Old New Oil

[Sugarridge]

I just cleaned out my barn and found a case of 30 SAE oil that is probably five years old. Of course it has never been opened but has been subject to the the extreme summer Florida heat in the loft of my barn. Does anyone know if any degradation of the oil has occurred or is it good as new.

[JKOOPERS]

i wouldn't use it . whats another 20 bucks for some oil that you know is good and not risk blowing an engine.

[Nosmo]

I've read the oil doesn't go bad sitting on the shelves but the additives weaken over time.

Here is a very good site with a lot of chemists, engineers and folks like us gather.

www.bobistheoilguy.com/

[topsites]

I would just use it as chain bar oil myself, it's just about right for that.

[KTO Enterprises]

Nothin wrong with it. Put it in and let it slide

[roguesuerte]

I have heard that oil loses its viscosity over time whether it is used or not. I would scrap it.

[maintenanceguy]

Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

If kept clean and dry, oil lasts forever.

[Brianslawn]

did you taste it? does it still taste ok? if you really want to use it and am paranoid by doing so something will break... then just put it in a chevy truck for the next oil change. that way if the engine blows cause the oil is old... itll be no major loss.

[Stillwater]

I just cleaned out my barn and found a case of 30 SAE oil that is probably five years old. Of course it has never been opened but has been subject to the the extreme summer Florida heat in the loft of my barn. Does anyone know if any degradation of the oil has occurred or is it good as new.

Technically, engine oils have shelf lives of four to five years older oils most likely do not meet current lubricant standards. Toss the oil....

[Sammy]

Toss it my way.

[Nosmo]

If I were afraid to use it in an engine I'd at least use it in an oil can and in my bar oil.

[cgaengineer]

did you taste it? does it still taste ok? if you really want to use it and am paranoid by doing so something will break... then just put it in a chevy truck for the next oil change. that way if the engine blows cause the oil is old... itll be no major loss.

Or since they leak so bad anyway....

[Stillwater]

Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

If kept clean and dry, oil lasts forever.


AH..... you are so wrong, modern oils especially multi viscosity types have a shockingly short shelf life of only 3 or 4 years. Mobil Oil Corp. states all their motor oils have a shelf life of 5 years and should not be used after that and includes Mobil 1 and their entire synthetic line.

[Stillwater]

I would use it in some of my trucks but not my mowers

[Stillwater]

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Mobil1_Shelf_Life.aspx