Does oil degrade with age?

[pacem]

F250 with 7.5L engine... low miles.

Put Chevron Delo 15w40 in it last fall. It sat most of the fall/winter except occasional 20 mile and a few hundred mile trips, alltogether I would say 3,000 miles at most.

The oil looks brown, but not totally black.
However, it has been sitting a lot, outside in the winter, rain, snow, condensation, etc. I tried to run it at least once per week or two.

Also 460 engine is known for burning oil at 1qt/about 2000 miles no matter what you put in it. Although I do occasionally hear reports of a 460 that doesn't burn it.

I have no overdrive so I usually drive at 3,000 rpms, which contributes to burning I think.

Anyway, this time I got Mobil Delvac 1300 15w40 oil and I am going to put it in there, although I saw no problems at all with Chevron Delo 400.

 

[wavinwayne]

This really doesn't answer your question, but it seemed relevant in this thread. My father in law has a 68 Dodge 4x4 pickup with an inline 6-cyl. He hardly ever drives it. It sits in his back yard collecting dust, spiders, mice, snakes & wasps.

He has only put a few hundred miles on it since he last had the oil changed........in 1999.

The sticker on the window indicates the oil is Shell Rotella 15w40, but I can't imagine it should be left in a vehicle for 6 years. Oh, well, he's giving the truck to his nephew, who owns a farm. I know him; he'll keep the truck maintained properly.

 

[DD]

This is total conjecture, but I would assume, like wine, that any oil that is being exposed to air, even in an engine, will cxidize over time, whether it is used or not.

DD

 

[Ken2]

The brown in your oil might be from moisture...make that weekly run at least a half-hour.

I've kept oil in both drums and pails, and storage tanks with atmosphere vents for years. I've had no problem with the oil analyses when machinery has used this oil. Oxidation of stored oil is extremely slow, nothing like hot oil.


Ken

 

[pacem]

I put Delvac 1300 15w40 in it.

I checked the records and it turns out it has been 5,000 mis and 10 months since last change, not 3K as I assumed. Lesson: Don't rely on memory for oil changes.

 

[bruce381]

heat is the biggest enemy as far as oxidation is concerned but storage should also avoid temp extremes and water.
bruce

 

[Islandvic]

I do 1yr OCI's on my Silverado 5.3 unless the OLM lights up first.

1yr OCI's with your 3k mile/yr is fine with Delo.