Oil Shelf Life

[cargopilot]

I recently came across a case of Schaeffer's 7000 Supreme 5w30 that I have had for just over 10 years. Does anything become unstable after a certain period of time? Any shelf life concerns at all or just use it?

Thanks

 

[Patman]

10 years is probably the limit for the shelf life of an oil, I wouldn't use it in anything other than a lawnmower now.

 

[Yuk]

Why is it lawnmowers always get the short end of the stick?

Don't all engines deserve TLC, I use GC in mine.

 

[sjlee]

I think if you used maybe a quart or two along with some new stuff for oil changes you'd be fine... just don't go with long OCIs.

 

[Matt_S]

quote:

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Originally posted by Yuk:
Why is it lawnmowers always get the short end of the stick?

Don't all engines deserve TLC, I use GC in mine.

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Because you can typically beat the crap out of a lawnmower engine and it'll still work fine. I'd think it would take quite a while to get rid of a whole case in a mower, though. For oil that old, I'd probably just recycle it.

BTW, I have M1 in my mower.

 

[TallPaul]

Call Schaeffer's and ask their tech person if it is any good.

 

[Jimbo]

Why do you think motor oil, with all of its anti-oxidation additives, would go "bad" in sealed bottles? This is not salad oil. ExxonMobil actually rates its aviation oils for 30 years shelf life in quart bottles.

 

[cargopilot]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jimbo:
Why do you think motor oil, with all of its anti-oxidation additives, would go "bad" in sealed bottles? This is not salad oil.

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Because I'm an airline pilot and not a chemist. That's why I asked a simple honest question directed towards people that know more about it than I do.

 

[Terry]

cargopilot, if the bottles are sealed and were stored in a cool dry area, I would use the oil with confidence knowing Scheaffers builds a very high quality oil.

Not required but if you have any LC consider adding LubeControl at 2 ounces per qt to provide a little extra oxidation resistance.


I would be happy to do a Virgin oil analysis for you on 4 ounces of the oil if you want that too.

Contact me for special airline pilot pricing !!!

[email protected]

 

[cargopilot]

Thanks Terry. Just sent you an email.

 

[Jimbo]

Sorry cargopilot,

I was not intending to insult or offend. It was more a response to the "lawnmower" answers anyway. This topic comes up from time to time and I just recently ran accross the answer from XOM.

 

[dagmando]

If it can last 5-10K miles in a car Iwould not worry about it. The rating have changed so you may not want it a newer vehicle that has a higher API rating required.