Oil expiration date?

Massey Harris Guy · Oct 24, 2009

Oil in question is 15-w40 diesel oil. I was given a 5 gal pail of it AFTER I changed the oil on the skid steer. I was hoping it would last til next year when I do the oil change again. Any problems keeping oil for over a year and it not going bad? Will it have a tendency to separate or go foul? Right now I have it in a cool basement in a dark storage room. Any other suggestions or things to look for when I do open it?
Thanks!
Frank

Don-Wi · Oct 24, 2009

No problems at all. We buy oil in drums and it takes a good 2 or 3 years to use it up. Oil will last much longer than 1 year, so don't worry about it.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Steve A W · Oct 24, 2009

I asked an old timer that once.
He said "How longs it been in the ground
before they put it in that can?"

Pitch · Oct 24, 2009

I worked at an Army Depot and we had warehouses full of 55 gallon drums of every oil you could imagine, some was 20 or so years old. spent an hour or so every day pulling samples to send to QC. We suplussed plenty of oil and grease but it was sold for it"s original purpose.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 25, 2009

Valvoline told me the same as Steve A W. They also seed the additives settle over time and should shake it up real good before use.

eastexan · Oct 25, 2009

This reminds me of the oil change requirement that you see so frequently of "5000 miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first". It's as if the oil goes bad just sitting in the vehicle.
But whats the difference if the oil is sitting in a can or sitting in a vehicle?

I recently had a car repaired that had been broke down for over a year.
I had just changed the oil & filter when it developed an electrical problem.
Since I had another car to drive, I let it sit until I could afford to fix it.

After it was repaired, I thought about changing the oil again, per oil change instructions. But after pulling the dipstick, the oil looked as clean and fresh as the day I put it in, so I left it alone.

Maybe I'm wrong, but as long as the oil looks good (amber & clear), I think changing it would be a waste (no pun intended).

Ronnie

Walterdavies · Oct 25, 2009

The man says shake it up good, funny thing is doesn't your engine do all that for you after you pour it in.
No Oil that is 20 years old is as good as the day it was put in the can, the only difference is that 20 years ago we had different additives and standards.
Walt

SDE · Oct 26, 2009

When the engine runs, the oil becomes contaminated. These contaminates are why you need to change the oil ever 6 months. Although I do not change it that often.
SDE

Massey Harris Guy · Oct 29, 2009

OK, great! Thanks so much guys. I appreciate the input. Looks like there will be no harm in keeping the oil for a year or so. Wont cut into my maintenance budget as much!
Thanks
Frank

Oil expiration date?

Massey Harris Guy

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Don-Wi

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Steve A W

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Pitch

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Anonymous-0

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eastexan

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Walterdavies

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SDE

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Massey Harris Guy

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