I am ordering some Valvoline VR1 on Amazon since that's the cheapest I could find it. It comes in a 6 pack and the engine only takes 5. If I change the oil in the spring and in the fall, should the oil be good sitting in the house or garage for that long until it gets used? I am thinking so, but wanted to confirm it. Would it be better to store it in the garage or house or does it matter as long as it's not opened? Garage is attached, but unheated. Had a rough week with other stuff and brain is not working at full capacity at the moment.

I don't think I would worry about it.
I think I have some 10 year old oil, I still plan on using.

No shelf life or required storage that I know of. I'm still using motor oil my Dad had before he died 11 years ago. He had this thing about buying stuff on sale and the cases of oil kind of got out of hand.

The oil folks do set a shelf life; it seems that moisture can penetrate the plastic containers through permeation and cause the additives to drop out of suspension during extended storage.

Would it be fine in the garage if I use it within a year? Wife isn't happy with the cleaning supplies taking up space in the laundry room. Oil I can keep outside or in the shed. I keep most other oils out in the garage or shed, but that's for the yard equipment.

I seem to recall hearing 5 years once as the shelf life for motor oil.
1 year I wouldn't worry about one bit.

Sweet, now to find a place to stash it in the house so the wife won't see it.

What about a secluded spot in the attic or the basement?

Well, I guess my first suggestion would have been to stash it behind the cleaning supplies (most wive's would never find it there), but you kinda ruled that out above. Perhaps go through her shoes, pick out the ones you ain't seen in awhile and pile them on top of it in the back of the closet. OK, but seriously...are we talking about stashing one quart of oil???

6 quarts, Amazon has a subscribe and save program and I'll get a case of six every 6 months. We are on a low carb diet (well, sort of) and she looks for hidden chips and candy the daughter stashes. I got 6 quarts coming for $30.34 and then it should be $36.02 after the first promo price expires. Even if the promo expires, regular price is $37.92. Cheaper than the local parts place and they have to order it. They want $6.69/quart ($40.14 for 6).

I'm having a hard time accepting moisture entrapment of an oil filled sealed plastic container, to any amount, to be detrimental. That being said, not sure a simple shake before using wouldn't allow its use in one's lifetime, after that, it will be a collector item anyway.

This assumes, reasonable temp storage conditions and no UV. The oil will surely last another million years, and the additives really have nothing else present to precipitate break down, or separation, except gravity, if that is a possibility.

LOL LOL LOL LOL

I've been using northern labeled 20w50 that's at least 20 yrs old in my fury...

Well, believe it. Moisture permeation through High Density Polyethylene (the stuff oil containers are made of) is a known fact. Introduction of moisture causes the calcium (part of the detergent package) to drop out of suspension.

i believe i read 4 years on a 'Bob the Oil Guy' forum but that might have been specific to Pennzoil.....

So the airborne moisture goes thru the plastic, but none of the oil comes out of the plastic, and once the moisture goes thru the plastic, it goes thruout the stagnant oil, and attacks/attaches to the calcium?
My loss, I'm just not there yet.

If for a simple test, if I immersed a sealed plastic oil container, I would see accelerated oil breakdown evidence?

I am thinking that normal engine operation deposits some moisture in engine oil and as soon as operating temp is reached it get boiled out. Normal process.

Yep. Happens at the molecular level. Google "permeation".




"Absorb" is the word you're looking for.

I'm a skeptic too.. I have oil that's a few million years old and still use it. Well 30 year old Kendal GT.

Would keeping it in the unheated garage (I live in Michigan) matter vs the house?