Does motor oil 'go off' with time?

[Maxym]

I have a number of litre bottles of Mobil 1, given to me following a service, the oldest of which dates from ten years ago. All unopened.

Any good?

[Drive Blind]

it's only been in the ground for a couple of billion years, i'm sure it will be ok

[SimonTheSailor]

I'm sure if you used it as a 'top up' with existing it would make no difference at all

[sherman]

If it tastes or smells funny dont use it or is that chicken ?

[rix]

If the answer is 'no' then does that make age based servicing largely irrelevant?

[roadsmash]

rix said:

If the answer is 'no' then does that make age based servicing largely irrelevant?

Sitting in a dirty, grubby engine is probably different to sitting in a bottle.

[Julian Thompson]

rix said:

If the answer is 'no' then does that make age based servicing largely irrelevant?

No because a sealed can of oil can’t absorb moisture

[rix]

Good point!

[Puddenchucker]

Mobil
5 years: https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-v...

Total
2 years: https://www.lubricants.total.com/does-motor-oil-ex...

Q8
5 years: https://www.q8oils.com/othernews/lubricant-shelf-l...

[Elliot2000]

I remember shell used to have a two year shelf life due to the fact they can’t guarantee the plastic bottle wouldn’t start to breakdown and contaminate the oil - the same reason bottled spring water also has a shelf life - tbh it wouldnt concern me using the oil

[NMNeil]

Julian Thompson said:

No because a sealed can of oil can’t absorb moisture

You're thinking of brake fluid.