Plant-based motor oil? It sounds strange. Nevertheless, the Japanese behind the product say that the technology increases performance by 194 percent.
A Japanese company claims to have developed the world's first plant-based motor oil for racing cars. The motor oil, Idemitsu IFG Plantech Racing, uses plant-based raw materials for over 80 percent of its base oil.
According to a market study conducted by Trending Future Research Institute Inc., it is the first automotive engine oil to combine American Petroleum Institute (API) certification with plant-based oil.
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. states in a press release that they use palm oil as raw materials for Idemitsu IFG Plantech Racing engine oil. Most of what the oil consists of is rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.
The company also claims that Idemitsu IFG Plantech has an 82 percent lower carbon footprint than mineral oil-based motor oil, the oil you can buy for your own car.
Before the commercial launch, the company conducted a series of extensive tests on the product. The test results showed that the new plant-based motor oil had a performance that was 194 percent higher than many competing oils.
The tests also showed 169 percent better protection of the engine parts and 124 better protection of the pistons themselves.
Mazda Spirit Racing used Plantech Racing oil in their Roadster CNF concept car during the Super Taikyu Series – a series of racing cars that can be purchased directly from car manufacturers. In addition to Mazda's concept car, cars such as the Toyota GR Corolla run on synthetic gasoline .
According to the company, the engine oil proved its functionality during the five-hour lob session.
Idemitsu Kosan Company claims that their IFG series of engine oils are tailored to meet the needs of Japanese 'high-precision systems' to improve engine performance.
The engine oil "Idemitsu IFG Plantech Racing" will initially be sold online to customers in Thailand, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Sales in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, China, India and other countries are expected to be announced at a later date.
