Would like to obtain some feedback from the forum on the life of engine oil that has never been opened. Some info that I read indicates a 5-year shelf life (storage temp/temp fluctuation plays a factor). Just looking for some input as I'm sure some Moparts members have unopened oil containers that are over 5-years old and still plan on using them, correct?

Open to feedback on all engine oil types, but specifically looking for input on full synthetic/synthetic blend oil for newer cars and oils with zinc additives for our older Mopars.


Appreciate the feedback!

I would say its fine. If its very old it may be missing some detergents(blend). But in general ok to use. My opinion.

if it's been stored properly oil will still be good for a LOONNNGGGG time.

20 years ago i bought a pallet of castrol gtx 20w50 oil in quart bottles dirt cheap.
i stored the oil in my basement.

i used the last quart 4 or 5 years ago. never had any problems with it.

Here is a good discussion on this:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/motor-oil-shelf-life.309303/

All bad, send it to me, you pay shipping

I have some really old engine oil my neighbor gave me. I use it for bar and chain oil on my chain saw.

I don't use it in engines. Why? Because I am old and I know from experience old stuff doesn't perform the same as it did when it was new and that is just as scientific as the clowns on bobistheoilguy thinking since it "looks" ok it must be ok.

If the manufacturer gave it a shelf life that weighs more on my decision making process than a bunch of internet "experts" I don't know and who won't be paying the freight when something bad happens.

Besides, are you going to save $5 at the possible expense of thousands if something bad does happen?

Penny wise, pound foolish comes to mind.

best response yet.

i have several quarts of 60wt Pennzoil racing oil in cardboard cans bought in 1974.
the cans aren't leaking [yet], so that stuff must be good, right ?

53 responses in that thread and those particular ones are your take-away. Even though they do not accurately reflect the consensus. There actually is some good information in there for those that don't go in with a negative attitude. But there are always those that have an agenda and look for every little piece that they can dredge up to support it.

And as an FYI; I don't use any oil over 2 years old myself. I don't know what the time limit is on any particular brand of oil, but 2 years is well under any brand that has a 'use by' recommendation.

I have no problem with older oil. The really old stuff had lots of zinc in it that our engines crave. Zinc is a great anti wear additive. The powers that be (insert your conspiracy here, it's probably true), had the zinc removed from oil, supposedly because the zinc caused problems with catalytic convertor efficiency.

Given that a properly running engine won't burn oil in a noticeable amount. It's impossible that a properly running engine would clog a cat with the minuscule amounts of zinc in the oil, let alone the even less than minuscule amounts that escaped out the tailpipe.

I find the brand and type of oil is more important than the age. I used to run Havoline and those engines all had excessive ring wear. Quaker state left massive sludge in the motor. Penzoil motors had that tale tale redish color inside but seems to do the job right. etc. etc. etc.

Every oil had qualities that were good or bad based on the manufacturer and it's additives.

Modern cars do require modern oils, not because the oil is noticeably better, but because the viscosities are not available in antique oils and modern engines are very viscosity dependent. Also the the modern API/SFI/? standards become important because the length of oil life service in modern engines is more suited to modern oil formulations. I change at 3000 miles irregardless of the oil light status so those modern standards do not concern me.

I read the Bob is the oil guy post and the links in it. Very good reading particularly when the company bought lots of old oil and tested it. The results were not supportive of oil having a shelf life.

My theory is that it the brand is most important and after that, how it's packaged & stored.

One must recognize the value of anecdotal experience i.e. doing it wrong and getting away with it versus doing it right.

And one must realize the value of collective anecdotal experiences. All of us, at least to some extent, rely on them everyday.

he,he,he.....................
doing it wrong and getting away with it is my life story.
and when i get to do it over, i wonder "why".....................
ya know, why do it right the first time, when you can re-do it correctly the second time around.

If you do use it remember to shake it up before you use it.

Just like your love muscle

Well this went down hill in a hurry.

The thought is that chemical additives that have dropped out of suspension due to moisture absorption with age will dissolve and return to suspension...not so.

Just because I've never had a problem doing that, doesn't mean someone else won't.
So if a person feels safer not doing that, then don't do that........

In the mid-2000s I finally ran out of the large quantity of Valvoline racing oil bought
for next to nothing when AutoWorks closed down in the '90s. I used it in all the old carbureted Mopar engines.

Recently finished a stash of some SJ Mobil 1 10w30, in the 440 that is in my C body.
SJ hasn't been available since (I believe) around 2001.
I guess it could explode tomorrow, but I'd expect a 1973 cast piston to fail long before any kind of an oil problem.

In both cases the product was stored in a fairly controlled climate until I used it, and FWIW did not have visible additive fallout.
If there were any visible additive fallout, I either wouldn't have used it at all or would have gone in my tractor.

Have inventory of discontinued Rotella 10w30 and Delo 400 SAE30 dual rated oils among others,
it will take time to use it up but it's nice to have stock on hand to use when convenient.

Should I ever suspect any oil of being no longer useful, contaminated or out of spec due to age, if I had a large quantity I'd send
in a sample for analysis before running it. As analysis typically does not support the notion of an expiration date, it would
be interesting to see the results, and it's usually reasonable from a time and cost perspective.

Never forget-Oil is like Religion, and (to many), the more you spend...the cooler you are.

the oil was in ground for millions of years before it was refined and put that bottle, I'm sure its fine.

Try putting plain old crude in your engine and see how long that runs.

The oil in the ground is pretty much completely different than the refined stuff with all the additives that you put in your engine. But go ahead with that thinking.