Does engine oil have a shelf life?
#1883045
08/01/15 07:52 PM
08/01/15 07:52 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931 Central Florida
larrymopar360
OP
Stud Muffin
|
OP
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931
Central Florida
|
I've had some conventional oil around for over a year. Bought it earlier than I should have, and probably won't need to use it for another year or so. Long story.
Do you think I should recycle it and buy new when I'm ready?
Thanks.
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1883050
08/01/15 07:56 PM
08/01/15 07:56 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704 USA
rftroy
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
USA
|
5 years. You will find other companies give the same 5 year number for sealed containers. http://www.mobilindustrial.com/ind/engli...mmendations.pdfRobert
Last edited by rftroy; 08/01/15 07:57 PM.
AAR 4-speed 3.91, Tor-Red; 70 440 6 pack Roadrunner 4-speed 3.54, Plum Crazy; 68 Formula S conv 383 4-speed 3.23, Electric Blue; 69 Barracuda conv Slant 6 OD4 2.94, 71 B5 Blue; 78 Lil' Red Truck, Red; 70 Challenger S/E. 505 6 pack, Passon 5-speed, 3.55, B7 Blue
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: Car Nut]
#1883186
08/01/15 11:51 PM
08/01/15 11:51 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,844
Kirkland, Washington
|
Oil should not go bad, unless used, it's been in the ground over million years. There's people that believe water goes bad. You bet it does. We have oils and lubes that go out-of-service and have to pay hazmat bucks to dispose. I recall 2 years as being the point where they are no longer returnable to the manufacturer. Would I use it beyond a 2 year shelf life date?--oh hell yea. Additive packages.
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1883208
08/02/15 12:22 AM
08/02/15 12:22 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931 Central Florida
larrymopar360
OP
Stud Muffin
|
OP
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931
Central Florida
|
I figured that the additives may break down, or as mentioned in article rftroy linked, it can accumulate moisture.
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1883252
08/02/15 01:19 AM
08/02/15 01:19 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,285 Pacific NW USA
CompSyn
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,285
Pacific NW USA
|
I e-mailed Shell about this question. This was their response: The shelf-life on properly stored, unopened motor oil is 4 years, After that time, the oil should be properly disposed of at an oil recycle location.
Doug Hund
Shell Lubricants Business to Business Account Manager 700 Milam, Suite #18016 Houston, TX 77002 doug.hund@shell.com Off - (713) 546-4498 Cell - (713) 398-6510 Fax - (713) 217-3439 If you want to know the reasoning, I'd imagine Mr. Hund would be a good resource.
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: stumpy]
#1883285
08/02/15 02:05 AM
08/02/15 02:05 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,284 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,284
Bend,OR USA
|
It can only gather moisture if it has been unsealed. I have seen sealed container have condensation in them, both plastic and metal I have save oil that had water in it by heating up to around 212 F, the water will settle to the bottom of the container as it heats up and then bubble as it turns to steam, keep the lid on until all the water is steamed out Do not let the boiling bubbling steam from the water make the hot oil get onto a heating devices , It will ignite and burn Don't ask me how I kow about that
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 08/02/15 02:07 AM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1883311
08/02/15 02:48 AM
08/02/15 02:48 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,951 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,951
Rio Linda, CA
|
The plastic oil containers have a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR). MVTR is a measure of the passage of gaseous H2O through a barrier. The lower the rate, the longer the package protects its contents from moisture and ensures the moisture content of the product remains the same.
IOW, moisture permeates the walls of the sealed plastic container and enters the contents; the moisture doesn't affect the oil as much as it does the additives in the oil, especially calcium which absorbs the moisture and causes the calcium to drop out of suspension. That's why many refiners recommend inspecting the bottom of the container for small whitish particles, that's the calcium that has dropped out of suspension....don't use such oil.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1883396
08/02/15 10:36 AM
08/02/15 10:36 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
|
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
|
Challanger I agree.I bought some oil and trans fluid that was at least 20 years old.Used them and they were as good as if I had just bought them.I should have saved the old can they were in.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1884270
08/03/15 01:41 PM
08/03/15 01:41 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785 Utah and Alaska
astjp2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
|
Your lawn mower is lot different than a 25K race motor, its all about the additives. The recommended test time for most oils is 4~5 years, if you have lots of it, then test it. What happens is the additives separate and the oil does not become effective in performing their jobs. In the airplane world, you get 4 years on a case, after that, junk it. People have been killed because someone got a deal on some old oil and was trying to save $50. When the additives go out of suspension, it wipes the bearings and galls other surfaces because it cant properly protect what need the lube. No you cant put in a can of STP and fix the problem. Some get lucky and are able to use it, others have not. To each their own. Tim
1941 Taylorcraft 1968 Charger 1994 Wrangler 1998 Wrangler 2008 Kia Rio 2017 Jetta
I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
|
|
|
Re: Does engine oil have a shelf life?
[Re: CompSyn]
#1884399
08/03/15 04:15 PM
08/03/15 04:15 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
I e-mailed Shell about this question. This was their response: The shelf-life on properly stored, unopened motor oil is 4 years, After that time, the oil should be properly disposed of at an oil recycle location.
Doug Hund
Shell Lubricants Business to Business Account Manager 700 Milam, Suite #18016 Houston, TX 77002 doug.hund@shell.com Off - (713) 546-4498 Cell - (713) 398-6510 Fax - (713) 217-3439 If you want to know the reasoning, I'd imagine Mr. Hund would be a good resource. IMO the reason is to sell more oil. Since when is water a problem? Oil and water don't mix. So what if a little water is in your oil. It will evaporate as soon as you start the engine and it get's hot. Water is a really weak argument IMO. I find many ounces of water under my valve covers on my aluminum racing engines, no big deal it evaporates in a hot motor. I am in the oil business and used to retail motor oil, not so much now because there's no money in lubricants unless you sell alot of it, IMO. Therefor I have 4 brands/grades of oil left over from the 90s. I have been using it up in recreational vehicles including my 2002 RV 505HP Cat diesel engine that see's extreme service. I did a oil change over the weekend to my 71 440 6 pak. It's been at least 5 year since I have done a oil change to it because I didn't drive it much. I used this oil and drove the car 48 miles yesterday. If your worried about the additives, shake it up first before you pour it in!! LOL This bottle has 5-10-95 stamped right on the front of the bottle and it still protects I'm here to say from my experience with at least 4 kinds of oil and many different vehicles and pieces of equipment like generators and trenchers we use at work. This what I put in my muscle car Saturday. I use 15 year old Shell Rotella in my Cat motor.
|
|
|
|
|