NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling?

Posted By: BradH

NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/22/10 04:44 PM

I've got enough unopened quarts 10-year old Mobil 1 15w50 "red cap" SJ oil on hand for two oil changes. I'm thinking the only issue w/ using it is if the additive package has fallen out of suspension. Mobil says their oils have a shelf life of five years, but this stuff is twice that old.

Anyone have experience w/ Mobil 1 experiencing additive settlement after long periods of storage? If it has, would it be as simple as shaking up the bottles to re-mix it before using it? FWIW, this would be used in a 600 HP street / strip engine.

Posted By: ZIPPY

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/22/10 06:23 PM

That oil is probably better than anything Mobil 1 sold after hurricane Katrina. Your oil has additives for flat tappet cams which the newer M1 15w50 no longer has in the same abundance. The newer oil is fairly wimpy (though it will still work well with a roller camshaft)...M1 actually says it's still safe for a flat tappet cam, yet it meets SM specs at the same time...I'm not buying it.

Run it and don't worry about it.
If it makes you feel better, shake well before using.

I'm undecided if my next oil change should be with
SAE 30 Delo 400 SG, or 20w50 GTX SE.
I have no doubt either one will work just fine.

If you're concerned about running it, send it all to me for proper disposal....

Posted By: CompSyn

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/22/10 07:20 PM

Quote:

I've got enough unopened quarts 10-year old Mobil 1 15w50 "red cap" SJ oil on hand for two oil changes. I'm thinking the only issue w/ using it is if the additive package has fallen out of suspension. Mobil says their oils have a shelf life of five years, but this stuff is twice that old.

Anyone have experience w/ Mobil 1 experiencing additive settlement after long periods of storage? If it has, would it be as simple as shaking up the bottles to re-mix it before using it? FWIW, this would be used in a 600 HP street / strip engine.

There are many factors that affect the shelf life of stored lubricants. A general guideline is five years, but again that's dependent on many factors.

For more information: Lubricant Shelf Life and Proper Storage pdf. - link

Posted By: BradH

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 02:26 AM

FWIW, I'm going to open one of them and pour it into a clear container to see if I can notice any indications of the additives falling out of suspension, etc.

I've also got an equal amount of Redline 10w40 in the same condition, but have already found one example of old Redline showing definite signs of this problem. So... 12 qts of $8+/qt oil are going into the local oil recycler's barrel.

Posted By: BradH

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 03:24 AM

Just opened one quart and poured it carefully into a clear container. Everything looked clear and consistent in color. Then I looked into the bottom of the original bottle w/ a bright light and detected "something" of high viscosity (wasn't "pouring" even though the container was upside down, etc.) coating the very bottom lightly. I scraped a little bit of it w/ the end of a screwdriver just to see how "gluey" it was and it came up w/o any problem.

So, I poured the oil back into the bottle and shook it up for a minute or so, then repeated the pour-and-inspect process. Other than the air bubbles from my shaking it up, no visible difference in clarity, etc., AND the "stuff" I'd seen on the bottom of the bottle had mixed back into the rest of the oil.

Looks usable to me.

Posted By: ZIPPY

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 02:48 PM

Shake up the Redline also.
It should act the same as the Mobil 1.

Posted By: BradH

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 04:11 PM

I'll do the same procedure w/ the Redline and see how that turns out. I won't go into details here, but I'm expecting the Redline to have significantly more indications of additive fall-out that won't re-suspend (easily?) by simple shaking.

Posted By: moper

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 04:44 PM

Wisk it briskly until it holds the peaks

Posted By: ZIPPY

Re: NOS Mobil 1 SJ-rated oil --> additives settling? - 02/23/10 04:53 PM

Quote:

I'll do the same procedure w/ the Redline and see how that turns out. I won't go into details here, but I'm expecting the Redline to have significantly more indications of additive fall-out that won't re-suspend (easily?) by simple shaking.

If it doesn't come back quick with shaking, tighten the caps securely and leave all the bottles upside down for a week. Then shake them, and take a look at what you've got. It should be fine....but if you don't like the looks of it, send it this way..I'll gladly run it in my garden tractor