Not the usual oil question

[BuellSki]

Ok. So I put Mobil 1 20/50 in both holes. But I had some left over from the last oil change. I got it from cycle gear. I know autozone sells motorcycle oil. So I stopped in there today. I got some. When I got home. I noticed the bottles were different colors. They are both Mobil 1 20/50. The cycle gear oil bottle is dark grey almost black. The autozone bottle is silver. And the cycle gear oil is darker in color. Are they the same thing? I would assume they are. But it's peculiar.

BuellSki

 

[user_deleted]

betting they are. look on the back label and you'll see an SAE rating. should read the same for both bottles. the outfits that bottle and package bulk products often times change packaging shapes and colors just for the hell of it. Castrol seems to do it at least once a year.

you can never have too many lubricant threads in my book.

 

[iman501]

Is one the advanced synthetic vs regular synthetic?

 

[thuren67]

I think the silver is old stock. Black is newer

 

[BuellSki]

I'll check when I get home. I know the back label is different on them

 

[go cytocis]

I never give it much thought myself but it's my understanding from BobIsTheOilGuy that oil actually has a shelf life and degrades sitting on the shelf for extended periods...

 

[MotoX6]

Thuren is right [up]

I have a couple bottles of silver 20/50 and a few black ish colored 20/50. I think they must of changed stock. Their both the same weight and consistency though :/ weird

 

[user_deleted]

I never give it much thought myself but it's my understanding from BobIsTheOilGuy that oil actually has a shelf life and degrades sitting on the shelf for extended periods...

not to open up a "can of expired worms" here, go........but don't buy into that BS. a few oil suppliers to the aviation industry started those "shelf life" antics several years ago and it has lingered on. they were throwing around nonsense about additive packages dropping out of suspension, polymers separating...complete and utter nonsense. when in doubt give the container a good shake and use it.

 

[go cytocis]

don't buy into that BS. a few oil suppliers to the aviation industry started those "shelf life" antics several years ago and it has lingered on

I agree!

The 'shelf life' argument actually says that the oil's viscosity thickens over time, whether it's in your engine or on your shelf. Cold temperatures are said to accelerate the phenomenon.

As I said, I regularly stock up on oil when it's on sale and I often use it up to 2 years later. I don't lose sleep over it nor have I experienced any issues. I might think twice about opening up a can of 30yo oil, or buying a drum of oil that would last me the next 2 decades, buy I will certainly continue to use oil that's been on my shelf for a year or two (or three!) without hesitation.

Having said that, we all know how personal a subject oil is, and it might be of great concern to some folks out there that the OP is considering using a bottle of 'old' oil.