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  #1  
Old 08-10-2019, 11:14 AM
laz laz is offline
 
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Default 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.
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  #2  
Old 08-10-2019, 11:23 AM
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So a search....Lots of info!
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  #3  
Old 08-10-2019, 11:28 AM
rocketman1988 rocketman1988 is offline
 
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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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  #4  
Old 08-10-2019, 05:38 PM
rongawer rongawer is offline
 
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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.
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  #5  
Old 08-10-2019, 08:53 PM
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chrispratt chrispratt is offline
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Gee, and to think that stuff sat deep underground for 60 million years without expiring. Isn't marketing amazing What next, putting a date on beer? Oh, wait...
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  #6  
Old 08-11-2019, 04:34 AM
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plehrke plehrke is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrispratt View Post
Gee, and to think that stuff sat deep underground for 60 million years without expiring. Isn't marketing amazing What next, putting a date on beer? Oh, wait...
Difference is, if you are doing it right, beer should not sit in frig without drinking or you are not buying beer you like or having enough down time to relax and enjoy. Oil on the other hand, if doing right, you want to be frugal and buy large quantities when on sale or you are spending extra dollars on oil that could be used for avgas.

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.
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  #7  
Old 08-11-2019, 04:46 AM
rocketman1988 rocketman1988 is offline
 
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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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  #8  
Old 08-11-2019, 06:59 AM
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DanH DanH is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rocketman1988 View Post
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...
Doesn't appear to be an "expiration date". It's a re-test date based on NATO Standardization Agreement STANAG 3149 (Edition 8) entitled “Minimum Quality Surveillance of Petroleum Products.

Read here:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...shellshelf.pdf
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  #9  
Old 08-11-2019, 10:36 AM
woxofswa woxofswa is offline
 
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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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  #10  
Old 08-11-2019, 02:40 PM
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Pilot135pd Pilot135pd is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woxofswa View Post
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.
I was just about to post the same thing. Phillips 66 X/C made in Houston Texas doesn?t have any expiration dates on the bottles or the case.
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