Does Unused Motor Oil go bad?

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ThomasE - 28 Apr 2008 00:58 GMT

Does unused motor oil, kept in a closed container, go bad with time? If s
after how long? What if the container has been opened?

I am aware of the guideline regarding changing motor oil every 6 month
regardless of mileage. I immagine this implies that used motor oil doe
deteriorate with time but perhaps only once used. So what about unuse
motor oil?

What about transmission fluid? How long can it be kept unused in a
unopened / opened container?

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Jeff DeWitt - 29 Apr 2008 02:38 GMT

> Does unused motor oil, kept in a closed container, go bad with time? If so
> after how long? What if the container has been opened?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos/
> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html

As long as it's in a sealed container it should last indefinitely. Once
you put it in an engine it's not that it deteriorates, it's that it
picks up impurities and moisture. Part of the job of oil is to hold
that stuff until you change the oil and get that junk out of the engine.

Jeff DeWitt

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raindrops&roses@chickennoodle.com - 10 May 2008 10:53 GMT

>Does unused motor oil, kept in a closed container, go bad with time? If so
>after how long? What if the container has been opened?
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>What about transmission fluid? How long can it be kept unused in an
>unopened / opened container?

I dont think un-used oil goes bad. but I'm just guessing. I've used
oil that was at least 10 years old. It looked fine....

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