MAY 30, 2000 - The Michigan Innovative Farmers Association will complete vehicle testing for AMG 2000, a 100 percent vegetable-based and bio-degradable motor oil, thanks to a $35,000 state grant, announced Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) Director Kathleen Wilbur.

Awarded through the CIS Energy Resources Division, the matching grant will be used to analyze vehicles using AMG 2000, for emissions, oil consumption, engine wear and gas mileage, and compare the findings to petroleum-based oil testing results.

Preliminary testing on United State Postal Service vehicles has shown emission reductions of 66 percent for hydrocarbon and 83 percent for carbon monoxide for vehicles using the oil. There was also reduced oil sludge and engine wear and a 90 percent reduction in oil consumption in vehicles that participated in the vehicle testing.

"This project not only will bring us a step closer to commercialization and use of an environmentally-friendly, biodegradable motor oil, but will create an additional market for soybeans and canola in Michigan," said Wilbur.

Most of the oil for AMG 2000 will be provided by the 195-member Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative, based in the state’s Thumb area. They will benefit through increased crop value and share in profits from the motor oil and other related products, once commercially available. There is also potential for putting under-utilized Michigan farmland back into production.

"The study is conducted on fleets of federal- and state-owned vehicles to help researchers move closer to finding a product that is better than today’s petroleum-based motor oil," said Wilbur.

This is the second grant CIS has awarded to the Michigan Innovative Farmers Association, which received $20,600 in 1999 for Phase I of the project.

For further information, contact Clancy Eldredge of Great Lakes Oil Company at 248.594.6620 or Jan Patrick of the CIS Energy Resources Division at 517.241.6153.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.