.

My understanding is that a lot of pre-war oil in Europe was soy-based and
that Castrol got its name from the "caster oil".  That's why the smell of 
early British race cars is sometimes referred to; they were burning vegetable 
oil!

The part I do know for sure:  This stuff is still available today as Castrol  
"R". 
I think it's only modern application is motorcycle shock oil.  I was told to 
use 
it in lever shocks on a MG I used to autocross.  It significantly stiffened up 
the shocks, but looked stock. 

Why did it die?  I assume oil got cheaper to produce and was refined
to the point that it was very superior in performance.

Bill Elliott