I'd sell it to a collector and buy some SN on sale somewhere
Old Oil...Really Old Oil
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Originally Posted By: bbhero
API SF I am thinking if it was early to mid 1980s.
For model year 1988 and older engines, yes. http://www.oilspecifications.org/api_eolcs.php
API SF I am thinking if it was early to mid 1980s.
For model year 1988 and older engines, yes. http://www.oilspecifications.org/api_eolcs.php
Originally Posted By: CR94
It's probably less than 40 years old if in plastic bottles.
You'll get comments about how bad 10W-40 once was.
Plastic quart bottles arrived in late 1985 at least with Pennzoil and also Valvoline in my best recollection.
If you have a couple of moments, please post some pictures, both front and back of the bottle!
It's probably less than 40 years old if in plastic bottles.
You'll get comments about how bad 10W-40 once was.
Plastic quart bottles arrived in late 1985 at least with Pennzoil and also Valvoline in my best recollection.
If you have a couple of moments, please post some pictures, both front and back of the bottle!
Quaker State was the first to put oil quarts in plastic bottles IIRC. Year was 1984, complete in 1985. My dad passed away in 1986 and I used the last QS SAE 30 white plastic bottles from his stash in 1992.
http://articles.latimes.com/1985-02-10/business/fi-3748_1_motor-oil
http://articles.latimes.com/1985-02-10/business/fi-3748_1_motor-oil
Nice find.
Originally Posted By: LaCocina27
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Really old oil would be labeled A B C etc. Plastic bottles new enough Esso was good oil. You got any old cars around? It would work fine
Arco graphite was OK in some motors ...
Which motors?
239 Flathead V8 in a coupe, and one Slant Six in a Valiant
I recall the flathead really liking it
The magic sauce for $50 cars was the free Arco Graphite (cause folks were giving it away
) and 1 qt of MMO. Woke those old beaters up some (along with a tune-up and some timing)
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Really old oil would be labeled A B C etc. Plastic bottles new enough Esso was good oil. You got any old cars around? It would work fine
Arco graphite was OK in some motors ...
Which motors?
239 Flathead V8 in a coupe, and one Slant Six in a Valiant
I recall the flathead really liking it
The magic sauce for $50 cars was the free Arco Graphite (cause folks were giving it away
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Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
You sure a detergent oil? Most every compressor I have seen requires a NON detergent oil.
Its perfectly fine. Trust me. I ran a ton of old 10W40 in cans, and in bottles like those, around 10-15 years ago in my 84 Crown Vic. Also used to use Accel 10W40 SF oil from Wal-Mart because I was cheap. In the end the engine ran smooth as silk and the frame rusted out.
That's all assuming you own a vehicle that could run it. I still have an 83 Grand Marquis and I'd run it without hesitation if I still had it laying around.
That's all assuming you own a vehicle that could run it. I still have an 83 Grand Marquis and I'd run it without hesitation if I still had it laying around.
my friend collects oil cans and he last gifted me about 2 gallons of oil he drained from the cans. it was pennzoil z7 10w40 from years ago my f150 did just fine on it.
the only oil i refuse to use in my vehicles is non detergent oil.
the only oil i refuse to use in my vehicles is non detergent oil.
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I'd still love to see some pictures of this Esso oil.
My experience with vintage oil is that it's still oil, and in the correct applications it's absolutely fine.
My experience with vintage oil is that it's still oil, and in the correct applications it's absolutely fine.
It reminds of something Blackstone had done a few years ago.
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/April-1-2012.php
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/June-1-2012.php
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/October-1-2012.php
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/April-1-2012.php
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/June-1-2012.php
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/October-1-2012.php
Originally Posted By: CR94
Originally Posted By: HammerDown
Oh, he even has ARCO Graphite Quart Cans...remember how bad that was for Engines!
...
Really? If it was so bad, how did I get by with using several cases of the stuff in one engine with zero problems? Admittedly, the engine only lasted another 500K or so miles afterward before succumbing to issues unrelated to lubrication.
What I 'recall' being the issues with Arco Graphite Oil is; if the vehicle sat for extended periods of time (don't remember if it was weeks or months) the Graphite would drop out of the Oil and be in the bottom of the Oil Pan or other locations that Oil would normally 'pool'...like areas in the cylinder heads. It did get a bad reputation. Maybe even clogging Oil Filters.
Originally Posted By: HammerDown
Oh, he even has ARCO Graphite Quart Cans...remember how bad that was for Engines!
...
Really? If it was so bad, how did I get by with using several cases of the stuff in one engine with zero problems? Admittedly, the engine only lasted another 500K or so miles afterward before succumbing to issues unrelated to lubrication.
What I 'recall' being the issues with Arco Graphite Oil is; if the vehicle sat for extended periods of time (don't remember if it was weeks or months) the Graphite would drop out of the Oil and be in the bottom of the Oil Pan or other locations that Oil would normally 'pool'...like areas in the cylinder heads. It did get a bad reputation. Maybe even clogging Oil Filters.
Originally Posted By: Propflux01
You sure a detergent oil? Most every compressor I have seen requires a NON detergent oil.
Yes Sir, my 4hp SpeedAir Compressor (33+ years old) reads "use a high quality 10/40 detergent Oil) pretty sure I was putting straight 30 in it.
You sure a detergent oil? Most every compressor I have seen requires a NON detergent oil.
Yes Sir, my 4hp SpeedAir Compressor (33+ years old) reads "use a high quality 10/40 detergent Oil) pretty sure I was putting straight 30 in it.
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
What API service is it?
Esso 10/40 API SL, SJ, SH
EPCV 1997 (so I was way off on the age)
What API service is it?
Esso 10/40 API SL, SJ, SH
EPCV 1997 (so I was way off on the age)
I'll try to take a pic of the ESSO in plastic Bottles (have lots of it also several Esso ATF)
The Penn Jersey...in Can
And the really old looking STP container.
The Penn Jersey...in Can
And the really old looking STP container.
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Sounds great
Originally Posted By: Red91
Sounds great
Saw the same looking can of Penn Jersey sell for $125,00
Sounds great
Saw the same looking can of Penn Jersey sell for $125,00
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My father has many unopened bottles of these all over. 
How do I decode this date code...underside of Pennzoil HD SAE 30wt kept in a cool dark basement...usable Oil???
If you got an old car laying around, go for it. I do recall Toyota and Nissan called for API SF/SG spec'd oils up until the mid-1990s.
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