Additive fallout put back in solution

[gfh77665]

I bought a quantity of Quaker State Advanced Durability 10w30 a few years ago. $10/jug. I have noticed the longer they sit, the more additive fallout is present at the bottom of the jugs, regardless how hard they are shaken before pouring. Not concerned about at all, just noticing it. On a whim, I poured about 2-3oz. of MMO to see if it would dissolve. I shook it a moment and poured the MMO out into a clear cup.

The clear, cherry red MMO turned clear, deep red, almost like burgundy. It appears the MMO put most all of the additive fallout back in solution, and turned darker but stayed clear. I think my new strategy moving forward is to rinse out the pre-shaken jugs with MMO, and add to the change.

Just passing this on to whomever might be curious.

 

[MolaKule]

Warming them up inside and shaking them usually puts the stuff back into solution.

No need for MMO or anything else.

 

[User_19876]

Do you by chance know the dates of manufacture on these jugs?

 

[gfh77665]

Warming them up inside and shaking them usually puts the stuff back into solution.

No need for MMO or anything else.

I usually put the jug on a warm engine block for 30 min., or on the vehicles hot roof sitting in the TX summer sunshine. I have tried it for years but that seems to make little or no difference to the amount of fallout after hard shaking.

I did not imply there was any "need" for MMO or anything else. I simply passed on a plausible observation, free info. Readers can take it or leave it, I don't care either way.

 

[gfh77665]

Do you by chance know the dates of manufacture on these jugs?

I bought them about three years ago. I don't hoard, I think I bought 10 of them for $100. I am on jug 8 right now, so they are not that old.

 

[User_19876]

I bought them about three years ago. I don't hoard, I think I bought 10 of them for $100. I am on jug 8 right now, so they are not that old.

Thanks. I had hoped/assumed it would take longer than that for additives to fall out of solution. Guess I better quit stacking.

 

[MolaKule]

We have to remember this is not a process of "decomposition" but is a separation out of solution, which may be due to thermal cycling and mostly cold temperatures.

I found early on that the type of dispersant makes a big difference in how long the additive components stay in solution.

 

[User_19876]

We have to remember this is not a process of "decomposition" but is a separation out of solution, which may be due to thermal cycling and mostly cold temperatures.

I found early on that the type of dispersant makes a big difference in how long the additive components stay in solution.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers a generous member recently posting a VOA of the Valvoline 0W-20 that AAP was clearancing. This oil was bottled in November of 2022, and the VOA looked great. Assuming this oil spent most of its time somewhere in the climate controlled custody of AAP, I'm left to surmise that storage conditions may be more important than time in terms of maintaining the character and quality of finished crankcase oil.

 

[gfh77665]

FWIW, my jugs are stored in a cabinet inside my garage in SE TX. It rarely gets cold here, and 9-10 months of the year its flat out hot. I would guess 45-50 degrees is the coldest my garage would ever get.

 

[Oliveoil2]

I routinely use 5-10 yr old oil for my older cars. Just shake and pour. There is always a bit of additives at the bottom of the jug.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Decant the top quart to supercharge your motor oil.

 

[gfh77665]

Yes. Unopened, properly stored oil lasts a long, long, time. VOA's verify that. 10 years is fine.

I am more concerned with having an up to date oil, avoiding obsolete classification oils. I'll buy a few extra jugs on a great sale if I find one, but I never hoard. Hoarding is a losing game.

 

[jadmt]

my Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5 quart jugs always have crap in the bottom even when only few months old..Pennzoil says that is fine.

 

[facility1]

my Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5 quart jugs always have crap in the bottom even when only few months old..Pennzoil says that is fine.

how you store the oil is a key, room temperature is best, shake occasionally, and the staining on the bottom of jug maybe in the plastic extrusion process within the jug itself.

 

[jadmt]

how you store the oil is a key, room temperature is best, shake occasionally, and the staining on the bottom of jug maybe in the plastic extrusion process within the jug itself.

Heated garage, I turn the jugs upside down and shake them and repeat every month or so. Pennzoil said it is normal settling and doesn’t affect the quality or performance of the oil. I change oil often in my vehicles and put on lots of miles.

 

[D1dad]

Of all my old stash I found pennzoil platinum seems to have the most junk at the bottom. Some of my jugs are at least 5yrs old and that’s being conservative…10w30. Every year, shake the bejesus out of a jug and fill my OPE and motor on, year after year. I just broke in a generator using the Costco chevron clearance, 10w30 from the days of Covid. Nothings blown and I don’t expect it to.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I bought a quantity of Quaker State Advanced Durability 10w30 a few years ago. $10/jug. I have noticed the longer they sit, the more additive fallout is present at the bottom of the jugs, regardless how hard they are shaken before pouring. Not concerned about at all, just noticing it. On a whim, I poured about 2-3oz. of MMO to see if it would dissolve. I shook it a moment and poured the MMO out into a clear cup.

The clear, cherry red MMO turned clear, deep red, almost like burgundy. It appears the MMO put most all of the additive fallout back in solution, and turned darker but stayed clear. I think my new strategy moving forward is to rinse out the pre-shaken jugs with MMO, and add to the change.

Just passing this on to whomever might be curious.

Depending on the age water absorption is going to be your biggest issue. Also the anti-foaming agent doesn't function as well.

Yes , water vapor can migrate through some types of plastic and you live in hot humd s/e Texas.

 

[nascarnation]

I routinely use 5-10 yr old oil for my older cars. Just shake and pour. There is always a bit of additives at the bottom of the jug.

A man of good taste. Aging to perfection!

 

[gfh77665]

Of all my old stash I found pennzoil platinum seems to have the most junk at the bottom.

Likely that indicates higher levels of additives in Pennzoil Platinum.

 

[OVERKILL]

Likely that indicates higher levels of additives in Pennzoil Platinum.

Or low solvency base oils.