Oil Degradation In Storage Question

[HamishMacCheap]

I may buy a case of 10W-40 engine oil for my ATV and my Kawasaki Mule UTV because of uncertainty of future availability and also, because it will certainly be cheaper now than in the future. Since I change oil in the UTV but once a year, it will be several years before the last of the oil the oil is put to use.

My question is this. Does engine oil degrade if unused over a period of several years if stored out of the elements in a garage, a somewhat controlled environment? The individual bottles won't be opened until used. I use a dehumidifier to control humidity in the garage and here in South Carolina, excessive winter cold is not a problem in an enclosed environment.

Also, any comments about Valvoline 10W-40 ATV/UTV oil? I have always considered Valvoline to be a quality brand.

 

[DynamicD]

In my experience if the individual bottles are sealed you should be fine for several years, But I don't work at a oil lab or anything.... It would be interesting to hear from someone in that field.

 

[5030]

Buy my engine oil in 55 gallon drums, it's appreciably cheaper that way and I don't use 55 gallons quickly anyway, but I keep the drum sealed and it sits in the shop. Might take me 3 years to use a drum up. Nice thing is I have an empty drum the used oil goes into and when the currrent drum is empty, my jobber picks up the empty drum as well as the one with the used oil in it and drops off a fresh drum so I don't have to worry about disposing of used motor oil.

I use Shell 5-40 T6 in everything, tactors, ATV, lawn mowers even the pressure washer and cars and trucks and have for years now.

 

[nyone]

I'm useing cases on motor oil I bought march of 2020 when oil prices tanked. I'm also burning home heating oil in equipment that I bought at the same time. It will be a few more years until I'm out of both.

 

[big bubba]

myth or fact? (i don't know): if stored correctly, the petroleum product does not degrade, but the additive package itself is what might age or break down in time.
have no evidence on that, just what i've read.
OP: i surely wouldn't lose sleep over the subject

 

[HamishMacCheap]

Thanks to those who responded. Good info from all.

 

[stevem5215]

I tested a old 55 gal drum of Pennzoil Multiduty 3p. It tested good at the Blackstone labs and is basically a 30weight oil from years ago. They called it serviceable oil and told me to use it in the 30 weight detergent applications. I used it in my Ford 1900 in the summer months when it was warm out without issue and then also have used it in my 70's engine laying around too. I still have some left but the 30 weight engine market is pretty dead anymore so it's not used much. I have about 10 or 15 gallons still in the sealed tank. I'll probably end up giving away the rest eventually. I've had the drum myself for about 15 years. Still good oil in the tank.