what's the shelf life of motor oil?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

some good deals on synthetic lately.
was wondering if i could buy 5 quarts and let it sit, and for how long.

 

[Mutilator]

Mobil 1 says 5 years. I'd imagine you'd reach your x month/xxxxx mile oil change interval before then. 😉

 

[Eli]

Oxidation is your main enemy.

As long as the bottle is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place.. it should be in the years. Once you open the bottle and remove some of its contents, all bets are off. I wouldn't push it more than a year, myself.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Eli
Oxidation is your main enemy.

As long as the bottle is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place.. it should be in the years. Once you open the bottle and remove some of its contents, all bets are off. I wouldn't push it more than a year, myself.

what about that bottle i keep in my trunk to top off?
referring to open bottle, cool (which it's not), dry (which it's not since it's humid in the summer).

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: Eli
Oxidation is your main enemy.

As long as the bottle is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place.. it should be in the years. Once you open the bottle and remove some of its contents, all bets are off. I wouldn't push it more than a year, myself.

I have motor oil in my engine longer than that.

 

[Engineer]

Does it really get old? I mean, it's been in the ground for a million years!?!? 😛

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: beat mania

Originally posted by: Eli
Oxidation is your main enemy.

As long as the bottle is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place.. it should be in the years. Once you open the bottle and remove some of its contents, all bets are off. I wouldn't push it more than a year, myself.

I have motor oil in my engine longer than that.

Then you're either an idiot or you do regular oil analysis and it has been shown to be good that long, which I would applaud.

Like I said, I would rather just err on the side of caution. Oil becomes funny smelling when it starts to get old.. doesn't smell sweet anymore.