Oil expiration date

[minton]

I've not seen a oil "Use by" date on oil containers Is there such and where would it be displayed? Or is there a mfg recommendation? The reason I ask is that the internet sometimes has oil for sale and I feel it's a buyer beware situation unless.

[GAHorn]

I have read mfr info (Shell?) that recommended 2 year shelf life on engine oils, claiming the additives deteriorate with time.
I've used non AD oil that was 20 years old with no ill effect in my tractor (if that's scientific proof enough.)

[blueldr]

A friend of mine got carried away with aircraft oil prices and wound up buying a 55 gallon barrel of it. He really didn't do that much flying and that oil got really old. He gave up flying for medical reasons and that oil sat around for a long time. When we decided to empty the barrel for another use, we found that there was a considerable amount of seriously congealed oil in the bottom.

[minton]

I feel the same way. Just wondering if there is any package/container information to reference advising consumers of the packing date or "Use by" date. Does anyone know the answer to that question

[minton]

After a few phone calls and internet search I found two PDF references:

Exxon has info that says 10 years (10 YEARS!!??) shelf life and the manufacture date is on the packaging?? Not sure what that means? would that be on individual cans, bottles, or on the cardboard bulk packaging??

Shell says 4 years with a retest period that could extend the self life and the same statement on where to find that date.

Any refined petroleum product could have issues and certainly the additives would with aging and settling. Avgas/mogas as well.

My initial concern was with all of the bulk oil out there but any size container should be suspect... Bottles, cans and drums are showing up on the internet and from your friends storage sheds so be careful if you are considering such. We all have those friends that think they are helping out.

Inlet Petroleum in Anchorage said that Shell 15/50 (Black plastic bottle) has the self life embossed on the bottoms of theirs in ink of all things. (Black bottle/black ink)?? To be fair Shell does have white bottled product. I ran out to my shop for a look-see @ my 15/50 (Good luck)

If you have any doubts give it to Dick's tractor I've got several bottles for him.

I guess the feds figure volume/churn takes care of it. NOT SO!!

The food industry is highly regulated to the point that bottled water has dates......

YES, Sometimes I have to much time on my hands.

[170C]

We have to be very careful or the government will be putting shelf life on us, if they haven't already

[MoonlightVFR]

Bubbling Crude

Comes fresh out of the ground

It could be nine (9) Billion years old

Outside of extraction cost it is a FREE GIFT. Apparently that is why we call it a Natural Resource. Bubbling crude.

Of course it not refined and not anywhere free.

Strain old oil and use it for something.

[bsdunek]

It's been in the ground for millions of years. I don't worry about it. I'm sure oil is fine for as long as you have it.

[GAHorn]

My cases (cardboard boxes) of AeroShell 100W has an expiration date printed on the outside of the box. ("use before 9/2015")

(After which I plan to put it in OI'Gar's tractor and my '34 Harley.)

[blueldr]

George,
You gotta '34 Harley? Which size engine? Does it have a "Nutcracker Speedometer'? I used to have a '35 74 inch flathead when I was stationed at McDill AFB in Tampa, Fla, back in '45. It did have the "Nutcracker" and was the absolutely best balanced bike I ever rode. I could, and did, ride it all the way back to the base from Tampa at about 25 miles per hour on the bayshore road standing up on the "Buddy" seat. The MPs on the gate used to salute me as I went through
and I, in turn, returned it sranding up at attention. The CO heard about it and ate my ass out and strongly advised me to stop that sort of thing as it was unbecoming an Army Officer.
The old "Nutcracker Speedometer" was about three inches high and mounted dead center on the gas tank about a foot forward of the rider and said to have been desigined to castrate the rider to eliminate the him fron the gene pool in the event of a serious collision.

[GAHorn]

Yes, it has the Corbin speedometer. (and the 74 cu in flathead engine, 3-speed shifter on the tank and rocker clutch, and spark advance in the left grip)

[blueldr]

George,
I would suppose that the '34 and '35 models were very similsr. My '35 bike had a "Buddy" seat which was an elongated seat with an additional coil spring set up that was put into place when riding double to provide extra support for the extra weight. Motorcycle tires were very difficult to come by in those days and as I remember I had automobile tires on that bike. I've had many other bikes, but I never had one that was as well balanced as that old '35 Harley Davidson.

[daedaluscan]

Can we see a picture?

Of the bike not the oil:)

[GAHorn]

That blue VLD is like mine ..except mine is RED and silver/black.... (and has the longer buddy seat like bluEldr describes).

It's a total-loss oil system. The breather blows onto the primary chain, which in turn lubricates the secondary drive chain, which subsequently slings the oil down onto the (dirt back-then) road. That chrome coiled line you see is the oil supply tube from the oil tank. Every few miles you pull up a small plunger on the tank (resembles the pressure plunger on a Coleman stove) and give her a shot of oil.

The '34 was the first year Harley introduced the 74 cu in V-twin. The serial number I own was the '34 factory demonstrator and they want it back. (They ain't gettin' it.)

[blueldr]

That blue beauty looks just like my old '35 except for the rack on the back fender and the solo seat. Funny, I can't seem to remember what color mine was.
I think it was black. Damn, that was a long time ago.