|
08-27-2009, 09:07 PM | #1 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
|
Question About Engine Oil
Okay, I changed my oil and had a little left over. So I decided to bring it up to my room and put it in the corner only to see that I have about a quart of Amsoil in a gallon container sitting there. Now my question is, this oil has probably been sitting in that corner of my closet for almost a year (my last oil change was October 28, 2008 (been running Amsoil with the EA oil filter), and the bottle has been opened (but closed tight, but not taped around). Can I still use this oil? It does not appear to have condensation on the walls of the bottle. Or is it useless now? I'm not running an EA filter this time around, so I'll be changing my oil filter (WIX) at the next 5k miles. And since there will be some oil taken out with the filter, I'm going to need to put some in. So it would be nice if I didn't have to buy another quart of Amsoil since I have some already. TIA.
|
08-27-2009, 09:30 PM | #2 |
Joey
Drives: '14 Scion xD 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: El Monte, Ca
Posts: 3,529
|
As long as it still looks exactly the same as it did when you open the bottle, it should be fine. Do a wine-tasting test if you're still not sure
Off-topic: BTW, something just doesn't sound right about not changing the oil for a year. Never heard that before lol
__________________
Formerly owned Met-Met. '07 Yaris LB 5-speed. A forum post should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep things interesting. "I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem." -Hank Hill |
08-27-2009, 09:39 PM | #3 |
Banned
Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,357
|
|
08-27-2009, 09:54 PM | #4 |
Drives: '09 Yaris carmine red 2d HB Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Middletown, NY
Posts: 1,502
|
Oil has no experation dates on them.
The notion that oil has a short shelf life deals in the chemical changes the oil and aditives can go through once run in an engine. Oil can be safely stored for a few years provided it is tightly sealed. When you buy oil in a store do you know how old it is? |
08-27-2009, 10:09 PM | #5 |
Joey
Drives: '14 Scion xD 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: El Monte, Ca
Posts: 3,529
|
^Exactly. I've never seen an expiration date, have any of you?
__________________
Formerly owned Met-Met. '07 Yaris LB 5-speed. A forum post should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep things interesting. "I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem." -Hank Hill |
08-27-2009, 11:21 PM | #6 |
Heart Up! Vitz
Drives: トヨタ Vitz Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 2,582
|
You should be FINE Laz, but to be on the safe side, if i were in your shoes, I'd def. get another quart. Btw, you haven't been driving a lot lately huh? I think that's a world record not changing oil for almost over a year, lol....
|
08-28-2009, 12:05 AM | #7 |
'07 to '12:2 wipers to 1?
Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Orlando
Posts: 1,999
|
oil change interval was dictated by his oil selection. AMSOIL.....they state you can go longer between intervals....
|
08-28-2009, 04:10 AM | #8 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
|
Yes, Amsoil is good for 25k miles or one year. It's almost 10 bucks a quart, but to be on the safe side, I'll just buy another quart.
I'm aware that condensation can mix with the oil, thereby making it not as effective in protecting your engine. I just don't know how to tell if there has been a mix already. |
08-28-2009, 04:10 AM | #9 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
|
|
08-28-2009, 04:16 AM | #10 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
|
Found this online:
"Like I said, I would rather just err on the side of caution. Oil becomes funny smelling when it starts to get old.. doesn't smell sweet anymore." |
08-28-2009, 04:18 AM | #11 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
|
Didn't smell it (I didn't even open it again), but I'll toss it when I get back there.
|
08-28-2009, 07:57 AM | #12 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
That's silly. Motor oil is good for years in storage, opened or not.
Pour it out if it makes you feel better, but it's your money you're wasting, and there is NOTHING harmful that can result from using it. |
08-28-2009, 08:02 AM | #13 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
Your oil in the engine is exposed heavily to water vapor every time the engine starts up. That moisture evaporates back out of the oil as it gets hot in the running engine, which is why driving lots of short trips that never get the oil fully warmed up is "severe service." The amount of moisture in the air trapped in the oil bottle is small. If it were all condensed in the oil, it wouldn't be a problem after you drove a few miles and warmed up the engine. It would be insignificant compared to the steamy blowby gases in the crankcase anyway. As for detecting water in oil, it makes a milky looking emulsion.
|
08-28-2009, 08:15 AM | #14 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
Here's something from Amsoil themselves:
https://www.amsoil.com/articlespr/20...tulsarama.aspx The situation they describe initially is one of gross contamination. Their normal recommendation is toward the end. The biggest concern with using old oil is that oil specifications evolve over time, hopefully for the better. |
08-28-2009, 12:12 PM | #15 |
Banned
Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,357
|
Holy crap YW is becoming a scary place to ask for advice.
Hilton, your link backs up everything I've said. There isn't a timetable on moisture getting in an unsealed container. It could happen the first month, or it could take 20 years. Ya you can get lucky a lot of the time and nothing will happen, but like I said, is ONE quart of oil worth the risk of rebuilding your engine? |
08-28-2009, 12:33 PM | #16 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
You're going to have to pour water in that bottle to have a problem with it. Oil is not something that just sucks moisture out of the air, and presumably you've had the cap on the bottle so it's only had the water vapor in the bottle. You're worrying far too much.
|
08-28-2009, 05:37 PM | #17 | |
'07 to '12:2 wipers to 1?
Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Orlando
Posts: 1,999
|
Quote:
|
|
08-28-2009, 10:21 PM | #18 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
Never has. It's a nonissue.
Back when oil came in cardboard cans with metal ends that you punctured, everybody kept around open cans of oil for topping up. It was a good thing to keep a rag on top to keep dust out of the holes, but if one hadn't been covered you'd just wipe off the top of the can and pour it in. Oil stored that way worked fine. Over years of standing still, some oil components may gravitationally settle. Giving it a shake's a good idea. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Synth Blend Oils | scape | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 7 | 07-12-2009 01:55 PM |
Engine oil ddi not come out | hans_fh | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 18 | 01-23-2009 11:30 PM |
Noob engine oil question. Do I HAVE to use 5w-20? (closed) | yarisugi | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 5 | 11-09-2008 05:34 AM |
oil and oil filter question.. | marcus | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 27 | 07-11-2007 03:25 PM |
Motor oil debate - interesting info but a long read. | mikeukrainetz | General Yaris / Vitz Discussion | 6 | 12-10-2006 08:16 PM |