Engine oil durability

In the original, sealed container, engine oil has a durability of 3-5 years, depending on the manufacturer. ADDINOL guarantees the safe use of its engine oils for at least 5 years from the production date. Many people are familiar with the term best-before date from everyday life. It is a well-known fact, especially in the case of food and beverages, that they are not spoilt when the best-before date expires, but can usually be enjoyed or processed without risk. This is also the case with our high-performance lubricants. However, certain conditions must be met:

• Store the oil in the original sealed container
• Do not expose it to direct sunlight
• Storage in well-ventilated, dry rooms
• Maintain constant temperatures between 5 °C and 40 °C

If you store engine oil in a poorly insulated garage, for example, where temperatures can range from -20 °C to 50 °C over the course of the year, this can reduce the durability. Of course, it is no longer possible to define an exact period after the expiry date. You will always find the production date on the container. If the oil canister has already been opened, the engine oil should be used up as soon as possible. Normally, it can only be used for another 6 months.

Yes, engine oil can expire. All lubricants, even if they are produced under the best conditions and with optimum raw materials, start to age at some point. This triggers chemical reactions that damage the oil to such an extent that it can no longer be used for its intended purpose. Direct sunlight, humidity and dust are usually the main causes of deterioration. If the stored oil is cloudy, shows signs of settling or streaks, have the oil professionally disposed of at a designated collection centre.

There is no generalised answer to this question. ADDINOL produces the corresponding engine oils exactly according to the specifications of the respective manufacturer. Tests are carried out during the development of the engines. The results are used to determine the corresponding oil application times. Always pay attention to the information in the user manual. The exact change intervals are specified there. Depending on the engine type, the oil must be changed annually, every two years or after a certain mileage (e.g., after 30,000 kilometres). Of course, our experts can provide assistance in special cases. If you have any questions, our application technology team will be happy to help.