Does anyone know if (unused) engine oil has a shelf life?

i.e. does it degrade over time?

The reason I ask is that I have about 3 litres of Castrol RS that's been sitting in the shed for about 14 months. I'm unlikely to have a use for this until at least September, so it will be approaching 2 years before it sees the inside of an engine. Will it still be OK, or would I be best if it never went near anything other than my lawnmower?

Thanks

Pud

I've usd oil that's been "in storage" for ridiculous amounts of time and not had any problems.

It's not like Halfords et al rotate unused stock every few months...

If it helps, the stuff in the ground has been around for tens of millions of years and is still useable.

If it helps, the stuff in the ground has been around for tens of millions of years and is still useable.

Oh I'm SO SO tempted to put the mis-quote engine into gear with ^ that one!

Pud, I'm sure it'll be alright fellah. I've used oil that has had cobwebs and dead spiders on the container.

Oh I'm SO SO tempted to put the mis-quote engine into gear with ^ that one!

Be my guest.

Nah, I'm pretty ancient myself...wouldn't be right somehow.

I've used oil that has had cobwebs and dead spiders on the container.

Yes, but how old were the spiders when they expired?

Cheers for the advice.

The reason I ask is that I have about 3 litres of Castrol RS that's been sitting in the shed for about 14 months.

I should have asked earlier but what engine are you going to put that oil in?

Don't worry, it's not going in a VAG engine.