Does SEALED oil have a shelf life?

I have a brand new, still sealed with the aluminum seal, bottle of Bel-Ray fork oil.

It is between (conservatively) 12 and 20 years old, maybe even 28.

Is it still any good? I haven't broken the seal yet.

I hate to waste it if it's good, I would throw it away in a New York second if it weren't still sealed.

opinions?

 

i don't see how a sealed plastic container of oil could go bad. Shouldn't fork oil be nearly additive free. i.e. no detergents? The little critters that gave up their lives during the pleistocene epoch should have spoiled about as far as they can go well before they were put in the bottle.

If you have used this type of oil in the past and can remember what it looks/smells like I would think that would be a safe comparison test.

 

I'm not an expert but as long as it has remained sealed and has not been subjected to extremes in temperature I'd go ahead and use it. After all, the petroleum it was made from has been in the ground for millions of years.

What ruins oil is contaminants and heat. Of course, it is possible that is there was a certain additive in the oil that has a limited shelf like, but I would doubt that.

 

why take the risk? oil that old might have deteriated to some extent.
am not an expert but thats my take

 

I've been using some Quaker State oil I found in a barn, It must be 30+ yeasr old. It is in metal quart cans. I've been using it to top off the oil in my cars and lawn mower. The engines don't seen to notice the difference and its the right weight. What would you do with 3 cases of free oil? After all the oil is already a few million years old whats another 30 years.

 

It's fork oil. I don't know if it's dinosaur juice or something else.

Googling about I found two points of interest: One about a call to Spectro and the guy being told by their tech support that all their stuff has an indefinite shelf life if sealed. (I know this is Bel-Ray but...)

And things to look for such as cloudiness, separation, etc., as clues to storage induced instability.

I may use it but pour it in a crystal-clear container first to look at it.

 

It sounds like a good visual before use is wise Fitz.
I'd use it if it came out of a sealed container.

 

cut loose money bags
put that stuff on your chain saw bar