[oldman2]

What is it if any oil shelf life.? I have some motor oil that is about three years old and would like to know if can use it.

 

[jblackburn]

Should answer your question:

Ask Mobil 1 Archive - Shelf Life

It's still good - but is it a good oil for this motor to begin with (synthetic 5W-30)?

 

[Vetterin]

Not sure about shelf life but the GROUND life is over 10,000,000 years. :xxrotflmao:

 

[brian v]

Apparently We have a Goofer Ball Bowling contest . How long will it roll ?

 

[NickD]

I am from the old school that uses the manufacturers recommended oil and stick with it for the life of the vehicle.

What I think I am doing wrong is having my old oil recycled when I should be pouring it all over the vehicle so it wouldn't rust out as quick. Main reason for getting rid of the thing.

 

[cruze01]

I read an article from Blackstone labs where they used and then tested some oil that was 20+ years old! It still tested as good as new!

 

[The_Madcat]

I found half a case of unopened Valvoline 10w-30 in my shed the other day, it must be about 10 years old LOL! It's been at least that long since I have used that weight, much less conventional.

 

[Diesel Dan]

I read an article from Blackstone labs where they used and then tested some oil that was 20+ years old! It still tested as good as new!

IIRC some of that stuff was more like 50 years old. There were no signs of age related deterioration.

 

[jblackburn]

IIRC some of that stuff was more like 50 years old. There were no signs of age related deterioration.

My dad had some old Quaker State in an unopened can we found in the back of the garage when they were moving. No telling how old it was. Looked just fine...used it in the lawnmower, but wouldn't put it in my car

But yeah, I'm sure it has a shelf life of >5 years - I see no reason for it to "go bad" in an unopened bottle.

 

[NickD]

Been using synthetics in my air cooled back breaking toys as I call them for years. If anything requires synthetics, its an air cooled engine.

They last years longer.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Looked just fine...used it in the lawnmower, but wouldn't put it in my car

They tested the oil in the lab and it was just fine and one person is running it in his 1980s Chevy pickup.

 

[jblackburn]

Been using synthetics in my air cooled back breaking toys as I call them for years. If anything requires synthetics, its an air cooled engine.

They last years longer.

Ha, running a John Deere from 1990 - still remember buying it; dad replaced his with a self-propelled Honda. Deere smokes a bit, but couldn't complain about it otherwise - 21 years for a piece of yard equipment is fantastic in my book - it usually just got whatever conventional oil was on the shelf in the garage.

Ha, but will never buy another modern B&S after having the OHV version in a pressure washer that the valvetrain pretty much exploded on after 10 years. Darn outsourcing is to blame for this...

 

[BlueTopaz]

Here is info on AMSOIL's lubricants.

http://www.amsoil.com/techservicesbulletin/Other/TSB OT-2005-11-21 Storage and Handling.pdf

 

[spacedout]

On my grandparents farm there was many 30+ year old cans of oil on the shelf. We opened one once and it looked as good as the day it was made.