Interesting FYI from Peak Oil

[SpeedyG75VW]

I emailed Peak regarding shelf life of their conventional oil if stored sealed and unopened in a garage. Here's their response:

"Thank you for your email.

Peak Conventional Motor Oil has no shelf life.

Regards,

Peak Tech Services"



Makes me kind of wonder if all motor oils are this way. I know Mobil 1 advertises 5 years but wonder if that is just in case newer cars 5 years from now specifies a newer API rating than what is currently available today and that the 5 year "life" has nothing to do technically with the oil going "bad".
I believe Valvoline also says their motor oils have no shelf life. Don't remember what Castrol or Pennzoil stated.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I feel too,that oil is one of those things that will last indefinitely.

 

[Plumber]

Right now I am using Pennzoil 5w30 with Z7 from 1993ish. The case was discovered in the basement of a friends aunt who had passes away.

Peak is good stuff. Local Farm & Fleet has it on sale this weekend for $2 a quart!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I can't see why it would not be indefinite - But I'm a M.E. not a C.E.
Maybe Molekule can speak to it.

 

[Nate1979]

Coming from the chemical industry for products that I manage we often set the shelf life so that we do not have dead inventory sitting around at our customers. While this is more related to the asset value of the container in our specific case, still it is a way to keep the product from just sitting on the shelf and not selling.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

I think it all depends on the environment that you store your oil in. I personally keep my synthetic oil stash in a storage closet inside of the house. Key word, Inside! Any oil left in a garage or shed is subject to temperature changes & moisture resulting from those changes.

 

[Dufus2]

I still have a cardboard oil can in my collection LOLZ.. I believe oil additives will separate over time and should be shaken if it sits more than a year, the same is true of coolant dropping their SCA.

I learned in accounting that everything has a recognized useable life and oil inventory is no exception as others stated.

 

[cptbarkey]

the only thing you should be concerned about is the container itself will leak after 5-7 years, its held in marked lower grade plastic versus name brand oil. i say this because i have 30 some odd quarts sitting on the shelf and contrasted them.

 

[SZR48207]

The stuff sat underground for millions of years in raw form without any issues. I think it'll last long enough in a garage that it won't be a concern in your lifetime.

 

[kschachn]

Sitting as unrefined crude oil is entirely a different thing (as you mention) than as a rated finished product. On the other hand, you have Peak Oil telling you that it does not expire, I'd tend to believe they know the most about their product.

I think the greatest risk is that as time and specifications march on, it will become unsuitable for a particular vehicle.

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
The stuff sat underground for millions of years in raw form without any issues. I think it'll last long enough in a garage that it won't be a concern in your lifetime.

 

[Corvette Owner]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
The stuff sat underground for millions of years in raw form without any issues. I think it'll last long enough in a garage that it won't be a concern in your lifetime.


+1 - exactly what I was thinking, well stated!

 

[Tony10s]

I never paid any attention to motor oil shelf life recommendations ... I never believed that motor oil has an expiration date. I just shake the oil before I use it in case any additives settled out.

 

[MrQuackers]

A Pennzoil employee stated here on BITOG their product has a 4 year shelf life. Ha! As long as the oil meets the requirements of the engine it is AOK, shake it good, pour it in.

 

[deven]

Originally Posted By: MrQuackers
A Pennzoil employee stated here on BITOG their product has a 4 year shelf life. Ha! As long as the oil meets the requirements of the engine it is AOK, shake it good, pour it in.

I miss Johnny's input here!

 

[HerrStig]

Nothing like having a whole pile of oil for a car you don't have any more and which will not be up to spec for your new one.

 

[SpeedyG75VW]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Nothing like having a whole pile of oil for a car you don't have any more and which will not be up to spec for your new one.



Yeah....that's what I'm thinking too. As long as your oil in your stash meets the API specs of your car, you should be good to go.
In regards to the actual bottles themselves, I did notice some of my Castrol GTX synblend dated from early 2013 seem to feel more flexible and "thinner" than the ones dated a few months ago.

 

[philipp10]

I can see no reason why if it can last 5 years it wouldn't last 20. Usually manufacturers set dates because someone asked them to. It's not like someone actually sat down and tested how long it will last. They just threw a resonable number on it and let it go from there. I wouldn't have an issue with 50 year old oil sitting anywhere unless it was in those old cardboard containers which I suppose my leak a bit.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I'm using oil from 2006 in my Acura right now, no issues at all. I think the biggest concern would be the fact that oils are constantly improving and it just might not be as up-to-date as the oils that are currently on the shelf in terms of additives and wear protection.

 

[4wheeldog]

Originally Posted By: RISUPERCREWMAN
I think it all depends on the environment that you store your oil in. I personally keep my synthetic oil stash in a storage closet inside of the house. Key word, Inside! Any oil left in a garage or shed is subject to temperature changes & moisture resulting from those changes.


A sealed container is subject to temperature changes, but not moisture/condensation changes. That is what sealed means.....No air in or out.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: SpeedyG75VW
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Nothing like having a whole pile of oil for a car you don't have any more and which will not be up to spec for your new one.



Yeah....that's what I'm thinking too. As long as your oil in your stash meets the API specs of your car, you should be good to go.
In regards to the actual bottles themselves, I did notice some of my Castrol GTX synblend dated from early 2013 seem to feel more flexible and "thinner" than the ones dated a few months ago.


I have seen the same thing with Castrol quarts.

The oil eating through the plastic would be my only concern regarding shelf life. As said before, oils from the 70s have been tested and proved to still be good.