What Temperature Is Too Hot For Motor Oil Storage?
- Thread starter Bangaroo
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my first thought was at what temp does the plastic bottle melt at?
Well the flash point is likely over 400 F...hopefully your trunk isn't getting that toasty.
I've only had trouble with one lubricant being stored in a hot garage. Schaeffer #204S-AT quart bottles tend to leak from the top. I think the bottles might be filled at much cooler temps and heat expansion causes them to overflow. They don't have seals, just the twist cap seal. The bottles don't appear to be leaking from separation though, so I continue to use them (worst leakers first).
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I worked at a bottle blow molding plant.
The plastic used for oil bottles is high density polyethylene.
I wish it would melt at only 100deg f - I would not have had so many burns on my arms and hands!
[t melts and flows at about 250 deg F.]
Store the oil anywhere at Earth ambient temperatures, and it will be fine.
The plastic used for oil bottles is high density polyethylene.
I wish it would melt at only 100deg f - I would not have had so many burns on my arms and hands!
[t melts and flows at about 250 deg F.]
Store the oil anywhere at Earth ambient temperatures, and it will be fine.
Originally Posted By: accent2012
Keep it out of the sun. UV breaks down the plastic and the chemicals from it leach into the oil.
Well the rays of the sun might have hit the quarts depending on the angle of the sun and where I parked...I might just give these quarts to my FIL and let him put them in his old beat up Voyager. He likes QS and I bought it on sale. Myself...I like the MaxLife. That is what I have in the Lumina now.
The previous owner spent a good deal of money fixing the leaking head gaskets and getting the DexDeath outta the block so I figure I will run a semi-premium oil in it. MaxLife seems as good as any other high mileage oil. Long time White bottle user here.
The oil is prolly fine. I'm still on the fence about using it though. I'll prolly stick with MaxLife. And my FIL won't care. He stores his SuperTech out in the garage all year long...only difference is it's not exposed to UV rays.
Keep it out of the sun. UV breaks down the plastic and the chemicals from it leach into the oil.
Well the rays of the sun might have hit the quarts depending on the angle of the sun and where I parked...I might just give these quarts to my FIL and let him put them in his old beat up Voyager. He likes QS and I bought it on sale. Myself...I like the MaxLife. That is what I have in the Lumina now.
The previous owner spent a good deal of money fixing the leaking head gaskets and getting the DexDeath outta the block so I figure I will run a semi-premium oil in it. MaxLife seems as good as any other high mileage oil. Long time White bottle user here.
The oil is prolly fine. I'm still on the fence about using it though. I'll prolly stick with MaxLife. And my FIL won't care. He stores his SuperTech out in the garage all year long...only difference is it's not exposed to UV rays.
It's ok if it's been in there for a few weeks, but I've seen discolored bottles after being exposed out in the sun for months.
My advice: Do NOT store oil bottles in your car for an extended length of time unless you can guarantee they’ll remain upright. I had one or more leak recently, dumping perhaps a cup of oil onto the floorboard carpet. And I DID check the bottle caps at one point beforehand. The catch: I originally checked the caps in winter in cold temps, whereas the caps seemingly had loosened up simply due to the heat of the car interior in July. That 80 degree temperature differential seemed to actually loosen up the cap (or perhaps just "expanded," rather than "loosened"), much to my surprise. Either way, I've got a bit of carpet shampooing to do.
Shell recommends their motor oils be stored from 32F to 122F.
http://theoilnet.com/Atlantic-States-Lubricants/msds/Vehicle-Lubricants/Formula-Shell-10W40.pdf
Shell recommends their motor oils be stored from 32F to 122F.
http://theoilnet.com/Atlantic-States-Lubricants/msds/Vehicle-Lubricants/Formula-Shell-10W40.pdf
I think the key is keeping them out of the sun. I have had jugs in my shed for over 5 years. I have over 25 5 quart jugs that are older than 3 years old and plenty of single quarts that are over about 7 years. I have never had a jug deform or leak. I made a shelf in the rafters of the shed and my oil jugs line the parameter of the shed. Im sure they regularly see 100F. I was nervous about some Pennzoil HM jugs because they felt very thin and weak but still have not had any issues. I have heard stories of jugs leaking but have never experienced it myself.
Too actually chime in on the original questions. I think if you put them in a box or something and leave them in the trunk. If your going to install it anytime soon it will most likely be fine. I guess i would worry a little about the plastic being very hot then being easier to puncture or rupture due to something rolling around in the trunk.
Too actually chime in on the original questions. I think if you put them in a box or something and leave them in the trunk. If your going to install it anytime soon it will most likely be fine. I guess i would worry a little about the plastic being very hot then being easier to puncture or rupture due to something rolling around in the trunk.
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Just today as I added my $.32 per qt (after rebate) Quaker State Ultimate to my stash I pulled forward 2 five qt Valvoline SynPower to the front, it looked like it had been there for 10 years. The jugs had turned the silver into a medium brown color,they were dated 09/2010(my purchase date). I wouldn't use them if you paid me, they will go in the nieces and nephews cars that don't normally know what an oil change is. I am sure the oil is OK but the jugs are a big turn off, besides for a syn it has no staying power as we all know.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I'd worry more about aerosol cans.
+1 years ago, I worked at a service station. (remember those?) We had a customer who was very particular. If one of his bosses smoked in his company car, he dosed it with aerosol air freshener. Well, one very hot summer day, the can exploded and caught the seat and dash on fire. It burned until it ran out of oxygen. The smell of burned plastic in that car was unbelievable. I got to try to clean that puppy out. Of course, he never got the smell out.
I'd worry more about aerosol cans.
+1 years ago, I worked at a service station. (remember those?) We had a customer who was very particular. If one of his bosses smoked in his company car, he dosed it with aerosol air freshener. Well, one very hot summer day, the can exploded and caught the seat and dash on fire. It burned until it ran out of oxygen. The smell of burned plastic in that car was unbelievable. I got to try to clean that puppy out. Of course, he never got the smell out.
Originally Posted By: mgm13
Just today as I added my $.32 per qt (after rebate) Quaker State Ultimate to my stash I pulled forward 2 five qt Valvoline SynPower to the front, it looked like it had been there for 10 years. The jugs had turned the silver into a medium brown color,they were dated 09/2010(my purchase date). I wouldn't use them if you paid me, they will go in the nieces and nephews cars that don't normally know what an oil change is. I am sure the oil is OK but the jugs are a big turn off, besides for a syn it has no staying power as we all know.
I wonder why the color change... UV Rays perhaps?
Makes me wonder what will happen with my stash. The bottles there are black, and red... so I don't know if I'll see those change color. The black will be there longest... just because there's more of them.
Just today as I added my $.32 per qt (after rebate) Quaker State Ultimate to my stash I pulled forward 2 five qt Valvoline SynPower to the front, it looked like it had been there for 10 years. The jugs had turned the silver into a medium brown color,they were dated 09/2010(my purchase date). I wouldn't use them if you paid me, they will go in the nieces and nephews cars that don't normally know what an oil change is. I am sure the oil is OK but the jugs are a big turn off, besides for a syn it has no staying power as we all know.
I wonder why the color change... UV Rays perhaps?
Makes me wonder what will happen with my stash. The bottles there are black, and red... so I don't know if I'll see those change color. The black will be there longest... just because there's more of them.
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