O/T Does oil wear out

37 chief · Oct 27, 2009

Does oil wear out, or does it just get contaminated? I have several pails of tracter hydrolic fluid that has been setting for a while. I removed the lid, and it looked real clean. I was going to take it to the recycle place, but I thought I will post my question for someone smarter than I am on the subject. Stan

Anonymous-0 · Oct 27, 2009

Oil never looses it's lubricating ability. It does get contaminated though. Have you ever seen an expiry date on an oil container? It's been in the ground for millions of years and we're still using it. If your oil was new in the original container, should be the same as if you just bought it. Dave

IH2444 · Oct 27, 2009

The additives in oil does give out.

NCWayne · Oct 27, 2009

Like 135 Fan says the base oil itself never looses it"s lubricating ability. In the sense we usually hear about of the oil being used, worn out, etc it simply reffers to the additive package in the oil being degraded to the point that it"s no longer doing it"s job.

That"s the reason that the quality of oil has been discussed on here so many times before with the usual result being advice not to use cheap oil because ultimately you get what you pay for.

lucas boy · Oct 27, 2009

to add.. guy looks at the oil of an engine thats been sitting a while,says,this oil looks like new, ,,, but all the dirt settles out and gets mixed back up when he starts it.see this on small engines alot..

Gun guru · Oct 27, 2009

I think that oil wears out when it is heated over and over again. 1 reason for changing it cause of the "burnt" oil that is in it. That is why refineries exist, for waste oil. Of course you could do what I do and filter it through a rag and use it for bar/chain oil for the saw, or lubricating the tire chains on the Deere.

Walterdavies · Oct 27, 2009

I think that this is the 3rd or 4th time that you have asked this same question. Yes oil will wear out sell it to someone who wants it for unknown uses.
Walt

ErnieD · Oct 27, 2009

Gear oil does have a shelf life, per Conoco Philips.

Ray · Oct 27, 2009

A friend on mine has 250 trucks on the road.They very seldom change oil anymore.They have a tank of oil additives that automatically keep the oil in shape.

RobMD · Oct 27, 2009

In addition to what everyone has said, oil that sits around is subjected to attaining a moisture content.

Jason Hangartner · Oct 27, 2009

I think Oil does wear out. Oil is made up from chains of molecules that give it it"s properties. Through Shear between gears etc... those chains get broken down.

After a long time of shear and heat cycles the oil may still lubricate but not as well as before running it in an engine.

Wilson · Oct 27, 2009

Used to have several semi trucks. wet lines on some. lost oil in dump and was talking to old friend who bought semi tractors in groups of 5. He said you need some used oil , I can spare a couple of barrels for wet kits. I though he was joking. Come to find out he put used oil on all new wet kits as well as replaced oil in existing units. I started doing same. Never had a problem. Naturely dont use the drugs that settle on bottom , don't shake the settled oil up. Pump only from top 3/4 of container. I never tried this idea but wonder how about running used (after setting for month at least) oil by pressure through a lube-finer oil filter set-up. I would think a double filter thing would give rather clean oil. Here again don't use the bottom containing the settled crap.

37 chief · Oct 27, 2009

Walt Your memory is much better than mine. My alzheimers must be starting earlier than my Grandpa's, and my Dad's. Stan

Rollie NE PA · Oct 27, 2009

No, oil does not wear out, as substantiated by the Shell Oil Co, U.S.Air Force, U.S. Bureau Of Standards and many others. In fact used oil that has been re-refined is often better than vigin base oil. It is true that the additives will deplete.

Rollie

Anonymous-0 · Oct 27, 2009

Oil never wears out. It can always go back to the refinery. It does lose additives and get dirty ect. 37 Chief, you are talking about hydrolic oil, not even engine oil. I know tractors that are older than I am that never had the Hyd oil changed. On our loader tractors with pto pumps we just drained the water out of the system and filled the tank up with used hytrans fluid. The used hytrans fluid also ended up in truck hoists. Those systems are just not that picky. Any clean surplus, and most hyd fluid is clean, went into the farms 1000 gal diesel tank.

hay · Oct 28, 2009

Oil does not wear out. It will always be oily. However, it may not be good to use in an engine because of contaminants such as dirt and crud from the engine. It also loses it's additives that make it useful for auto engine use. It can be re-refined and new additives added.

msb · Oct 28, 2009

Take a short piece of an old hay rope and put one end into the oil and the other end in a clean bucket. You may have to raise the oil filled bucket a bit, but the oil will transfer from one bucket to another and the rope will filter it. Not good for use in engines or transmissions, but makes good squirt gun oil.

O/T Does oil wear out

37 chief

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Anonymous-0

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IH2444

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NCWayne

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lucas boy

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Gun guru

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Walterdavies

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ErnieD

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Ray

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RobMD

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Jason Hangartner

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Wilson

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37 chief

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Rollie NE PA

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Anonymous-0

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hay

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msb

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