Old VR1 virgin oil and settling in container

[HammerDown]

1'st, can you 'date' this Valvoline VR1 Racing oil? (I know it's old)
I've had old oil before and used it without fail 'HOWEVER' never seeing this before!!!
Oil has been sitting for several years and always stored indoors/climate controlled garage, I went to use it for my Harley, shook it up as I do with all oils I use and look in the bottom and .... YIKES!
Two out of 5-qts had this in the bottom, what do you make of this???

 

[bdcardinal]

the SM standard looks to have been introduced in 2004 according to Lubrizol. But I wonder if that 2803 on the back label indicated the 28th week of 2003.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I am not sure I would want to use oil with things floating around like that. Maybe use it in something old that already uses a little oil. I do not know what it is but appears to be a separation of some of the additives or something.

 

[vavavroom]

Early to late 2000s. I know I used this at one point in my Rabbit.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

This is why I don't think it's a good idea when people build large stashes of oil that will take them years to cycle through. Oil does have a shelf life, and additives do break down in the bottle.

 

[HammerDown]

Thanks for the feedback... I now see the 2004 on the back lower right.
However, I know I didn't purchase that case of Oil waaaay back in 2004.
As I recall, AutoZone was 'clearancing' it from their inventory and for a really good price... I purchased a few cases BUT again I didn't buy it in 2004.
I'm thinking it was already 'dated' in my local store and why they were getting ride of it for $2 a qt and I ended up buying new-OLD-oil... I never thought to question how old it was when I purchased it.
But check this OLD oil Pennzoil that my father had stocked in his basement... I use it in my lawnmower, I never see anything in the bottom of the bottle like that Valvoline crud.

 

[vavavroom]

Thanks for the feedback... I now see the 2004 on the back lower right.

Have you decoded the QR code?

 

[gfh77665]

If I just had to use old oil I would shake the bottle like crazy, dump it it, then put an oz. or two of MMO in the jug, reshake, and pour. The MMO rinse would very likely put the fallout back into solution.

 

[daves87rs]

Not sure I’d use it.

 

[Sandstorm]

The MMO rinse would very likely put the fallout back into solution.

How would MMO accomplish this?

 

[53' Stude]

Interesting as we had member with Valvoline Maxlife sun power with similar and it was mainly additive separation. I’ve used hot plate in past and put some oil in pan; it reabsorbed back into the oil.

 

[captainbeandip]

As long as those chunks are slippery feeling, and not gritty and abrasive, I don't see an issue. But now that I think about it, zinc is a type of metal and is supposed to be in there, so maybe some gritty abrasive is OK? Or perhaps I don't know what the hell I'm talking about and you should put me on ignore.

Oh well, I tried.

By the way, that bottle says ©2004 on the bottom of it, so that might be another clue that it's from somewhere around 2004.

 

[kschachn]

As long as those chunks are slippery feeling, and not gritty and abrasive, I don't see an issue. But now that I think about it, zinc is a type of metal and is supposed to be in there, so maybe some gritty abrasive is OK? Or perhaps I don't know what the hell I'm talking about and you should put me on ignore.

Oh well, I tried.

By the way, that bottle says ©2004 on the bottom of it, so that might be another clue that it's from somewhere around 2004.

Compounds are not the same as elements, much like consuming a bit of sodium chloride isn't the same as eating some sodium and chlorine.

 

[ATex7239]

If G288F is the date code then it’s 7/28/08. The F is likely a shift or plant code. My uneducated guess. And I would not use it.

 

[53' Stude]

I have some VR1 quarts myself. Ill snap few pics

 

[53' Stude]

Cana anyone tell me how old these are? Poured half quart that was opened into pan; no additive fallout or weird chunkies

 

[HammerDown]

Have you decoded the QR code?

I did not however another member did 7/28/08.

 

[HammerDown]

Not sure I’d use it.

Well, I used 3.5 qts out of the 7 qts I have. And that debris wasn't in the other quarts I used.
Not sure why it was in those two quarts and not the 3 I used and not sure if it's in the other un opened quarts but, I won't be using the rest if them.

As long as those chunks are slippery feeling, and not gritty and abrasive, I don't see an issue. But now that I think about it, zinc is a type of metal and is supposed to be in there, so maybe some gritty abrasive is OK? Or perhaps I don't know what the hell I'm talking about and you should put me on ignore.

Oh well, I tried.

By the way, that bottle says ©2004 on the bottom of it, so that might be another clue that it's from somewhere around 2004.

Those pieces are slick and slimy... originally it was stuck to the bottom of the container, until I freed it with my finger.
Oddly, that sediment was only on the bottom of two containers.

 

[HammerDown]

Just got off the phone with Valvoline... the oil I have is from 2008.
I know I didn't purchase in 08 so unfortunately I purchase new/OLD oil from Autozone... oh well, too bad for me.
*Valvoline tech stated their oil has a "5 year shelf life."

 

[ATex7239]

Just got off the phone with Valvoline... the oil I have is from 2008.
I know I didn't purchase in 08 so unfortunately I purchase new/OLD oil from Autozone... oh well, too bad for me.
*Valvoline tech stated their oil has a "5 year shelf life."

All manufacturers say there is a shelf life yet some people around here think it is just a ploy sell more products or something. I’d rather error on side of caution. But some folks are pretty hard up to not let old oil go unused.