How Long Are Sealed Containers of Oil Good For?

Over the years I have accumulated multiple sealed containers of oil, synthetic oil, tranny fluid, gear oil, etc. Some of them are in the neighborhood of 10 years old.

How long are these good for? My guess is that they should be good, since they are sealed they should not picking up moisture or any kind of debris, and I don't think they should really degrade.

I am particularly interested in whether or not I can use my gear oil and suregrip additive, which are sealed and probably 7 or 8 years old.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks.

Greg

I've used old oil with no apparent ill effects. Additive drop out is probably the only thing that MIGHT happen.

Take a bottle and decant into a new container (don't shake it), inspect bottom of original container for signs of dropout.

I have some oils that old that I have been using. One was in a clear bottle and I didn't notice any kind of dropout or separation.

It's millions of years old , in the army we just shook it to mix and used it!

I believe 10 years is not too old on oils in containers. 10 years ago I put 35 year old havoline 30 eng oil in a ramcharger, it was okay. That oil did have a different odor though....The quart containers were the old cardboard with tin top and bottoms. If it's your own vehicle, and you are that cheap, which I am, try it out.

I agree in a good and sealed container they are fine. My only concern would be how much the additives have improved since that oil was manufactured. But hey, maybe it's worse now, I don't know.

I have been using 25+ year old oil. I have 3 brands left and still use it when I can. Some of it is 20W50 so I don't use it just anywhere. There is nothing wrong with it at that age.
I ran the last of it my 25 year oil rottela this past summer in my 2002 Cat C-12 turbo diesel making 505 HP in my frieghtliner. 2002 is old enough to use my old oil. I have had the motor for 15 years now and have 90K + miles on my toterhome.

7-8 years is nothing, use your old oils with confidence.

Thank you for the responses everyone, I am glad I didn't waste my money 8 years ago!

Greg

The manufacturers say 4 years, most of the additives start to fall out of suspension and cannot be re-added. People have used old oil and have not had problems but sometimes things do go wrong. In aviation, 4 years from both Shell and Phillips, expiration date is on the box. Had a seminar on oils and the shell engineer explained what happens when oils and the additives separated. It may not harm a beater but I would not use old oil in anything of value or something that is hard to replace. I don't have a dog in this fight but that is what the literature says. Tim

Havoline oil has always had a different odor. I noticed that 40 years ago.

I don't believe this and proven it wrong many times with several different brands of oil.

I am not saying I would put 20 year old oil in a airplane, but I would and have into cars and trucks many times with excellent protection.

I rebuild lots of my own motors so I have seen it with my own eyes, not hear say.

Even Budweiser stopped putting expiration/born on dates on there beer. lol

That right there puts lie to your statement.

Whatever, I ignore your posts now.

You should shake oil any way before you add it I have used oil that was 28 years old and never had a issue I was told any oil is better then no oil in a engine

Why use it in cars but not an airplane? Is it because if the engine quits you got trouble? If it is good it's good. Not try to poke the bee hive, just asking.

Because airplane engines cost 10X more than a car or truck engine and if it quits you can't just pull to the side of the road.

And sadly this is not an exaggeration. Flat tappet aircraft lifters can range from around 80-250 each.

Care to cite the "proof"?

I'd be interested in seeing what the "manufacturers say". Can you post a document citation?

I used 50 Aeroshell in the Lycoming O-235 and O-435 I used to own. I don't remember any expiration date on a container. Maybe you have a picture?

To "fall" out of suspension involves gravity. Are the additives particles or are they molecules in solution?

Just curious.

How old is "old"?

I acknowledge that aviation oil suppliers(shell) says that there oil has a 4 year shelf life. Easy to find when you look it up. Like I said airplanes are nothing to cut corners on.

Then regular car and truck motor oil suppliers recommend a 5 year shelf life.

Years ago our business quit selling motor oil because it was hard to make any money. So we took it out of inventory and started to use up old stock in our own cars and trucks. I am still trying to use it all up since some of it was 20w50 racing oil. I used some of it in my big block dragsters. But then I switched to blown hemis and went with pennsoil 60 weight, so some the 20w50 is still in stock.

This was around 1992-4 that we quit selling it. I have used the 20w50 in both of my muscle cars. I built my last 340 in 2007 and it now has over 30K miles on it. I have posted about the car many times here as I took it on vacations and beat the hell of it at Bonneville 3 different years, drove it in Vegas 2 different years when it was 115°F and had it all over the rest of the country driving it. It still runs the same today and I swear it burns no oil.

Then I built my 440 in 2005 and it still is running today, although it has far less miles on it. Both are running 25 year old oil.

Then I had shell rotella in 6 one gallon cases. I used it in our companys tanker trucks that run DT 466s. I also run it in my Cat C-12 in my toterhome that makes 505HP, that truly is a hi performance diesel engine since 2002. Today it still has 25 year old oil in it. Although there are only 5000 miles on the oil that is in the engine now. On big trucks I change the oil every 500 hours.

Here is the parts from a 2004 DT 466 that has a honest 16400+ hours on it and the first 10-12000 hours were run on 1992 shell rotella, some 15/40 and some straight 30 weight.



Then I have used old oil in many small engines, too many to list and other vehicles too since 1992. So that has been my experience with old oils. Have never had a engine failure and I personally maintain 20+ vehicles since 1983.

Sorry, but that's individual anecdotal experience...not proof. Next guy(s) might not be so lucky.