Engine oil has the role of ensuring an efficient lubrication of the metal components inside the engine. But when it’s low, can you refill with lube from a bottle that’s been open for a long time, or is it considered expired?
All vehicles need regular maintenance, which primarily involves changing the engine oil.
To be sure that the propeller has effective lubrication and works in optimal parameters, it is advisable to use a quality lubricant. And preferably as new as possible.
How often is the engine oil changed?
Over time, the oil loses its properties, even if the car is unused.
That is why the specialists recommend that this lubricant be replaced after one year at the most. Or after traveling 10,000 kilometers.
Along with changing the lubricant, the oil filter should also be changed with a new one.
But, if the oil put in the engine but not used is changed after a year, does it mean that the oil in the bottle also expires?
Is the engine oil expiring?
Both the oil opened and put in the engine or left in the bottle, as well as the oil sealed in the original packaging, lose their properties over time.
„Oils contain various additives that break down over time. Now, it depends on each individual oil, some degrade in 1-2 years, others in 5-10 years. It also depends on storage conditions, temperature differences or the type of oil. So yes, engine oil expires”, mechanic Robert Marin explained to ProMotor.
Engine oils contain additives such as zinc, phosphorus or sulphur, which chemically degrade to the point where they can no longer sufficiently lubricate an engine.
„If you have oil left from the last service and you keep it in a bottle, in a place protected from the sun and water, then you can use it to top up the level in the engine from time to time. But if it’s more than a year old, then it’s better to give it up, because you don’t know how effective it is. Anyway, after a year, when you check again, you’ll definitely have some leftover“, said the mechanic.
In general, manufacturers of lubricants state on their containers what their shelf life is. It also mentions how long an engine oil can be used effectively.
Source: www.promotor.ro
