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MG MGB Technical - Gear oil shelf life

I have noticed that many motor oil cans now state that 5 years is the maximum recommended shelf life. Does anyone know if the same thing applies to EP gear oils?

Tore
Tore

Tore. This is the type of question you should ask of the maker of the oils. They can be expected to have some better understanding of their product and any limitations on its use. It should be possible to address them through an e-mail. One question worth asking, if there is some form of "use life" would be does such a limitation apply only to shelf life or does it apply to use in the vehicle? Since gear lube is not replaced except after long use, it would be worthwhile to know that if, say, you install four year old gear oil you might have to replace it within a year of filling up the rear end. If they make such a claim, it would be of interest to all of us so that we can use as fresh a batch of oil as possible to prevent premature replacement requirements. Engine oil, on the other hand, should be replaced very 3,000 miles or three months according to the Driver's Handbook. Most of us replace it at least twice a year on our cars with the gear lube having an almost infinite replacement schedule with the low use most of these cars see. A recommendation about how often to change gear lube, on cars which only see a few thousand miles annual use, would be worth requesting if you contact the manufacturer.

Les
Les Bengtson

Oh hell, now I've got to buy some new axle oil, I was about to change it for with stuff that was new 25 years ago...

John.
John Prewer

The question is, what goes wrong with it? I would expect that they are damaged by oxidation. These oils are designed to be stable even at high temperatures. Oxidation will occur when the oil is hot, much faster than when it is cool. Oxygen will be mixed in with the oil as it is splashed about in the axle or gearbox. The EP additives are formulated to survive regular squashing and shearing by the gear teeth. If a can of oil is sealed and kept in a garage, the temperature will be low, oxygen cannot get in and the oil is not squashed, sheared or thrashed about at all. I would expect 25 year old oil to be fine.

Mike.

Don't know about plastic bottles though.....
Mike Standring

I wonder if there is a difference in shelf life between the more complex modern multigrade motor and transmission oils and the simpler monograde EP oils. I believe the 5 years limit has appeared on oil cans relatively recently?

My reason for asking this question is that I have quite a few cans of EP90 GL5 oil on the shelf, and would not like to throw them away if I can avoid it. Particularly as this viscosity is getting hard to find here now.

Tore
Tore

John-stick to your Yorkshire principles!
Michael Beswick

I think EP oils life is indefinetly long. I change nime every 25 years whether it needs it or not.
Stan Best

Its either a ploy to sell more oil, or something conjured up to satisfy the ISO 9001 police.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2012 and 15/10/2012

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