Oil - does it have a shelf life?

[Philbiker]

I found four quarts of oil in my garage. They're about 8 years old. Pep Boys Synthetic 10W-40. Think it's still good to use?

[99obw]

Oil has improved a great deal in the last eight years. That and the fact that it is fairly old would keep me from putting it in anything I cared about. Maybe a junker car or junker lawnmower.

[howards11]

Oil has undergone changes in 8 yrs. I would just get rid of it. How much are you saving by using it ? $6.00 or so <$1.50/qt.> ?

~Howard

[MorganM]

Throw it in your 4 stroke lawn mower or in the garbage I wouldnt even trust Pep Boys oil brand new off the shelf

[Philbiker]

If anyone has any simple answer without editorial comments to the original question, I'm listening.

 

Here's a good link: http://lubricants.s5.com/shelf.htm thouth I've found others that say that full synthetics have a much longer shelf life than "conventional" oils.

 

This is pre-SJ oil, so I could put it in my 9 year old motorcycle (I used to buy it by the 4-pack case, I think it must have been on sale). I'm sure it will work in there. The anti-shear additaves in the SJ+ oils make them unfit for motorcycles that share engine oil between the engine and transmission/clutch. Moto-specific oils are expensive, and I just hate being wasteful.

 

I don't know if it's true now, but when I bought this, Pep Boys synthetic was manufactured by and exactly the same formulation as Valvoline synthetic for a much lower price.

 

My lawn mower is a reel style push mower.