What are the drawbacks of using biodegradable lubricants?

Manufacturers and blenders promote these oils based on the importance of biodegradability and nontoxicity but few discuss the drawbacks of using biodegradable lubricants. Performance issues – such as oxidation stability, anti-wear protection, hydrolytic stability, viscosity stability at elevated temperatures and cost factors - are usually not discussed.

There are two primary classes of biodegradable lubricants; vegetable oils and synthetic lubricants, and industrial consumers of these products must be prepared to treat biodegradable lubricants somewhat