Abstract: An internal or an external combustion engine which has at least one surface coated with a lubricant made up of vegetable-based products. The products preferably include a base oil containing primarily mono, di and triglycerides and free fatty acids, 5-30% by volume hydroxy fatty acids and 5-10% of the oil additives by volume of animal or vegetable waxes.

Abstract: The vegetable oil based lubricant of the present invention is derived primarily from plants, a renewable resource. It is readily biodegradable via .alpha.- and .beta.-oxidation utilizing microbes naturally present in the environment and is non-toxic to flora and fauna. The vegetable based lubricant of the invention includes a mono-, di- and trigycerol base oil making up the majority of the composition, a vegetable oil additive containing hydroxy fatty acids and a liquid vegetable wax. Additional antioxidants derived from natural vegetable or petroleum sources may be used. The base oil is primarily derived from the families Cruciferae, Leguminosae or Compositae. The vegetable oil additive is principally derived from castor or lesquerella and the vegetable wax from jojoba or meadowfoam. The invention is suitable for use in internal combustion engines and in total loss applications. The invention is designed as a total composition for its applications and is not an additive to petroleum lubricants.