Does oil go bad ? I have a case of vintage oil that I would like to use due to the fact it has got to have some decent zinc levels. I want to use some on a new engine to break in the camshaft then change it prompt. The oil has been in heated dry storage. Any oil experts out there ?
Its pretty old to start with....anyway good question...apparently 2-5 years unopened isn't an issue if stored properly as yours seems to have been. Layering, discoloration and precipitates would indicate an undesireable change. I've had gear lubes where the friction modifier separated, but have not seen engine oil changes. I've got a case of 15 yr old Amsoil that I keep saving
I'd think it would be OK. A better Q is...what weight oil is it? If really thick you might want to get something like 10W-30 & throw some ZDDPlus in it & use the thick stuff after break in.
Someone gave me three cases of oil from the 70's about six or seven years ago and I've been using in my **** ever since then, from the 375 horse 440 Magnum in my '70 Challenger to the mild smallblock in my Model A. I don't drive like Grandma either and I've never had a problem yet!
Its like 50 Million years old when it comes out of the Wellhead. Few extra years on the shelf shouldn't hurt??? But why chance it?
The oil itself can not go bad, the additives and detergents might deteriorate over time but highly unlikely in sealed cans. The lubricating property of oil hardly ever diminshes, unless it gets super heated, it the additive breakdown, viscosity modifiers, and the suspended contaminants that are the reason for changing it.
According to Valvoline; Does motor oil expire? How long does motor oil generally last? Valvoline motor oil does not have a do***ented expiration date. Under optimal conditions, the product is stable for an extended period of time and can be used as long as the American Petroleum Ins***ute (API) rating on the label continues to meet or exceed the requirements listed in your owner's manual. If the rating is still current, shake the container before use to blend any additives that may have settled. E**onMobil recommends a five year maximum shelf-life for engine oils Amsoil says 5 years There is no shelf life for Castrol motor oil, however we would suggest that for maximum protection and performance, the product be used within 3 years of the date of purchase. Our recommendation is to discard motor oil that has experienced a shelf life of 3 or more years after purchase. union 76/Conoco; In general, liquid lubricants (oils, not greases) will remain intact for a number of years. The main factor affecting the life of the oil is how they are stored. Exposure to extreme temperature changes and moisture will reduce the shelf life of the lubricants. Keep them sealed and unopened. Technically, engine oils have shelf lives of four to five years. The major concern is that it is unopened and NO Moisture has gotten inside the oil (which is very likely with the old cardboard cans. Other than that vigorous shaking is deemed quite necessary before use.
You can get some pretty good $$$ for those on Ebay. Collectors will pay for unopened oil cans. I had some harley oil cans that brought over $30 each. Might want to think about it.
Good call, It's 20-50 racing oil. I was going to break in the engine with 3 quarts straight 30w and 2 quarts of the old Valvoline20-50 racing oil for the extra zinc then change the oil and then run 5 quarts of the vintage oil for a couple hundred miles.my main concern is engine damage from older oil, My guess was this vintage racing oil has a higher zinc content than newer oil to help break in the engine.
I got a few cases of 30 or so year old years ago. I use it in all my old engines, including to break them in. No issues. Make sure you shake the cans real well before you use em as the additives had settled in many of the cans.
Not in my experience! I've tried selling the cans empty two for $5 and not a single bid. Guess nobody liked Sinclair, Veedol, or whatever else I had...
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