Oil shelf life

Heck , free oil ! Can't go wrong . You can use old oil for many different uses besides in your engine . If you don't want to use it , drain the oil out from the bottom and sell the oil ! As far as I have seen , the additives separate after a long shelf life , then basically , the oil is no good for an engine anymore . I wouldn't use that oil in any engine unless you have one that is an oil burner . Then who really cares what oil you use !
I will NEVER use old oil in my engines , period ! Not worth the loss in the end !
Just my opinion .

Retro Jim

 

im intrested in buying some if they are for sale.

 

"the old cardboard "cans" will wick moisture into them causing unseen condensation. "

Well I suppose if they are stored in a puddle they might... but by definition, isn't condensation visible? And if the oil somehow attracted water, which it is famous for doing just the opposite, then the first time it got hot in an engine, the moisture would be driven out.

"Temperature changes will increase oxidation of the oil as well." True, at a couple hundred degrees. In a more or less sealed container, there is only a small volume of air present. Only one fifth of that is oxygen. Even if all that were used up in "oxidizing the oil", such reaction would then stop.

Also, if there is any separation of additives in the old oil I imagine it would be nicely mixed up again after running in an engine a minute or two.