Expired engine oil

[AlexisofAndover]

I have a 2018 Buick Cascada. Got it new in the fall of 18. It now has 450 miles on it. Every fall I get a service engine light on telling me to change the oil. This years oil has 120 miles on it. Really, that oil is virtually new. How about the oil sitting on store shelves for over a year. Is that expired? Does it only expire when I open the cap? All of us have oil on the self in the garage. Should I throw out anything over a year old? The Cascada does have a turbo so fresh oil is important, but.... Take the oil out of my Cascada and put it in one of my non turbo cars? What do you think?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. Boy that is really skimping on maintenance.Lol Do not use old oil in another engine, exposure in the engine over time results in some degree of contamination. Sealed oil over a year is usable.

[AlexisofAndover]

It's hard to throw out good oil, but WOW, that engine is clean. Thanks for your input.

[Blue Bowtie]

Oil in containers now has an expiration date?

Oil in an engine which has been run, thus permitting combustion products to mix with it, will begin to oxidize and potentially turn acidic/corrosive after about a year. Oil which has been in a closed container for 50 years is probably still as good as the day it was refined.

Oil which has been in the ground for about 6 million years should probably be refined before using, however.

[AlexisofAndover]

OK, I change the oil every fall when my one year service oil light comes on. That's 3 oil changes in 450 miles. What if I don't drive the Cascada next season, will I need to change oil again? I WILL get a service oil light on in the fall. Another "point-to-pondder" is the oil filter. The Cascada filter is a pain in the ..... to change. What could possibly be in it with 3 oil changes in 450 miles?

[maxwedge]

Blue, didn't mean oil is good for a year, just answering the op's time frame question. Regarding the filter, if it were my car operating under the same condition, I would change the filter soon. Not sure if the maintenance reminder will see 1 year go by when not operating the car, then set a maintenance reminder icon.

[fredjacksonsan]

To chime in, your oil basically goes on how far you drive on it… Not the calendar. However the comment about building acids in your oil is true… But at only 450 miles I mean come on you could go 10-20 times that if it was all highway driving.

I have seen used oil analysis reports on 25 year old oil, and it was fine.

With that few miles driven each year, I would be inclined to take a sample after two years and have the condition of the oil checked. Then, if it comes back OK leave it in longer… If it does not come back OK, then change it after 18 months and sample again.

All of that said, a yearly change is easy to remember and keeping fresh oil in your engine is not a bad idea.But that's a bit of a waste and personally, I would make it at least every two years… That's only 900 miles which is easily doable for any modern engine oil.

[AlexisofAndover]

Thanks for all of the comments. I think my next post might be something like, What do I do with the 3 year old gas in the tank.

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by AlexisofAndover

Thanks for all of the comments. I think my next post might be something like, What do I do with the 3 year old gas in the tank.

Sta-bil.

In your situation I would consider going on a trip to burn what is in the tank; but before leaving add a fuel system cleaner.

Then, find 100% gas (no ethanol as it attracts water) and fill the tank including the recommended amount of a fuel stabilizer. Drive it a bit to get the stabilizer everywhere. Repeat yearly.


Or just sell it. You could probably rent a car for the small amount of driving you do, and save a bunch of money every year doing so.

[AlexisofAndover]

I have 3 other vehicles in about the same situation. Between the insurance, licensing and only driving it 120-150 miles per year, the Cascada costs about $8.50 per mile to drive. What do you think, just sell them all and go with UBER?

[maxwedge]

Sounds like it to me.

[fredjacksonsan]

Yeah, sounds like you don't have an oil problem, you have a car buying problem.

[AlexisofAndover]

I don't think it's a car buying problem. I think it's a too small of a garage problem.