Left over Fluids

[MiniMe]

Ok so we all have a left over gallon of Transmission fluid thats been sitting around in your garage a couple years from a tranny fluid change on a car you no longer have anymore or that unopened qt of oil thats been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. Im mean really, is there a shelf life on unused automotive fluids such as engine oil, tranny fluid, and gear oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid etc?

 

[adsm08]

Ostensibly yes, there is a shelf life, but if you don't open the bottle I'd say you are probably be ok using the stuff, as long as it is right for your current vehicle. Might not use it after about 10 years or so.

 

[pjtoledo]

brake fluid absorbs moisture. if the container was opened its not a good idea to use old stuff.
all the other fluids are good for years.



Perry

 

[Surrey]

If you dont know how old it is, I wouldn't use it.

I doubt there has been many scientific studies done on long-term shelf life of automotive fluids, but as Adsm said, there is certainly some amount of shelf life. Everything breaks down over time, and certain things will separate into their base ingredients given enough time. Oxygen typically speeds up degradation, so open contains are more likely to spoil...

If you are unsure, considering the cost of replacing the fluid vs replacing your engine, I would just go get some new oil - and drop the old shit off somewhere that'll recycle it while your at it, dont need that stuff heading to landfills.

 

[wildbill23c]

I agree, if its an unopened container you can expect it to be good for many years, but if its been opened I wouldn't trust it in my vehicle. I'd find someone locally that has a diesel truck you could give it to rather than just throwing it away I have a guy that comes by once in a while and takes my used oil for his truck and I'm glad to give it to him keeps it out of the landfill, and gives the guy some fuel.