>> Old motor oil should not be used/frame from the video
You might want to think twice before putting an old oil can in your car. And we have a visual explanation why you shouldn't do that.
According to this research published on YouTube by The Motor Oil Geek channel, old motor oil is downright dangerous for your engine, writes Motor1.
Host Lake Speed Jr. decided to show in this video, can old oil be returned to usable condition by shaking it. He dug up some old sealed oil cans – one in a plastic container and one in a metal can – and tested whether they could be brought back to life with a good shake.
Why you shouldn't use old oil : watch video
The results of the laboratory did not surprise. Whether we're talking about the 20-year-old Valvoline oil or the 50-year-old Mobil1, both oils showed significant signs of oxidation whether they were shaken or not. Essentially, this means that the oil itself, as well as the set of additives that were added to it when it was new – zinc, phosphorus, sulfur, etc. – have chemically degraded to the point that they can no longer lubricate the engine adequately.
The Valvoline plastic bottle was the worst of the two. It showed signs of water in the oil, which had accumulated over two decades simply by heating and cooling the container. That's why we don't recommend using that old oil bottle in your garage, even if it's for refilling.
How to check your engine oil: watch the video
Parts suppliers like Autozone and CarParts.com say most motor oils have a shelf life of about five years. After that, oxidation begins to occur, which deteriorates the quality of the lubricant. If you think your oil is about to expire, Speedy Jr. made another video showing you how to check the condition of your oil at home, without the use of complicated testing machines.