Note to motorists: what is the storage period and requirements for motor oil?

foto52138-1 Motor oils are technical fluids that must be kept under strictly specified conditions.

They have a specific expiration date within which the product must be used.

We will talk about storing motor oil - terms, conditions, features - in the article.

How long can you store?

Even at the time of purchase, you should pay attention to the expiration date. It must be indicated on the packaging. The quality of engine oil directly affects the service life of the engine.

In original packaging

The shelf life depends on the type of motor oil. Synthetic and semi-synthetic can be used, as a rule, for 5 years. For mineral, the terms are shorter - up to 3 years.

After opening the canister

It is not advisable to open the canister before there is a need to use the product. This is due to the fact that after the seal is broken, the shelf life is sharply reduced and amounts to no more than 3 years.

Is the product shelf life different for two-stroke and four-stroke engines?

Two-stroke and four-stroke engines have different operating principles. In the first case, gasoline and oil are mixed in a certain ratio.This mixture must burn completely during engine operation. To work effectively, the mixture must not only be of high quality, but also fresh.

foto52138-2 Peculiarities oils for two-stroke engines:

it is necessary to constantly top up the product, since during use it burns with gasoline;
during combustion there is practically no ash and soot left;
The product contains no chemical additives that are found in oils for four-stroke engines.

Four-stroke engines have a different organization of work, in which oil does not enter the combustion chambers. Here the priority is the long shelf life of the product and its stable viscosity.

Peculiarities technical fluid for four-stroke engines:

the presence of additives for various purposes;
protection of the engine from shock absorption and reliable lubrication;
quite long-term operation.

The shelf life of the product for two-stroke and four-stroke engines is not significantly different. The exact information is always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

The use of oil designed for a two-stroke engine in a four-stroke engine and vice versa is prohibited, as this leads to serious damage.

Conditions

The conditions in which the oil is located affect not only the duration of storage, but also the quality of the product. You should not use a low-quality product in your work, as it not only has poor performance, but can also lead to equipment breakdowns.

Temperature

Permissible storage temperature: from +18°C to +40°C. But It is best to keep the product at temperatures from +20°C to +22°C.

Humidity

Very stringent requirements are imposed on air humidity and the tightness of the canister with the product.Oil should absolutely not come into contact with moisture.

Even if a small amount of water gets into the container, its entire contents become unusable and can no longer be used for its intended purpose.

This is due to the fact that the water reacts with the contents of the canister. As a result, persistent insoluble compounds begin to form. If this happens, this liquid must be disposed of.

The oil should be kept in a dry place in a hermetically sealed container.

Lighting

Engine oil must be stored so that it is not exposed to sunlight. Modern containers in which the product is sold are already protected from light. But, in addition, the canisters should be placed in a dark place.

Peculiarities

Engine oil can be stored in unopened containers for the entire time specified by the manufacturer on the label. Both semi-synthetic, mineral, and synthetic must be kept in favorable conditions so that all their qualities are preserved.

Synthetic

foto52138-3 Synthetic oil base is produced artificially. This does not involve direct distillation of oil, but a more complex process that affects the molecular structure.

Additionally, additives are also introduced to improve the performance characteristics of the product.

In storage such technical liquid less demanding on conditions than mineral and semi-synthetic. In work, if the product is of high quality, it gives consistently good results.

Semi-synthetic

The characteristics of semi-synthetic oil differ from synthetic oil. In terms of its performance, this product occupies a place between mineral and synthetic. Additives are used, but there are fewer of them than in synthetics.

Due to the nature of the recipe, semi-synthetics are more susceptible to oxidative processes. Semi-synthetics are more demanding regarding storage conditions. Semi-synthetic oil is cheaper than synthetic oil.

Mineral

Mineral motor oil is a natural product that is produced from petroleum by distillation and refining. This technology has been used for a very long time and is quite simple. The cost of such a product is usually significantly lower than a synthetic one.

A peculiarity of this type of product is the change in viscosity with decreasing temperature. Thickening in cold weather makes it difficult to start the engine and can cause severe wear of parts.

Additives added to the product lose their properties faster in natural oil than in synthetic oil.. This affects the service life downward. As a result, oil changes will be required more often.

Due to the ability to oxidize faster than synthetics, it is necessary to choose the container very carefully if you need to pour oil. After pouring into another container, it must be signed.

Signs of expired engine oil

Before changing the lubricant, it is necessary to check the condition of the engine oil that will be filled.

If the canister is new, the expiration date must be indicated on the label. But in the case when the factory container was opened and the product was poured, you need to determine the condition of the product yourself.

Appearance

Externally, the liquid should be of a uniform color. There should be no air bubbles in it.

Consistency

The condition can be assessed by pouring from one container to another. Increased density, as well as excessive liquid, like water, is a warning sign.It is not recommended to use this oil.

Presence of sediment

The presence of sediment may indicate changes have begun in the product.. But for synthetics this is possible if additives sink to the bottom. This happens even with fresh, just purchased product. In this case, the liquid should be monitored. If the thickness of the sediment layer increases, it is better not to use this lubricant.

Why is it dangerous?

foto52138-4 Mineral and synthetic oils poured into a car must be replaced annually or after 10 thousand kilometers, or more often.

The lubricant that is poured into the vehicle must be of high quality and not expired.

Lubricants that have expired lose some of their properties, and become ineffective.

Additives

Additives introduced by the manufacturer into the composition increase the performance characteristics of the product. Over time, their properties are lost. This happens even with oil that has not yet been used, but whose expiration date has already expired. As a result, it does not meet the declared qualities.

Viscosity

Over time, additives begin to degrade and viscosity changes. The product is also affected by contact with air, which enters even a closed canister, changes in ambient temperature, etc.

Depending on the circumstances, the oil may become thicker or thinner. In both cases, the lubricant will not cope so well with reducing friction between parts. As a result, the elements will begin to wear out faster, which can lead to component failure.

Combustible components

Ideally, the norm for flammable components in oil is only 1.5-2%.During long-term storage, chemical reactions occur, as a result of which the additives decompose, and the proportion of ash, on the contrary, increases. This affects the quality of the technical fluid and reduces its efficiency during operation.

Long-term storage automotive oils change the pour point, specific gravity, viscosity and other parameters.

You can find out how long you can go without changing the oil from the video:

Selecting a location

The duration of storage of motor oil while maintaining all its properties directly depends on the conditions in which it will be located and the container.

Automobile

You should not store a can of oil in your car.. This is due to the fact that in the car itself it is almost impossible to create conditions suitable for motor oil - with temperature, humidity, etc.

Even a short stay in the trunk of a car in unsuitable conditions can significantly affect the quality of the lubricant.

Garage

foto52138-5 If a garage is chosen as the location for the canister, it is important to take care to create suitable conditions in it.

The canister can remain in this place for several years without compromising quality.

If the canister has been opened and part of the contents has been used, then a problem arises with preserving the remains. The best option is to find a use for the contents of the entire package.

If the seal is broken, the oil will remain usable only for six months.

Conclusion

High-quality motor oil is an important component of the proper operation of a car engine. In order for it to perform all its declared functions, it must be replaced on time and stored correctly.