Hello,

                           I have an unopened I litre can of Total Quartz Engine engine oil 5w30. It was given to me in October 2016 by the salesperson when I bought my previous Skoda. I saw something on tinternet that said to beware of unopened engine oil as it can detoriate even when unopened. Is this correct and if it is how long is to safe to keep? My previous Fabia used no engine oil at all and my current Fabia doesnt either but I always like to have a can in the boot "just in case" something happened like a stone damaged the sump and caused leakage.  

 

                   I dont want to ditch it unless I am told by the majority of Briskodians  who respond to this post that I should.    I would then listen and I would buy another I litre of the correct oil to have as a top up in the boot, it wouldnt have to be Total of course.  On reflection, I would keep it to use for cleaning garden tools, that sort of thing. Or is even that unwise?

                       

No idea, what use by or sale by date is on the un-opened bottle?

 

There is oil in engines that will be older than 4 years. 

 

 Does it say to VW 504 / 507 on the bottle.

Edited 20 April, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

If you want the best answer, I would contact Total.

 

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to use the oil, especially just for a top up stuation.

If you have any doubts then don't use it, I used to "pass on" unwanted engine oils to my friend who ran SAABs with plenty miles on them and he just did not bother too much what oil he was putting in them for a while.

 

As said above, check what VW Specs it conforms to, that might indicate that it is not suitable so takes the humming and hawing out of the equation.

 

I've drunk out of date bottles of beer, some of them might not taste quite like they should, at worst I'd spend a bit of  extra time in the toilet - no great hardship!  I'm just saying ---.

The oil won’t degrade, it will be absolutely fine, especially for topping up

It's been in the ground for a few million years, another few years won't hurt.😁

Crude Oil was extracted from the ground, but then when in the ground it was not refined to be Fully Synthetic & with no Mineral Oil.

 

It will be fine though.

    Replying to the several questions and recommendations. I  have looked at the oil and it does  conforms to VW spec 507.00 so is suitable. I have  looked at the base and it says 1/24. Now I is the type of plastic used for the container. The 24 could mean 24 months shelf life  or it could mean 2024, I am not sure. I have followed up the suggestion to contact Total and they have sent a holding email to say they will be giving me their answer shortly.  i have looked on the internet and the different oil companies are saying different things. Castrol are suggesting 5 years while Total are saying only two; not really sure why. I dont want to rely on third party accounts on the internet alone which is why I want to hear from Total itself.  I will definitely not be ditching the oil, if it comes to  the  crunch I will certainly use it for putting on garden tools which I have a fair number of.

 

Surely you should be thinking how long will it still be in the car if I use it.

 

Completely different as a top up in car getting serviced in 3-4 months to one where you are going to wait 2 years before you change the oil.

 

 

On 20/04/2020 at 22:37, rum4mo said:

I've drunk out of date bottles of beer, some of them might not taste quite like they should, at worst I'd spend a bit of  extra time in the toilet

 

Oh dear!

 

On 20/04/2020 at 18:50, hetty1 said:

a stone damaged the sump and caused leakage

 

There's a plastic under-tray which completely covers the underside of the engine bay, sump included. If something gets through that AND the sump, i doubt a couple bottles of oil will help

 

It'd be fine for a top-up, though i wouldn't use it for a full oil change.

On 20/04/2020 at 18:50, hetty1 said:

            Hello,

                           I have an unopened I litre can of Total Quartz Engine engine oil 5w30. It was given to me in October 2016 by the salesperson when I bought my previous Skoda. I saw something on tinternet that said to beware of unopened engine oil as it can detoriate even when unopened. Is this correct and if it is how long is to safe to keep? My previous Fabia used no engine oil at all and my current Fabia doesnt either but I always like to have a can in the boot "just in case" something happened like a stone damaged the sump and caused leakage.  

 

                   I dont want to ditch it unless I am told by the majority of Briskodians  who respond to this post that I should.    I would then listen and I would buy another I litre of the correct oil to have as a top up in the boot, it wouldnt have to be Total of course.  On reflection, I would keep it to use for cleaning garden tools, that sort of thing. Or is even that unwise?

                       

 

Hi hetty1,

 

Oil in unopened cans or bottles has a variable shelf life dependant upon the type of oil that it is. A general rule of thumb for synthetic oils is either 4 or 5 years (depending on the manufacturer and type of oil). Checking with the oil manufacturer will tell you exactly. Generally, the more additives in the oil the shorter the shelf life. The variability on those time scales is due again to what the exact type of oil it is. Once opened, oil even with the cap screwed on will last only 2 years at most, and that's pretty much all oil types. The reason oils like this have a limited shelf life is due to the additive in the oil breaking down. Some of the additive actually turn to water and can no longer do their job. Other additives just break down and don't work properly. 

Edited 23 April, 20206 yr by GeneralPurpose