Oil Shelf Life

Stu Jackson · Jul 28, 2014

Bob, how long do you think that oil's been sitting on the shelf at the auto parts store?

Keep it, use it, save $$ and some dinosaurs.

Additive changes won't help your old engine, 'cuz it's been running without additives since it was built.

Chris Patterson · Jul 28, 2014

Keep the oil absolutely.

(I thought Delo and Rotella were also available in gallons)..

kloudie1 · Jul 28, 2014

Is fine to keep in the bottle, sealed.. Shake it up well before pouring together.. if the bottle sits a long time without moving, some additives may tend to settle.. no, you don't have to shake your car before starting.. that oil gets stirred/mixed very well as it lubes the engine.

alexco38 · Jul 28, 2014

mix and match

I don't know why you need to combine them for 4 years. Can't you finished last years left over, pour in 1/2 from this year and save 1/2 for next year and so on.

We've done that on cars for years.

It's not the same as buns comes in 8 and hotdogs comes in 10 conspiracy !

Jackdaw · Jul 28, 2014

Diesel fuel and motor oil have NO shelf life..... the chemists have no idea how long before they will actually go bad.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 28, 2014

Jackdaw said:
Diesel fuel and motor oil have NO shelf life..... the chemists have no idea how long before they will actually go bad.

Kind of off topic but the degradation of lube oil and diesel are mutually exclusive.

Diesel does degrade beginning in approx. 6 months. If you want details, a quick google search for "API studies diesel fuel degradation" will show a number of references and way too much detail off topic to the OP.

Hence the great never-ending debate about the pros/cons of filling the fuel tank prior to winter storage.

As it relates to lube oil, no such degradation has ever been found.

woodster · Jul 28, 2014

alexco38 said:
I don't know why you need to combine them for 4 years. Can't you finished last years left over, pour in 1/2 from this year and save 1/2 for next year and so on.

We've done that on cars for years.

It's not the same as buns comes in 8 and hotdogs comes in 10 conspiracy !

you must not use Hebrew National they only come 7 to a pack :cussing:

All U Get · Jul 28, 2014

rfrye1 said:
I change oil on my Hunter once a year. Engine gets about 50hrs a year. No matter how hard I try I usually get about 4 qts out w/Filter change. Usually buy the 5 gallon oil jug of oil because of price break. So I end up with an extra 1 qt of oil every year. I dont need to add any oil all year long.

Thanks. Bob

I trying to figure your math. You buy 5 gallons and use 1 each season and have only 1 quart left. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe you're just wicked messy.

All U Get

Jackdaw · Jul 29, 2014

Don S/V ILLusion said:
Kind of off topic but the degradation of lube oil and diesel are mutually exclusive.

Diesel does degrade beginning in approx. 6 months. If you want details, a quick google search for "API studies diesel fuel degradation" will show a number of references and way too much detail off topic to the OP.

Hence the great never-ending debate about the pros/cons of filling the fuel tank prior to winter storage.

As it relates to lube oil, no such degradation has ever been found.

Don. Interesting, I'll have a look. I was referring to diesel kept in good condition; away from open air and water/condensation. I had heard/read that if you keep it dry; its good.

RichH · Jul 29, 2014

Don S/V ILLusion said:
As it relates to lube oil, no such degradation has ever been found.

.... and the reason why lube and other oils are easily 'recycled and reclaimed' and returned back to 'new' condition. That oil is already millions of years old to begin with ... just keep it sealed up and it will last approximately another few millions of years. Tribologists (lubrication scientists) will tell you that such oil never 'wears out'.
However, leave it open to the atmosphere and it will eventually oxidize and/or become the 'food' for lots of hungry microorganisms that will alter the chemical structure into such as 'asphalts and tars', etc. (but that too is convertible back to 'new' lube oil).

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 29, 2014

Jackdaw said:
Don. Interesting, I'll have a look. I was referring to diesel kept in good condition; away from water/condensation. I had heard/read that if you keep it dry; its good.

My take-away from reading these studies is that even properly stored diesel in the complete absence of any water/moisture (a physical improbability) will degrade quickly. The properties lost and the paraffins created in degradation cannot be mitigated by the common off the shelf so-called "preservatives" making the store full/store empty a largely academic argument.

Urban myths are hard to kill.

jwing · Jul 29, 2014

If engine oil lasts indefinitely, why is recommended that automobile oil get changed every 3 months, even if the car has not been driven? Have I been duped?

RichH · Jul 29, 2014

Don S/V ILLusion said:
My take-away from reading these studies is that even properly stored diesel in the complete absence of any water/moisture (a physical improbability) will degrade quickly. The properties lost and the paraffins created in degradation cannot be mitigated by the common off the shelf so-called "preservatives" making the store full/store empty a largely academic argument.

Urban myths are hard to kill.

ENTROPY !!!! The fuel is cracked or distilled with heat / energy added. Entropy will dictate the slow reversal back to its basic 'resting' state.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 29, 2014

jwing said:
If engine oil lasts indefinitely, why is recommended that automobile oil get changed every 3 months, even if the car has not been driven? Have I been duped?

Auto service industry continues to use scare tactics and lots of people waste fully spend money to oblige them. Check out edmunds.com et. al., do a search of auto industry service recommendations, etc... And you will find 7,500, 10,000 and in some cases even greater intervals. It takes most folks quite a while beyond 3 months to accumulate that mileage.

Obviously, lube oil uncontaminated by combustion by-products should last a while.

Stu Jackson · Jul 29, 2014

Don S/V ILLusion said:
My take-away from reading these studies is that even properly stored diesel in the complete absence of any water/moisture (a physical improbability) will degrade quickly. The properties lost and the paraffins created in degradation cannot be mitigated by the common off the shelf so-called "preservatives" making the store full/store empty a largely academic argument.

Urban myths are hard to kill.

Don's right.

Just another reason to USE your boat more often.

I'm now refilling half a tank every three months or less. Heck, where have I been? Only the Shadow knows....