Oil Shelf Life?

‘56 CJ5, F134….

I have an opened gallon of Rotella T1 dated 21 Jul 20

It’s got about 2.5 quarts left in it and I cannot find definitive info online about its shelf life once opened.

I know I can use it in my oil bath air cleaner but can I mix the rest in with fresh Rotella T1 when I change the oil?

It would be one quart from the existing jug with 4 quarts new (changing the filter too) in the engine.

I presume I’ll be ok.

Yes, I know I can buy all new oil and not worry but I don’t like the thought of unnecessary waste. I also don’t like the thought of messing up the engine…

Thoughts?

 

Use it. I have oil in my "oil shed" that is a couple of decades old and still use it. If you have quality oil in a sealed container, it lasts pretty much forever.

 

It’s already 3 million years old.

 

I can tell you I have used diesel motor oil that I have had stored 5-6 years without any noticeable change in it or problems with it. Looks exactly like new oil when you pour it out of the jug. I have always bought Rotella in 55 gallon drums. Much cheaper that way. About 10.33 per gallon. I have three diesel trucks, so I usually use 55 gallon in about 18 months- 2 years.

 

Or older, like me.

 

Thanks everyone. My thoughts are confirmed. I’ll use it up this weekend. Thanks again!!

 

As long as the container is sealed it's fine. The biggest issue would be it turning acidic with water absorption but it should look, smell, or taste funny.

 

When we were clearing out my father-in-laws garage a couple of years ago I rescued two cases of Texaco "Havoline" 30wt oil that was in the metal cans. They haven't sold oil in those containers for years, so I assume these were from when he worked at the Texaco station which was in the 60s through early 70s. That station closed in 74 when the owner died, so if the oil came from there it is at least that old.

I have been using this oil in my Jeeps and tractors without any concern. It looks, and smells like motor oil but I didn't taste it. One of my friends collects the old oil cans for display in his garage.

 

Which begs the question, how does it taste normally?

 

Cleaned out my wife's uncle's shed and carried off old oil. Some of it had been opened, so with the old paint, STP, and other assorted chemicals, we took it to the landfill collection area. A guy was getting rid of old diesel oil from his trucks oil changes. He said, "That looks good!, I'll take it for my tractors!" Not the viscosity we run and they had been opened. Glad someone could use it.
He wasn't scared to use it and I was glad not to have to pour it in the recycle bin.
Got some old Quaker State oil cans from the 70's never opened on the shelf for decoration. I assume they are still good since they were never opened but they look good up there.

Dave

 

And what kind of ice cream does it go with best?

 

Probably pretty oily! Not gonna try.

Dave

 

rocky road of course.

 

Sprinkles of metal shavings.

Dave

 

Makes me think of the M.A.S.H. episode where Klinger tries to eat a Jeep.

 

Have you guys noticed that the new gasoline formulation just isn't as sweet as the old formulation?

 

A bit off topic but related to @47v6 observation. Coming home from taking my daughter to the movies, we got behind some kind of woody hot rod. It was dark and foggy but I could see it was something cool. When we got closer, I told my daughter “that’s a hot rod, can you smell it?”.
After the typical teenager response, “smells like melting ice bergs” she said “yeah, it smells like your Jeep”.

 

Have you ever noticed how old cars and trucks smell? My dad had a 46 ford pickup truck. The old ragged seat cushions, old worn floor mats, chain saw parts in the glove box, been 50 years, I still remember exactly how it smelled.

 

This is a Hot Topic with me, we have two 2022 Ford trucks, an F150 four door, and a Ranger four door. I love my 22 Supercrew, Barb always liked my Ranger I had for work. During Covid the Ford Dealer didn't have any Rangers on the lot for Barb to drive, so we ordered one for her, it was a 22 when we ordered it, but 23 had already came out before we got it. Barb is my wife of 55 years, she is 75 years old now. When we got the Ranger it didn't have a helper handle above the drivers door, there is nothing to get a hold of when climbing into it. Barb cannot get up on the running boards to get in it very well. There is no way lower it without spending a lot of money, so she don't drive it very much. We have had it for almost a year and it has only 1,800 miles on it, did I say the rear bumper is 27" off the ground? I can't get in the box without a step to get up on. Anyway The Ford Dealer keeps sending me messages that my Ranger needs an oil change, 1,800 miles on it. I call them they say the oil is out date, it is 7,500 miles or 6 months old??? What? They say the same thing for my F 150, 7,500 miles or 6 months it needs an oil change for over $50.00. What? I was telling the guys this and someone told my that on a Dodge your warrantee is no good if you don't change the oil every Six Months, What? I ask them if I bought a case of oil would I have to scrap it every 6 months? What has happened to oil in the last couple of years? My F150 has 10,000 miles on it, still a long way from the 15,000 miles for the second oil change by miles. What would you do? Rick