Does hydraulic oil go bad?

[CrownHawg]

I recently bought a JD 4120 w/FEL and absolutely love it. My question however is can I use hydraulic oil that has been in my shop for about 12 years? I bought 5 gal years ago when I borrowed a neighbors tractor that apparently had a leak in the hyd hoses. It has been sealed up all this time and is almost full. I'd hate to let it go to waste, BUT I surely don't want to put it in MY tractor if is bad. Advice?

 

[J_J]

I recently bought a JD 4120 w/FEL and absolutely love it. My question however is can I use hydraulic oil that has been in my shop for about 12 years? I bought 5 gal years ago when I borrowed a neighbors tractor that apparently had a leak in the hyd hoses. It has been sealed up all this time and is almost full. I'd hate to let it go to waste, BUT I surely don't want to put it in MY tractor if is bad. Advice?

I think I would call the manufacture of the product, and ask about the shelf life, and would he use it in his tractor if that old.

I did come across some old oil made by Quaker State, that was in the paper and metal can, and it looked like it had started to gel, but I am talking about 30 or more years old.

I would think that if it looks good, and smells like regular hydro oil, might be OK, however, it might not have the additives that a current hydro oil has.

 

[spruce Deere]

Its been my experience that condensation and sometimes settling happens in oil containers even full, worse when partly full if left that long or longer. If the temp was not kept steady anyway 'unheated building'. Another thing is the additive packages in the older oil may not be right for newer equipment. With or without the condensation additive! If you cant see the bottom of the bucket, You can pore the oil from the original container to another and watch for a " oozing blob" when almost empty. That will be the water and maybe some settlement if any. That should help you decide if you should use the oil or not.