Veteran's Veggie-Based Viscosity: Herbal Engine Oil Stirs Local Interest in Nilphamari
Ashraf Ali, a retired army officer from Balapara Union in Dimla, Nilphamari, has developed a unique herbal engine oil by blending castor plant fruits with local weeds and then refining the mixture through heating. Dubbed by locals as a “magical oil” due to its effectiveness and low cost—roughly half the price of conventional engine oil—the product has already garnered interest and use in the surrounding area.
Talking with digiBanglatech.news special coresspondent about the invention, inventor Ashraf said, "When I was a child, I saw vēnār oil being used on the wheels of a bullock cart. Then, while serving in the army, I did a lot of research on whether this oil could be used in cars. I made oil from Venna seeds and tested it in a science lab to check its quality. Then I found that the acid value of this oil is very high. After that, I started a lot of research and was able to reduce the acid level to 9. In the unrefined state, the acid value was more than 28. After producing the oil, several people have used it experimentally. Among them are motor technicians. And now I use it on my motorcycle. I do not buy oil. I ride a motorcycle with my own produced and patented PS lubricant.
The test report from the Bangladesh Energy Research and Development Institute says that the acid value of this vegetable oil was 9.3771 and the GM value at 15 degrees Celsius was 0.95447. However, the audit by the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research says that the oil needs further refining.
In this regard, retired Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Md. Naimul Haque said that the oil obtained from the Veranda tree has all the basic qualities of engine oil. However, it contains some additional components and requires proper purification. Then the acid value will decrease. Then the possibility of carbon deposition in the engine will decrease.
Ashraf Ali, an inventor who retired from the Vehicle Section of the Commando Battalion of the Bangladesh Army, said, "Engine oil is used in all types of machinery in our country or in neighboring countries. But everyone imports it. This engine oil is my only discovery. It is found in the bushes and weeds of the jungle. While producing it, I found that the cost is also much less. Where the price of imported engine oil is 500 to 600 taka, here the cost is 200-250 taka."
He informed that he discovered this herbal engine oil in mid-2005. In 2008, this herbal engine oil was tested at the Bangladesh Energy Research and Development Institute. Although the acid level was slightly high in the first test, he later achieved the desired quality through refining and took out a patent for this invention in the same year. However, if this oil can be refined with advanced technology, he believes that it can be the best engine oil in the world.
During the conversation with this old aged innovator, it was revealed that 3 to 3.5 kg of PS lubricant (herbal engine oil invented by Ashraf Ali) is being produced from 40 kgs of seeds of a three-year-old Veranda. There is a difference of half a kg in the oil production between red and white.
Local motorcycle mechanic Anisur Rahman told reporters, “I’ve used Ashraf Ali’s engine oil on multiple motorcycles without facing any technical issues.” While users report that the oil produces slightly more smoke than standard alternatives, they also note that engine performance remains solid. Community feedback suggests that with modern technological refinement, this herbal oil could become even more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Md. Nairuzzaman has assured all kinds of cooperation from the government if the inventor wants it in this work. He said, if he writes to us, we will also write to the Ministry of Science and Technology in this regard. Then they will see how it can be explored.
By the way, Venna oil is colorless, has a distinct taste and odor. Its evaporation point is 313 degrees Celsius (595 degrees Fahrenheit) and a density of 961 kg/m3. Venna oil has been used in villages since ancient times. However, due to the lack of knowledge about this medicinal plant, there is not much talk about it. However, the by-products of this oil are used in the production of soaps, lubricants, hydraulic and brake fluids, paints, coatings, inks, cold-resistant plastics, nylon, pharmaceuticals, and perfumes.
In the past-daya Bengaldesh community, vēnār oil was produced by grinding vēnār seeds in a mortar called Dheki or pestle and then burning them on fire. At that time, it was used for flatulence, worm infestation, rheumatism or rheumatism, cuts, and burns. In English, this oil is known as castor oil.
