What is the actual expiration date for motor oil?
- July 28, 2022
- 0
Some drivers like to take everything in reserve. And motor oil is no exception. Especially this year, when the spare parts and lubrication situation leaves something to be
Some drivers like to take everything in reserve. And motor oil is no exception. Especially this year, when the spare parts and lubrication situation leaves something to be desired. But how long can oil last without consequences? And is it possible to pour grease into the engine that has been standing for a year or two? Portal “AutoVzglyad” came up with the nuances.
Motor oil plays an important role. Thanks to lubrication, the rubbing parts of the drive unit last much longer. The oil heats up the engine less. And motor oil acts like a detergent. But how long can it be kept, and what if you have oil in your hands a year or two ago? In general “to pour or not to pour?” – that is the question.
To understand this matter, you need to return to the above paragraph. Motor oil has many properties, and based on this it is not difficult to conclude that the lubricant consists of several components. In other words, there is a base oil and there are additives that are added to it to give it those properties. But you also need to understand that these additives have different consistency, composition and density. As well as the expiration date. And this is extremely important!
The thing is that over time, the composition of engine oil changes – its components begin to degrade and lose their properties. The longer it sits in the canister, the longer the chemical reaction between the lubricant and the plastic of the canister takes. And if the container was opened or lost its tightness, then also with air, as well as the moisture contained in it. In general, there are many negative, but hardly perceptible at first glance, factors that can change the qualitative composition of the oil, turning it into a dangerous fluid for the engine.
For this reason, motor oil manufacturers recommend storing them for 3-5 years (depending on the brand). And this should not be seen as a shelf life, but as a time when the properties of the oil are guaranteed not to change. If such oil is poured into the engine, it will not adversely affect its operation.
After the specified expiration date, the oil will also not deteriorate, but its properties may change. For example, the lubricant will not properly flush out soot and various deposits in the combustion chamber. Whether the viscosity characteristics will change, which in the future can affect both positively and negatively the operation of the engine. But do you need this lottery?
The quality of engine oil for the entire expiration date specified by the manufacturer also depends on how and where the lubricant is stored. In order for it to retain its properties in containers for as long as possible, it is necessary to ensure the tightness of the bottle or barrel, exclude sudden changes in temperature, do not store the oil under the scorching rays of the sun and also exclude strong vibrations. Otherwise, there will be no oil in the canister, but a compound dangerous to the engine with incomprehensible properties.
If the soul needs experimentation and hands reaching out to fill the engine lag, at least do a few simple tests first. To begin with, standing motor oil should be poured into a transparent container. This will help visually assess whether the additives in it have exfoliated. A pronounced sediment, excessive foaming, an abundance of bubbles – waste oil.
Clots, heterogeneity of the composition, the appearance of layers and suspicious colors are unacceptable.
In general, well, they – these experiments.
Photos from open sources
Motor oil plays an important role. Thanks to lubrication, the rubbing parts of the drive unit last much longer. The oil heats up the engine less. And motor oil acts like a detergent. But how long can it be kept, and what if you have oil in your hands a year or two ago? In general “to pour or not to pour?” – that is the question.
To understand this matter, you need to return to the above paragraph. Motor oil has many properties, and based on this it is not difficult to conclude that the lubricant consists of several components. In other words, there is a base oil and there are additives that are added to it to give it those properties. But you also need to understand that these additives have different consistency, composition and density. As well as the expiration date. And this is extremely important!
The thing is that over time, the composition of engine oil changes – its components begin to degrade and lose their properties. The longer it sits in the canister, the longer the chemical reaction between the lubricant and the plastic of the canister takes. And if the container was opened or lost its tightness, then also with air, as well as the moisture contained in it. In general, there are many negative, but hardly perceptible at first glance, factors that can change the qualitative composition of the oil, turning it into a dangerous fluid for the engine.
For this reason, motor oil manufacturers recommend storing them for 3-5 years (depending on the brand). And this should not be seen as a shelf life, but as a time when the properties of the oil are guaranteed not to change. If such oil is poured into the engine, it will not adversely affect its operation.
After the specified expiration date, the oil will also not deteriorate, but its properties may change. For example, the lubricant will not properly flush out soot and various deposits in the combustion chamber. Whether the viscosity characteristics will change, which in the future can affect both positively and negatively the operation of the engine. But do you need this lottery?
The quality of engine oil for the entire expiration date specified by the manufacturer also depends on how and where the lubricant is stored. In order for it to retain its properties in containers for as long as possible, it is necessary to ensure the tightness of the bottle or barrel, exclude sudden changes in temperature, do not store the oil under the scorching rays of the sun and also exclude strong vibrations. Otherwise, there will be no oil in the canister, but a compound dangerous to the engine with incomprehensible properties.
If the soul needs experimentation and hands reaching out to fill the engine lag, at least do a few simple tests first. To begin with, standing motor oil should be poured into a transparent container. This will help visually assess whether the additives in it have exfoliated. A pronounced sediment, excessive foaming, an abundance of bubbles – waste oil.
Clots, inhomogeneity of the composition, the appearance of layers and suspicious colors are unacceptable.
In general, well, they – these experiments.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
I’m Sandra Torres, a passionate journalist and content creator. My specialty lies in covering the latest gadgets, trends and tech news for Div Bracket. With over 5 years of experience as a professional writer, I have built up an impressive portfolio of published works that showcase my expertise in this field.
