I've just found a gallon of 15w/40 that must be at last 4 years old.
Will it be OK to use, or will it have separated out into its 15 and 40 constituents?
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No. They ae not separate constituents, so it can't separate. If's sealed it's Ok, but you'll probably find it's not up to the current API etc specs. so consider what you're using it in.
JS
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No it can't separate, as already explained.
Use it as you would new cheap oil, which isn't up to the latest API standards either.
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You will find a storage-time maximum either on the pack or on the manufacturer's website. It doesn't last forever.
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Yes. No.
In practical terms, unused engine oil has no shelf life even if opened and resealed several times.
Careful what you put it in given its grade.
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as said its got a limited shelf life 4 million years i think give or take a millenium
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Thanks for putting me right on that. This has prompted a bit of Googling:
SOURCE 1
". . . there really is no published shelf life on our motor oils. When stored properly (clean, dry environment), they should last for many years. Industry standard is anywhere between 2-3 years. Another item to consider is that performance specifications change throughout the years and you want to always ensure you are using a product that at least meets the minimum set of performance standards for the application."
SOURCE 2
"Technically, engine oils have shelf lives of four to five years. However, as years pass, unused engine oils can become obsolete and fail to meet the technical requirements of current engines. In recent years, engine oil specifications have changed every 12 to 24 months. An oil that is a number of years old is simply not formulated to meet the requirements set for newer engines.
If you discover unopened containers of engine oils that are more than three years old, read the labels to make sure they meet the latest industry standards. If they meet the current standards, you should take the extra precaution of obtaining oil analysis before using them. An oil analysis check for key properties will ensure that the oils meet the original manufacturing specs. If the oils do not meet the original manufacturing specs, they should be discarded. That means taking plastic jugs to your local recycling center for disposal. If you have unused drums, contact your oil distributor for disposal."
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Source 2 is Shell, by the way.
And one more:
"All depends on how it's stored and how tight the seal is on the oil. I'd think a plastic/foil sealed jug would be absolutely airtight. Caps on bottles aren't always sealed all that well. I usually tighten them a little bit, but not so much that I break the cap.
Moisture can make your oil unusable. Some people have reported 5+ year old bottles or cans of oil came out almost milky after water contaminated the oil."
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If doubtful you can always use it up in a lawnmower.
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>>If doubtful you can always use it up in a lawnmower.
or mix it with some creosote and slap it all over the garden shed.
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I thought that creosote got banned a couple of years ago?
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I thought that creosote got banned a couple of years ago?
Just like Jeyes fluid was banned (for killing moss) and all that happened was that application was removed from the label.
...a decision by the European Union member states to end the supply of creosote to the DIY market (Directive 2001/90/EC) with effect from mid 2003.... Use by professionals (e.g. fencing contractors) and in industrial treatment plants is not affected
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supply of creosote to the DIY market (Directive 2001/90/EC) with effect from mid 2003.... Use by professionals (e.g. fencing contractors) and in industrial treatment plants is not affected
I got my creosote from a local agricultural suppliers.
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All you ever wanted to know about creosote. In my view this is another daft intervention by Brussels but there we go.
www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/creosote.htm
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