Oil stored outside-what effect?

[Patman]

For a while now I've been considering the possibility of going with Petro Canada's Supreme 5w20 in my wife's car, and this morning I stopped off at a Petro Canada station and bought 4L of this oil. But I'm a bit worried because this oil has been stored outside beside the gas pumps. What effect will this have on the performance of this oil? Will it's cold weather performance be degraded in any way? (not that it matters much since it won't be going in her car until April, but I'm still curious) Let's just say for argument's sake that it's been stored outside in the elements for a year, in temperatures ranging from -8F to 100F.

I was going to go with Canadian Tire's Formula 1 5w20 (which is made by Shell) but the cold weather specs on this Petro Canada oil just kept me leaning that way. I figure that if it's got such good cold weather specs, it has to be a pretty well built oil, plus we've heard a lot of good things about Petro Canada's base oil, but nobody has run a UOA on it yet.

If I'm going to run this oil for a while I should probably find a local distributor, as the gas station charges $4.89 a liter for it. Walmart charges $3.78 a liter for all of their conventional oils, and Canadian Tire charges around $3.38 a liter (but I've seen it on sale for $2 a liter) So this oil had better be good!

Check out it's specs:

Flash Point 444F
Pour Point -33F
47.8 cst at 40c
8.6 cst at 100c
CCV 3690 at -30c
BPV 8200 at -35c
Sulphated ash 0.6%
TBN 7

 

[427Z06]

I'm not so sure about affecting the cold weather performance per se, but what would concern me more would be the daily change of temperature in a moisture laden environment. The smallest sub-pinhole leak would regularly suck in a small amount of air (and the water vapor in it) and then expel it. On the otherhand, maybe I'm imagining something that really isn't a concern. Any way to check the production date on the bottle(s)?

 

[Patman]

The bottles seem to be well sealed and on three of them it has a code which says 061214LX, which I'm assuming means it was produced on Dec 14, 2006? So the oil is not as old as it could've been, although it's still possibly been outside for the coldest weather this winter.

I'm probably worrying over nothing, but I am still curious as to whether or not an oil's performance in cold weather can change if those bottles of oil were left outside for a long period of time before going into the engine.

If I run this oil for the following winter I'll be sure to buy bottles that were inside the store, not outside at the pumps. This particular station did not have any oil at all inside, it was all left outside. (if I owned that station I'd be worried about people stealing the oil!)

 

[Roy Gutfinski]

You are worrying over nothing.

 

[Steve S]

Where do you park your cars Patman?

 

[Patman]

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Where do you park your cars Patman?

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I knew someone was going to say this!

I guess I was more worried that oil that is in the bottle outside in the elements subject to extreme cold and extreme heat, for as much as a year or more, could have it's performance characteristics changed, perhaps some of the additives might degrade before I even get the chance to use the oil.

So even though my wife's car does get parked outside a lot, I would expect the oil to start degrading once it's in the vehicle. I just don't want the oil to get a head start on that process.

But since this oil was quite possibly made in Dec 06, and probably didn't even get put outside at this station until January or even February, it has probably not been exposed to the outside cold for too long. I will make sure to buy some nice cozy warm oil bottles next time though.

 

[BradC]

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I was going to go with Canadian Tire's Formula 1 5w20 (which is made by Shell) but the cold weather specs on this Petro Canada oil just kept me leaning that way. I figure that if it's got such good cold weather specs, it has to be a pretty well built oil, plus we've heard a lot of good things about Petro Canada's base oil, but nobody has run a UOA on it yet.

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Actually, someone did do a UOA on GM dealership oil which is Petro-Canada, but I suspect it is Maximum and not Supreme. The UOA looked good.

EDIT - Here is the UOA: http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB3&Number=819978

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If I'm going to run this oil for a while I should probably find a local distributor, as the gas station charges $4.89 a liter for it.

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If there is a Certigard service station near you, you might get it cheaper there. A bulk plant is your best bet. There's a bulk plant search tool on the PC web site.

 

[bruce381]

additive solubility will go down the colder the oil is held at (would not think a a problem)I'd shake the bottle up pour it in and drive a few miles to warm it.
Or pour in then look into bottle is stuff on bottom then most likley some VII or detergent.
bruce

 

[Patman]

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Actually, someone did do a UOA on GM dealership oil which is Petro-Canada, but I suspect it is Maximum and not Supreme.

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Why would you suspect that? Wouldn't it make more sense for the dealers to run the cheaper oil and make more profit?

 

[Roy Gutfinski]

If you are worried about separation, store the bottle of oil upside down with the cap on tight. Any solids or heavier separated fluids will then be at the top of the bottle and pour out first when you use the oil.

 

[Syntec-Man]

I would'nt do it! wait for it to go on sale at canadian tires

 

[PT1]

Dinoi oil outside will be affected as far as shelf life. I wrote to Pennzoil and asked about PP storage. They said inside heated is 5 years outside in a cold garage 18 months.

 

[Jim 5]

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Actually, someone did do a UOA on GM dealership oil which is Petro-Canada, but I suspect it is Maximum and not Supreme.

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Why would you suspect that? Wouldn't it make more sense for the dealers to run the cheaper oil and make more profit?

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I phoned the dealership and they said that they use whatever oil GM Canada sends them. This sounded a little fishy, then it was stated that GM Canada has an arrangement with Petro-Canada for supplying it's dealership bulk oils. This statement about the GM/Petro-Canada arrangement aligned with the dealership's statement about buying oil from GM, and stands to reason. However, that's all we know, and there is no guarantee GM dealership oil is Petro-Canada.

 

[Cutehumor]

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Dinoi oil outside will be affected as far as shelf life. I wrote to Pennzoil and asked about PP storage. They said inside heated is 5 years outside in a cold garage 18 months.

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wow, that makes a huge difference. I keep my 100 qt stash in the 2nd bedroom closet.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Patman

Just grab a case that's stocked the highest off the ground.

That may give you a little better piece-of-mind.

 

[blackhondaccord]

hey Patman,
i am going with this oil in my Honda ,and i bought it at my local dealer for $4.06 a litre ,this oil in my v6 seems to be excellent ,let us know how it goes for you

 

[Bill in Utah]

My garage goes from 40 degrees to 90 degrees and I've used oil that was in the stash for years with no problems.

My UOAs, long engine life show me that this idea that stored oils only last xx months is bull.

Patman, no worries. Use it when your ready and you'll be fine.

Bill

 

[BradC]

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Actually, someone did do a UOA on GM dealership oil which is Petro-Canada, but I suspect it is Maximum and not Supreme.

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Why would you suspect that? Wouldn't it make more sense for the dealers to run the cheaper oil and make more profit?

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I was under the impression that Maximum was the cheaper PC dino oil.

I think that came from the fact that the Oil Changers quick lube places in Ontario use PC Maximum for their oil changes, so I figured they were using the cheaper PC oil.

After looking at the PDFs it looks like Maximum is actually their top dino oil.

 

[BradC]

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I would'nt do it! wait for it to go on sale at canadian tires

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They don't sell Petro-Canada oil at Canadian Tire (at least around here)

 

[bdai]

Only PC I see is at their bulk distributors. They don't even list one around the 'sauga area, so it looks like Patman will have to take a drive