Does Oil Expire?
Was talking with a co-worker the other day and the question came up, does oil(engine,trans,p/s,gear lube) expire? I know brake fluid absorbs moisture so once a new bottle is opened and sits for any length of time it is not worth using. I was thinking maybe once a bottle was opened it might have a expiration date similar to canned goods(several years in the future)?
I know the Army has expiration dates on all of their oil products. Doesn't matter if they're conventional or synthetic. They have a “shelf life” with the expiration printed on the label. But I'm not sure if other oil companies do this?
Trevor how far out are the expiration dates on the oil you use is it years out or months?
Usually years, but there are a few that are months because they've sat on a shelf for so long
Not sure about the army, but the Air Force expiration date is actually a reinspection date. If the product is still ok, it is issued a new inspection date and returned to inventory. Unfortunately, I never found any information on how to determine serviceability other than a visual inspection. I do know I was in units where we used 10-year-old oil, and never had any issues. But this was a long…
“ExxonMobil recommends a five-year maximum shelf life for engine oils, including Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil" I asked our supplier years ago and, they said: “5 years, if unopened, and stored in a location that doesn't experience large temperature changes,” Like some other products apparently it “works” after a longer period but won't meet original performance spec.
I just looked at one of my bottles of AMSOIL and it does not have an expiration date.
If it helps I eat canned goods that are expired as long as it don’t smell or look bad. Cook it well the we’re good. Prior to the 90’s food really never had an expiration date. We didn’t have “expiring” bottled water, pop, etc when young in 70’s-80’s but now they do. I have oils older than 5-10 or more years @ home that I stil use for small “top offs” from time to time.
While the bottle of product itself might not expire, lately it seems that the specification for which the bottle may have been approved for might have.
Water absorption is a possibility, but the main issue is additive drop-out. Potentially what has dropped out could be blended back in, but there isn't a cost-effective and reliable way to do it.
Cody Here is pdf from Mobil google.com/url?sa=t&r…