Using cases of 20 year old Castrol 2 cycle outboard oil.

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This was highly regarded 2 cycle oil when purchased from Cabela's - 20 years ago. I suspect it is still better than Super Tech 2 cycle oil - which isn't bad stuff fwiw.

Not very worried about it breaking down - after all oil is millions of years old. A little concerned about it's suitability for high revving chainsaws.

Then again - we usually have 2 cycle oils with no mention of rpm's. 2 cycle engines generally rev high.
 
This was highly regarded 2 cycle oil when purchased from Cabela's - 20 years ago. I suspect it is still better than Super Tech 2 cycle oil - which isn't bad stuff fwiw.

Not very worried about it breaking down - after all oil is millions of years old. A little concerned about it's suitability for high revving chainsaws.

Then again - we usually have 2 cycle oils with no mention of rpm's. 2 cycle engines generally rev high.
Http://thrivingyard.com/2-stroke-oil/
All petroleum products have a half-life, oils just typically are a bit longer.

Of course it is up to you; not sure if Paul Walker took into serious consideration how old those tires were on that Porsche either. They still held air, were black, and round.
 
Http://thrivingyard.com/2-stroke-oil/
All petroleum products have a half-life, oils just typically are a bit longer.

Of course it is up to you; not sure if Paul Walker took into serious consideration how old those tires were on that Porsche either. They still held air, were black, and round.

"Once mixed with gas the fuel should be used within two months."

mmmmkay
 
"Once mixed with gas the fuel should be used within two months."

mmmmkay
I would put that one down specifically to ethanol oxidation rates.

However I do know the half-life on diesel is 120days, a heavier oil should be a bit longer and in a sealed container away from heat and light even longer: hence the 5yr shelf life of oils.
 
2-stroke oil is derived from crude oil which was formed over millions of years from decaying dinosaurs. It amazes me that 20 years after refining and purifying it, people think it has gone “bad”.

However, if you consider that refined oil recipes have evolved over the years, I would say modern oils are better than vintage oils.

 
2-stroke oil is derived from crude oil which was formed over millions of years from decaying dinosaurs. It amazes me that 20 years after refining and purifying it, people think it has gone “bad”.

However, if you consider that refined oil recipes have evolved over the years, I would say modern oils are better than vintage oils.

Depends what you quantify as "bad", over time the properties change. Are the properties suitable for your use?

Or more aptly asked, is oil that was possibly designed for leaded fuel suitable for the current fuel it is being mixed with?
 
Depends what you quantify as "bad", over time the properties change. Are the properties suitable for your use?

Or more aptly asked, is oil that was possibly designed for leaded fuel suitable for the current fuel it is being mixed with?

Sure, that’s an apt question. But as the OP said, the oil is 20 years old (i.e. from 2000), not 50 years old from 1970. It isn’t like it was designed for leaded gas two-stroke engines.

Also, modern engine oils have additives, lubricants, detergents, etc to make them last longer as engine oil. The old 3000-mile oil change mantra is easily a 10,000-mile oil change interval with modern synthetic oils. In order to last 10,000 miles they need to be more durable, and modern oils are.

Conversely, two-stroke mix is run through the combustion chamber and only sees a brief moment where it simply has to remain suspended in the fuel mix, to protecting the piston, before it is either burned up, or blown out the exhaust port. If it was good quality oil 20 years ago, in a sealed container, it isn’t going to be much different today, in my opinion. That doesn’t mean it is the best choice oil with today’s offerings available, but it also doesn’t mean you should throw it out. Just my $0.02.
 
2-stroke oil is derived from crude oil which was formed over millions of years from decaying dinosaurs. It amazes me that 20 years after refining and purifying it, people think it has gone “bad”.

However, if you consider that refined oil recipes have evolved over the years, I would say modern oils are better than vintage oils.



That's whatI was thinking originally.

Project Farm does some amazing stuff. A one man UL labs - with common sense. Improvements in modern lubricants is why so many modern engines go 250,000 miles instead of the old 100,000 miles - generally speaking. Plus I don't hear people revving cold engines as much as I used too.

Did you see the episode where sour crude provided better protection than refined motor oil? I suspect it may be sulphur in the sour crude.
 
I would put that one down specifically to ethanol oxidation rates.

However I do know the half-life on diesel is 120days, a heavier oil should be a bit longer and in a sealed container away from heat and light even longer: hence the 5yr shelf life of oils.
Crikey, I helped start an old direct drive Cat D6 that had been sitting in a paddock for around 15 years with the old fuel in it. The track pins were rusted & frozen.
 
I'd use it without a second thought, I have used oils in sealed containers, 2 stroke and 4 stroke, that I know were 25-30 years old, they looked, smelled, poured and performed like new oil.
That guy claiming oil goes bad in 2-5 years is full of s--t, and that includes an open bottle if of course you keep a cap on it.
 
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