Motor oil shelf life, 2+ cases of VR-1, unopened bottles Options

[anderssj]

I bought three cases of Valvoline VR-1 20w50 about 18 months ago, back when it was cheap(er). Given the number of miles I put on the teener in a given year, the remaining 2 cases will probably last me another 3 years or so. Any problem using oil that is 4 to 5 years old if the bottles are unopened?

BTW, I read a number of the various articles on the web, but thought I would get better gouge from the experts here... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Thanks in advance!

[jcd914]

I would not worry about it with todays oils and additives.

BUT I actually do have personal bad and dumb experience with very old oil I should not have used in my truck.

1990-ish I briefly came to own a 1979 Pinto, whole other story that's better with (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

But that Pinto had a half a case of Texaco Havoline motor oil, old-style cans that require a spout punched in.
I knew it was old oil but used it to change the oil in my 1980 Datsun truck and after a several weeks of use and then sitting a week or so it would not start, cranked slow.
Low battery, I assumed and put the charger on it, an hour later I try again and get the same thing.
I then proceeded to guess my way through cleaning battery cables, ground connections, jumping from van, up to concluding the starter was bad and replacing it.
Before I got out my amp meter and read 370 amp starter draw and realized the engine was the problem! The old oil had turned to almost a jelly, it was so thick it drained so slow I put a heater under the engine to get the stuff out, N CA area it was not cold.

So embarrassing note here, at the time I was a Porsche dealership tech.

Test don't guess!

Jim