Cutting fluids play a major role in machine operations, life of tools, workpiece quality and overall high productivity which are considered as potential input for minimal tool wear, minimal surface roughness and better machining finished product owing to the ability to prevent overheating of the workpiece and cutting tool. In this paper, the challenge of environmental biodegradability, tool wear and workpiece surface roughness prompt the need to evaluate and compare the performance of Jatropha oil based cutting fluid (JBCF) with mineral oil based cutting fluid (MBCF) during turning with AISI 304 Alloy steel which are presented. Test were conducted on the Physiochemical property, fatty acid composition (FAC), cutting fluids formulation of oil ratio to water ratio in proportion of 1:9, turning operation and response surface methodology (RSM) design of experiment were carried out and used respectively. Results from FAC indicated that jatropha seed oil (JSO) has an approximately 21.6% saturated fat with the main contributors being 14.2% palmitic acid. The physiochemical property results show pH value 8.36, Viscosity 0.52 mm2/s, resistant to corrosion, good stability and a milky colouration. The S/N ratio for main effect plot for JBCF and MBCF stand at 1250 CS, 1.15 FR and 0.65 DOC; and 500 CS, 1.15 FR and 0.65 respectively with R-sq = 85.14% and R-sq(adj) = 71.76% for JBCF Ra and R-sq = 71.24% and R-sq(adj) = 56.35% for JBCF Tw,  compared to R-sq = 84.44% R-sq(adj) = 70.43% is for MBCF Ra, and R-sq = 70.48% and  R-sq(adj)  = 55.92% for MBCF Tw. Conclusively, JBCF exhibit minimal surface roughness, minimal tool wear, minimal environmental biodegradability and overall better performance compare to MBCF which makes it more suitable for turning of AISI 304 Alloy steel and is in good agreement with previous work.