Does old oil go off?

[Catch95]

This may be a dumb question but I have two 20 litre containers of engine oil that the previous owner of my farm left behind - we basically bought everything. I'd reckon it is about 10 years old but still looks ok and smells sweet.

Any risk with using it?

Thanks

Mark

 

[crashz]

Some additives can deteriorate over time. If its 10 years old and sealed, its probably clean enough to use on chains, joints and lightly loaded gearboxs (for a short time) and anything that needs frequent lube. If its a heavy oil you can cut it a little to thin it out and use it as a surface lubricant for a ton of things on the farm. I wouldn't use it for expensive engines, transmissions, or gearboxes that are used hard.

Plus the oils today are far superior to the oils from 10 or more years ago.

 

[Sully2]

This may be a dumb question but I have two 20 litre containers of engine oil that the previous owner of my farm left behind - we basically bought everything. I'd reckon it is about 10 years old but still looks ok and smells sweet.

Any risk with using it?

Thanks

Mark

Take them to the nearest oil reclaimination place...basically...get rid of it!

 

[ray66v]

Some additives can deteriorate over time. If its 10 years old and sealed, its probably clean enough to use on chains, joints and lightly loaded gearboxs (for a short time) and anything that needs frequent lube. If its a heavy oil you can cut it a little to thin it out and use it as a surface lubricant for a ton of things on the farm. I wouldn't use it for expensive engines, transmissions, or gearboxes that are used hard.

Plus the oils today are far superior to the oils from 10 or more years ago.

I know a retired chemist who worked in the petroleum industry, and she totally agrees with crashz's assessment. A big concern was not being able to determine the conditions it was stored under. I would use it for a utility oil at best.

 

[DieselPower]

10 years old, get rid of it. Depending on which lube manufacturer you talk to the average shelf life you will hear is 3 to 5 years for oil. After that time additives can start to separate. In containers that have been opened the oil will start to oxidize due to exposure to atmospheric oxygen.

 

[patrick_g]

Waste oil heater.
Thread lube.
Coolant for machining.
Wood preservative.
Soak some kindling in it for a hot fire starter.

Put some into 4 tin cans and set your table legs in it for a picnic and the ants will not make it to the table.

The additive packages have changed so rapidly that old oil, even if perfectly preserved, will not meet the makers recommendations for a fairly new vehicle.

Pat

 

[4720 OWNER]

Waste oil heater.
Thread lube.
Coolant for machining.
Wood preservative.
Soak some kindling in it for a hot fire starter.

Put some into 4 tin cans and set your table legs in it for a picnic and the ants will not make it to the table.

The additive packages have changed so rapidly that old oil, even if perfectly preserved, will not meet the makers recommendations for a fairly new vehicle.

Pat

At the end of the picnic can you light the cans and not have to clean up...assuming no metal utensils are used?

 

[patrick_g]

At the end of the picnic can you light the cans and not have to clean up...assuming no metal utensils are used?

Or move the cans farther from the table and light as big Tiki torches at dusk, just add a burlap bag to each for wicks.

Pat

 

[Housten]

I have been using some old Pennzoil and Quakerstate 10-40, API rating SF, in my chainsaw.

 

[sixdogs]

I have been using some old Pennzoil and Quakerstate 10-40, API rating SF, in my chainsaw.

Chainsaw oil is made "sticky" so it clings to the bar during the extreme heat generated from cutting. It may sound like a good use for that old oil but my unfortunate experience taught me it will wear the chain, sprocket and bar. You won't notice it for a while, however. I now use winter weight bar oil all year round.

Regarding the oil, If you knew the oil was stored in a controlled environment with minimal temperature changes and in a sealed container I think it would safe for a vehicle of that era that had that API oil rating as acceptable. Short of that, you could have enough oil-can oil for 40 years.