How long does oil keep?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: How long does oil keep?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Hughes, Raymond, NE on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 04:41 pm:

I have access to an unopened 5 gallon can of Mobil 600W Cylinder oil that has been stored for 20 to 30 years. Would it still be OK to use, or don't risk it and buy new?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 04:47 pm:

Petroleum has been underground for thousands of years.......use it....... :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 04:52 pm:

I agree. Use it. I have seen old antifreeze in an unopened jug that jelled but never oil. I heard that some rear axle oil as recent as stuff used in the sixties had tallow that could get rancid but your thirty year stuff is still new.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 05:02 pm:

If it's still 'homogeneous', then I wouldn't think twice about using it. However, we had some 5 gallon pails of 80W-90 at work a couple of years ago that was only 5 years old or so. It had gotten 'lumpy'. I don't know what caused it, but I returned it to the vendor. He blamed it on his people not rotating the stock. Could be that, or it could have been that way the day it was packaged. I don't know.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Hughes, Raymond, NE on Friday, May 18, 2012 - 01:24 am:

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I will open it up and see what it looks like. Craig, I wasn't concerned about the petroleum going bad, but didn't know about any additives that may have been included.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Friday, May 18, 2012 - 02:51 am:

I have a case or two of engine oil that I have had for more than thirty years. I would not hesitate to use it. But those unopened old style cans are worth more than the oil inside. I don't want them. I wonder what I could trade them for?
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


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