Would you use 7-8 year old synthetic oil? | FerrariChat
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Would you use 7-8 year old synthetic oil?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by RedNeck, Jun 26, 2025.

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  1. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 World Champ
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    #1 RedNeck, Jun 26, 2025
    So back in the day when I was still rather new to the Ferrari world and was overthinking literally everything, Pennzoil Platinum was changing their formula and no longer had the Cavallino on the label...so I went around to every Advance Auto I could and bought them out of the horsey stuff, probably enough for 3-4 oil changes.

    ...but I then I put some down in my garage cabinet and forgot about them. So they've been stored, unopened, in a climate controlled garage since then. They have dates of Apr 2017 and October 2018. I'm doing my annual soon but note sure if I should just use this stuff up or get new oil?
     
  2. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #2 flash32, Jun 26, 2025
    According to Blackstone laboratories it should be 100% fine
     
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  3. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 World Champ
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    #3 RedNeck, Jun 26, 2025
    I was thinking the same thing, especially since my car only get maybe 1000 miles on it (if that) between oil changes...but some other places say the additives break down after 6 years or so.
     
  4. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #4 flash32, Jun 26, 2025
    What I would consider since I have a few cars that use that weight
    .I would buy new mobil 1 0w,40 at Walmart for 25 a gallon and use the "old" oil on the daily driver

    Not sure if that is an option
     
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  5. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 dm_n_stuff, Jun 26, 2025
    Before you go to use it, pour some out into a clear container. Does it look okay? Right color, not cloudy, no particulates floating in it? And shake it up BEFORE you check it.

    IF it passes the eyeball test, then I think you'd be okay.

    Do you have a lawn mower? Do an oil change in the mower, run the hell out of it. If it doesn't fail, well, you're probably okay in the car, too. :D

    D
     
  6. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 World Champ
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    #6 RedNeck, Jun 26, 2025
    Well, my work car that gets 2500+ miles/month is supposed to use 0W-20 but I've already had to tear the motor apart when I got it for sludge issues so probably won't tempt fate again with that.
     
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  7. JTSE30

    JTSE30 F1 Rookie

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    #7 JTSE30, Jun 26, 2025
  8. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #8 flash32, Jun 26, 2025

    I would give all the courts a good shake before using them
     
  9. Solid State

    Solid State F1 World Champ
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    #9 Solid State, Jun 29, 2025
    The poor daily driver never gets the love! In my younger years used to change oil in my BMW every 2500-3000 and use it again in my daily. That way the daily went the normal 5-6k and the new car half as long always with new oil. Seemed righteous especially when only using OEM filters.
     
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  10. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 World Champ
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    #10 RedNeck, Jun 29, 2025
    Option #3: sold the oil on Facebook marketplace and bought Redline :D
     
  11. JTSE30

    JTSE30 F1 Rookie

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    #11 JTSE30, Jun 29, 2025
    I would not trust a container to be that "securely sealed/air tight" for that long, moisture is bound to have found a way in, I had some older oil where the plastic containers were puckered up though never opened...just recycled them.
     
  12. raemin

    raemin Formula 3

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    #12 raemin, Jun 30, 2025
    I still have a 15 year old barel of pure synthetic oil, that I still use, but not on the Ferrari.

    I had stopped using this oil because it was shearing fast. I did not realize back then that competition oil was just that: meant to be replaced every 1500km or so...

    As I has 3 barrels left I decided to use them in the old renault and finally in my son's BMW. No horror story after 5 years. Except that it is still shearing fast... on the plus side it has tons of anti-friction additive, and the camshafts are super quiet (compared to fresh group 3 synthetic)

    I've been using fresh oil from the same factory, and although it's also pure synthetic, it did not shear as fast.

    So the new barrels are somehow better, either because they are fresh or more probably because the formula is better.
     

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