Oil shelf life?

[Russ]

I have a few quarts of Mobil 1 10W-30 which are 4 years old. Is it still okay to use?

------------------
Russ
'91 black/black

 

[nsxtasy]

Yes, as long as they meet the SAE and viscosity requirements of your vehicle (which, for a '91 NSX, they do).

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 February 2003).]

 

[AKUDOU]

Originally posted by Russ:
I have a few quarts of Mobil 1 10W-30 which are 4 years old. Is it still okay to use?

Automotive and Industrial Lubricants
Product Shelf Life




In general, liquid lubricants(not greases) will remain intact for a number of years. The main factor affecting the life of the oil is the storage condition for the products. Exposure to extreme temperature changes, and moisture will reduce the shelf life of the lubricants.

It is important to note that engine/motor oil, and transmission oil industry performance requirements are changing rapidly. The product may be stored three years and still be intact, but may not meet the latest specifications for your vehicle.

As a general rule, the simpler the oil formulation, the longer the shelf life. The following is a guideline under protected conditions:

Product Shelf Life
Base Oils, Process Oils Three(3) years
Hydraulic Oils, Compressor Oils, General Purpose Lubricating Oils Two(2) years
Engine Oils and Transmission Oils Three(3) years
Industrial and Automotive Gear Oils Two(2) years
Metal Working and Cutting Oils One(1) year
Greases Two(2) years

The following are signs of storage instability in a lubricant:

Settling out of the additives as a gel or sticky liquid
Floc or haze
Precipitates/solid material
Color change or haziness
Water contamination in a lubricant can be detected by a "milky" appearance of the product.

A sign of grease deterioration is the separation of the liquid oil from the solid grease.

 

[steveny]

How about antifreeze? I have some that is about 5 years old, is it still good? If not were do you get rid of something like that?

 

[AKUDOU]

Originally posted by steveny:
How about antifreeze? I have some that is about 5 years old, is it still good? If not were do you get rid of something like that?

The primary limiting factor in the shelf life of a coolant is silicate instability. Since silicate will eventually polymerize to form silicate gel, all traditional silicate-based coolants have a shelf life of about 18 months. Texaco Extended Life Coolant System is silicate-free and, therefore, can be stored for extended periods (at least 8 years) provided the integrity of the container is maintained.
Disposal at most oil reclame centers. Animals love to drink antifreeze it like candy to them even a small amount spilled on the drive way or garage floor will kill a small pet.

 

[Lud]

Honda's coolant is also non-silicate, so if you are using factory coolant it should have a pretty long shelf life.