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Oil shelf life
I was putting away my latest supply of Aeroshell 15W50W oil when I noticed that there was a stamp on a case I purchased a few years ago (3 1/2 to be exact) that said "use by jun3 2019". I did not know that oil had a shelf life.
I went on to the shell website and di find that shell says Aircraft oil that has not been used after 4 years need to be tested. Of course the testing cost more than the oil. This restriction is not just for multigrain oil, It to all their aviation oil. Anybody have any info on this. I could not find a contact on the shell website. |
So a search....Lots of info!
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Iil
I found this out after I sold my 172. I had a case of expired oil left over and tried to give it away. No one would take it... talked to the local mechanic and he showed me the expiration date. He alluded to product liability...
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Aside from the "use by date", the base oil will last for many, many years if sealed. Now, the additive package will last about 10 years, although you might get some settling.
With 3.5 year oil, no issue for your own use. Just give the jugs a good shake before you pour them in. For reference, I have a phillips X/C 20w-50 drum of oil that's over 8 years old. The last oil analysis, after 50 hours running, showed the oil was in great shape with lubricity in the middle of the sample band. Now, if you're selling it...that's where the liability ridden Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt line of thinking comes in. |
Gee, and to think that stuff sat deep underground for 60 million years without expiring. Isn't marketing amazing :D What next, putting a date on beer? Oh, wait...
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Unfortunately they stamp date on the oil case. I always take out of case to put up on the shelf so my oil no longer has an expiration date. |
Iil
The case that I got rid of, the bottles were stamped...
The oil in those bottles bears very little resemblance to the oil that has been in the ground for 65 million years... |
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Read here: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...shellshelf.pdf |
X/C 20/50 has no such date that I could find, but my glasses were in the airplane and wifey was letting me know she was ready to go.
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