Redline closeout find

andrewg · Feb 28, 2009

I just recently was able to get a great deal on some quarts of Redline 5w-20 at a local auto parts store. They closed them out for $6.99 a quart (reg. $9.99) so I got all they had left.
I do have a question though. How long can this oil sit on the shelf and not be effected by age? I ask this because the oil bottles are dusty and look to be at least several months to a year or so old. Is this ok?
Thanks.

demarpaint · Feb 28, 2009

Nice score, oil shelf life is at least 5 years according to Mobil and a few others. IMO its a lot longer than that.

simple_gifts · Feb 28, 2009

You will probably find some brown additive fallout in older bottles of RL; I have some RL that is probably 5 years old; I'm not hesitating to use it. I usually pour 1/2 a bottle in, then give it a shake.

azsynthetic · Feb 28, 2009

I am still running Redline oils that I bought back in 1989 when I managed a race club. VOA shows the same results as the recently bought stuffs. I still have several cases of Motul MC oil that I bought back in 1992 that I'm running in my Honda CBR-1000RR

TallPaul · Feb 28, 2009

Shake 'em up. Can call Redline and they will interpret codes for age and prob tell you its fine to use.

buster · Feb 28, 2009

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Nice score, oil shelf life is at least 5 years according to Mobil and a few others. IMO its a lot longer than that.

+1

Drivebelt · Feb 28, 2009

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Nice score, oil shelf life is at least 5 years according to Mobil and a few others. IMO its a lot longer than that.

I agree. I would have no problem using 10, 12, or even 15 year old synthetic oil.

The problem is with really old conventional oils. In the mid-late 1990's the oil refining industry in North America started a major transition to Group II base oils (from Group I). If one has some old conventional oil that is SJ rated or older, it would likely be as good as the day it was bottles (little to no deterioration just sitting in a bottle), but it may be a Group I based motor oil. IF older than SJ, almost for sure it's going to be a Group I based oil. One could still use the old conventional, but it wouldn't offer near the performance of the modern Group II base oils used in today's oils.

Mr Nice · Feb 28, 2009

I gt a bunch of SL rated Mobil 1, I would have absolutey no problem using it 15 years from now.

c3po · Feb 28, 2009

We have a few auto parts stores that used too stock Redline oil's.

There were a few that sold Royal Purple, and a place called Penn Jersey Auto even stcked some Amsoil.

It is obvious that most people will go for the cheapest oil so these products did not last long.

Pep Boys is now stocking Royal Purple Oil Filters, but with there steep price, they probably will not be carrying them for long.

berlyn · Mar 1, 2009

opposite_locker · Mar 1, 2009

Which store? Is it a national chain? For that price, I'd run Redline in everything.

andrewg · Mar 1, 2009

Thanks for all the replies. I did e-mail Redline and gave them a set of code numbers on the side of one of the bottles. I'm fairly certain the oil has been on the shelf no more than a year or so, but I am curious what the people at Redline say.
The store where I got the oil was closing it out because the local population just can't bring itself to pay that much (9.99) for oil. I usually order it and get a better price. One strange thing around here (Seattle area) is that most stores that sell oil only offer weights of 5w30, 10w30, 10w-40, 20w-50, etc. It's very frustrating trying to find a well stocked selection of 5w-20 or especially 0w-20. I make it a point to tell the clerk that many vehicles today are spec'd with 5w-20 oil and it would be wise to offer more selection of it. They usually look at me like I just asked them a complex mathematical question or something. Oh well...

JackFish · Mar 2, 2009

I lucked out like that too. Took all this store had.
Picked up about 2 dozen bottles @ $7.99CDN, regular $12 up here.

andrewg · Mar 2, 2009

Jack....wow. Great deal. I wish they had two dozen!
Opposite...this was just a local independent store, nothing national.

quick_16 · Mar 6, 2009

So those that indicated it has A shelf life, what is that based on? Any data? Link to a site and OEM? I'd like to know what actually happens to the oil to make it be unusable for even a lawn mower as indictaed... or is this just some more rapid fire from INTERNET wizards lol

Originally Posted By: windeye
usually 3 years if it's stored properly (i mean no water getting in, no direct exposure to run, and not in a freezing place.)

daves87rs · Mar 6, 2009

Nice pick up there Jack...

Max_Wander · Mar 6, 2009

Originally Posted By: quick_16
So those that indicated it has A shelf life, what is that based on? Any data? Link to a site and OEM? I'd like to know what actually happens to the oil to make it be unusable for even a lawn mower as indictaed... or is this just some more rapid fire from INTERNET wizards lol

Originally Posted By: windeye
usually 3 years if it's stored properly (i mean no water getting in, no direct exposure to run, and not in a freezing place.)

I heard there was a real problem with motor oil turning into diamond if left on the shelf for too long....

Redline closeout find

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