Castrol engine oil

Benedict

I have purchased a 5 litre container of Castrol Edge Professional Longlife 111 SW-30. Unfortunately, it does not have an "expiry date" so I am nervous about using it. Some containers do have expiry dates - but not this one. I have heard that there is a way of knowing from numbers on the label if it is in date - anyone know about these numbers?

Some people think that once it is not opened it never goes off - but then why do most containers have an expiry date? If it says it expires by a certain date, then presumably that is true.

grayzer75

Should be good for five years from manufactured date:

https://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/18/what-is-the-shelf-life-of-motor-oil/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJp5FmIkXcE6x4Bh08zVTw_ldfLeo1iiNOfhxrp8wdlriljEh8jq5wu03SYZx4IRUgt7URUtVM6qUrJmBWndYJqpLK7R3Cb29N3jgY48YaN0ugSGy1l-crRvnbGywVxkOIp_GqgvEWabrMdEiRBCX-fT7xVyx7zd4kD28mTJYG3W

Mad_Mike

And usable for up to 70 years!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHlxeu_yuM

Benedict

grayzer75 wrote: »

Should be good for five years from manufactured date:


just checked - no manufacture date unfortunately!


https://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/18/what-is-the-shelf-life-of-motor-oil/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJp5FmIkXcE6x4Bh08zVTw_ldfLeo1iiNOfhxrp8wdlriljEh8jq5wu03SYZx4IRUgt7URUtVM6qUrJmBWndYJqpLK7R3Cb29N3jgY48YaN0ugSGy1l-crRvnbGywVxkOIp_GqgvEWabrMdEiRBCX-fT7xVyx7zd4kD28mTJYG3W

just checked - no manufacture date unfortunately!

grayzer75

Benedict wrote: »

just checked - no manufacture date unfortunately!

Might be a long shot but if you email the manufacturer the batch code or search on line you might get manufacture date.

Glen Immal

Honestly. Don't worry about it if the seal was unbroken before you got it. I promise it will be fine.

In a previous job, I had to get oils that were over 5 years in storage recertifed by a tribeology lab - never found an issue.

Benedict

The seal is unbroken - but the fact that there are mixed views on this matter worries me. I only learned recently that you need to have your oil changed even if you haven't driven much because, as a mechanic told me, "oil goes off whether the car is driven or not".
Of course if the oil is in the car, the seal is obviously broken - but the jury is split on the "expiry date" issue. I mean, why would reputable oil companies say "Don't use after the expiry date"? And why does it have an expiry date at all? When you buy a windscreen or a door handle, or a wheel-nut they don't have "expiry dates"?
I think it should be illegal to sell oil with no expiry date - and in my case, there's no "manufacture date" either.

In fact no dates at all!

But thanks anyhow.

CJhaughey

Benedict wrote: »

The seal is unbroken - but the fact that there are mixed views on this matter worries me. I only learned recently that you need to have your oil changed even if you haven't driven much because, as a mechanic told me, "oil goes off whether the car is driven or not".

Once the oil in an engine is exposed to combustion byproducts then it starts to degrade, the purpose of the oil is to cool/lubricate and hold in suspension the soot and acids created during combustion.
Its quite different to buying a brand new bottle of oil and using it.
Use it away and don't worry about it.
edit:
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/12-year-old-case-of-mobil-one.170597/#post-2539939

corkgsxr

Let's not forget condensation and water contamination from low miles

Benedict

Yes I might just use it and keep fingers crossed.

Benedict

It's a tricky one. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Joey321

Of your still having worries even after be assured on here just dump it and buy more

Benedict

I've decided to give it as a Xmas present to the garage that do my servicing. That way, it won't go to waste.

kadman

Benedict wrote: »

I've decided to give it as a Xmas present to the garage that do my servicing. That way, it won't go to waste.

Will you let them put it into your car at the next service, but you wont use it

Benedict

Just out of interest - in case someone else has the same issue. I got in touch with Halfords (England) and also a garage in the midlands which sells loads of this particular oil. They both assured me that a number which is almost invisible - but can be felt - shows the manufacture date. Sure enough there is an embossed number on the container and the date is recent. So the oil is fine after all.

The date is the same colour as the plastic so it's dead easy to miss it. I was sure there was no number or date.

I'll know the next time what to look for.