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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Does oil 'go off'?

While tidying up my garage I unearthed 5 litres of Duckhams Q 20/50 oil. It is unopened but about 6-7 years old. Does oil deteriorate with age and could this be used safely? Given the price of oil I'm reluctant to thtow it out if it is perfectly OK.
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

see very bottom of this page (for one person's opinion) - How long can I store oil -
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/Auto_oils/motor_oils_faqs.htm#How long can I store Oil?

Some might use it in an oil banger but there again they probably wouldn't change the oil on an old banger

I think there was a consensus that after about 5 years the additives might not go bad into the oil (my technical terms)

I know I had some old Auto-Glym petroleum based polish and had to keep shaking it as it had separated out but I gave up on it after a while as it wouldn’t mix back together

So shed rather than lab results from me
Nigel Atkins

I don't believe oil 'goes off' if it is sealed and unopened. Should be fine.
David Smith

I have never seen a "best before end" date on a can of oil.
It was made over millions of years after all so I can't see why a few more would hurt?
David Cox

Sorry my 'bad' typing again

it should have read
- I think there was a consensus that after about 5 years the additives might not go BACK into the oil (my technical terms)

so it's not the oil that goes off it's the additives that wont mix back in with the black (sorry, green) stuff

So don't trust it in your pride and joy
Nigel Atkins

I'd just use it to top off, or maybe use just a quart of it with each new oil change. (just to be safe)
Trevor Jessie

>> "so it's not the oil that goes off it's the additives that wont mix back in"

sorry but I think that's nonsense; additives are part of the formulation and blending of the oil, they don't separate out and therefore don't need to be mixed back in. It's *not* like the oil and vinegar in salad dressing !
David Smith

so why was the filler cap of my old Morris always full of mayonnaise??!
David Cox

I didn't phrase it well and the way I did phrase makes it technically nonsense, I can accept that, I don't know much about molecular structures or anything slightly technical which I think is obvious and stated

perhaps it's mix back together(?), no longer active(?), active together(?)

how about
- I think there was a consensus that after about 5 years you should dispose of the oil (in a safe and environmental way)

I did offer one link and put it was (not me but) one person's view

lots of discussion on both sides and if I’d read more the consensus may have been the other way

and I did put 'think' not 'know'

perhaps I should have put a smilie after 'my technical terms'

now - why the ** around the word not (a word I often miss out when typing which leaves the opposite of what I meant if I don't notice within editing time)
Nigel Atkins

David Cox, Hereford and Worcester, United Kingdom
so why was the filler cap of my old Morris always full of mayonnaise??!

because you didn't drive it often enough or far enough(?) - you naughty owner

parked it in a damp area with alternating sun and shade(?)

never bothered replacing the head gasket(?)

you fed the car salads(?)

was it mayonnaise, or was it salad cream(?)
Nigel Atkins

It was a long time ago and I was a peniless student so didn't have any cash for anything, least of all headgaskets! It was a 1954 Series II side valve, beetle black with split windscreen and personality. It cost 70 quids and I sold it for 35. happy days!

Getting in to the MG afterwards was akin to getting into a saturn rocket after only riding a push bike!
David Cox

its was a few million years old before it was left under the bench in your garage, can't see and extra 7 years is going to make a lot of difference
Alex Sturgeon

What in oil that can expire or go bad...esp if still sealed and un-opened....

Perhaps a good shake.and stir before adding... i wouldnt fear it
Prop

Re. Does oil 'go off' . . ?

>>AH replies>>I've spent the best part of 30 years being precious about what goes in, and on, the car. 33 years on, I realise that I've been taken as a schmuk by the various manufacturing companies.

It really doesn't pay to be too finickety (sp?). I've got a stash of Castrol GTX that's at least 18 years old. I shake it and pour it in. Let's face it, with our cars, we're not talking 21st century, computer designed technology.

Enjoy and don't worry!
Andy Hock

I once got some old stock Duckhams 20/50 and when I opened it the oil had gone into a very strange emulsion like state. It obviously didn't get used but as long as yours looks ok I can't see any problem.
John Payne

Here's info from Castrol/BP fuel/oil engineer (aka Alex Cutler):

- oil shelf life is normally set at 2 years

- there are 2 main breakdown mechanisms:

1. Oxidisation of oil through contact with air/Oxygen; should not happen if container is sealed

2. Additives coming out of suspension; some of these will mix back in when agitated; others may not.

Should you use old oil?

He says OK on old engines and for ordinary road use, ie. no temp extremes like racing / track-days.

So OK for midget engines / road use after a good stir - based on these engines were originally designed for use with single-grade oils.

A
Anthony Cutler

This thread was discussed between 05/05/2011 and 14/05/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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