The sunlight may also cause oxidation of oil which may cause the formation of acids. The acids cause corrosion of the engine parts which reduces its lifespan. If the expiry date of the motor oil has passed, then it is not proper to use it. Even if the bottle is not opened, a crossed expiry date means the oil should be disposed of.
For an expired synthetic oil, the components have disintegrated. You may even have deposits at the bottom of the container. The deposits cannot be re-dissolved into the oil by shaking. The only remedy is to dispose of the lubricant. Additionally, whether open or unopen, synthetic oil will go bad because of the environment you store it in. Oil should be stored in a cool and dry place. It should also be away from sunlight. If it is in direct sunlight, the molecules of the synthetic oil will react with the UV rays.
This may lead to oxidation of synthetic oil. Oxidation may lead to the formation of acids which may be corrosive to your engine parts. Also, if you put it in a humid environment, the moisture may get into the acid and contaminate it.
High temperatures may also cause the oil to degenerate with time. Whether the bottle is open or not, you should not use the oil in your car if it has gone bad. If you use it, it will not protect your engine, and it may cause damage to some parts. To tell if motor oil is stable or not, you should first check the expiry date. If it has crossed the expiry date, then the oil is not stable for use.
Secondly, you should check for the consistency of the motor oil. Typically, motor oils should be clear. If the color starts to change to milk or there is haziness, do not use it. The change in color is an indication that the oil is not stable. If the oil becomes thick and sticky, then it should not be used.
You may also start noticing some particles in the oil. The particles can also form at the bottom of the container. The particles will not re-dissolve even after shaking. You may also notice that the additives in synthetic oil have separated. The same thing that happens to oil while in a container happens inside the engine. For instance, high temperatures cause motor oil to disintegrate.
In the engine, there is a generation of a lot of heat. If you use conventional oils, they break down in the high temperatures. Alternatively, you can use synthetic oil that comes with thermal properties. Thus, it withstands the high temperatures to protect your engine even when it heats up.
There is also oxidation happening inside the engine. Oxidation in the engine may cause the formation of deposits. The deposits may affect the performance of your engine by making it unhealthy. Oxidation may also cause the formation of acids in the engine. This may cause corrosion of the metal parts and other parts of the engine.
You should, therefore, look for motor oil with anti-corrosion properties. Unused engine oil will expire whether it is opened or unopened. Many brands say that their oil lasts for an extended period. After the extended period, the oil should not be used. The extended period varies for various brands with Mobil giving up to 5 years while Total gives 2 years. After the oil expires, its components disintegrate. You start noticing a change in color, texture, and so on.
You may also see deposits forming at the bottom of the container. For the oil to last for a long time, you should store it properly. Store it in a cool and dry place. As such, the UV lights from direct sunlight will not react with the oil molecules. Also, moisture will not contaminate the oil. How long the lubricant sits in the engine depends on a variety of factors. Many car manufacturers suggest that you should change the oil after about 7, miles.
However, the draining interval can extend or reduce. Some of the factors that affect the drain intervals include your driving patterns. For long-distance drivers, the oil drain interval may be shorter than short-distance drivers. It also depends on the engine type. Old engines are more prone to wear and tear. They produce deposits and contaminants that require you to change the oil frequently. Most new vehicles have systems that monitor oil quality.
The tracking systems check the engine temperatures, the distance of travel, driving conditions, and so on. They then indicate when it is time to change the oil. How long unused oil will last depends on the storage.
When properly stored, some synthetic oils can last up to 5 years. You should store your oil in a cool and dry place. This will prevent moisture from getting into the oil and contaminating it.
Direct sunlight makes the oil molecules to react with the UV rays. This causes the oil to deteriorate with time. Inside the engine, there is a lot of movement that is happening. Many surfaces are rubbing against each other as they move. The moving surfaces may cause a lot of friction that will lead to wear and tear.
This reduces the lifespan of your engine. So, the primary purpose of using engine oil is lubrication. The oil forms a thin layer of lubrication around the moving parts.
This reduces friction between the moving parts minimizing wear and tear. While neither conventional nor synthetic motor oils are good for the environment if disposed of improperly or spilled , most environmentalists would opt for the latter since it lasts three or more times longer and thus reduces waste or energy use if recycled.
Researchers have been experimenting with producing greener motor oils—one pilot project out of Purdue University has produced high-quality, carbon-neutral motor oil from canola crops—but consumers should not expect to see such products on store or garage shelves anytime soon, as the costs of production are high and the availability of cropland is limited.
But the very existence of such alternatives—no doubt more are in the offing—bodes well for the future as oil becomes more scarce and expensive. Box , Westport, CT ; submit it at: www. Read past columns at: www. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. That depends, so we'll explain the facts behind the proper synthetic-oil change interval.
Today's engine oils have evolved into brilliantly engineered blends of refined petroleum and sophisticated additives that enable them to retain their protective properties through all those months and miles and inhospitable conditions. Some are suitable for light usage through reasonable periods of time, while others are better for harder and longer-term use. Today's highest-performing, longest-lasting engine oils are synthetics, which means they are typically engineered and manufactured from chemically modified petroleum components and some other materials.
Synthetics can provide better startup performance and flow at temperatures down to Fahrenheit, then endure extremely high temperatures without oxidizing, thickening, or turning black. With automakers increasingly using thinner, ultra-low-viscosity thickness oils to reduce running friction for better fuel efficiency, synthetics can be formulated to much lower viscosities while retaining their protective and lubricating properties.
They are typically two to three times more expensive than regular oils, but they are cleaner and more robust, have superior chemical and mechanical properties, especially in extreme temperature ranges, and can retain those properties longer between changes. There's a lot of nonsense floating around about when to change your synthetic oil.
If your vehicle runs synthetics—and most do these days—the best place to find the correct oil-change interval is the owner's manual. Manufacturers' recommended synthetic-oil change intervals vary greatly. For the vehicles in Car and Driver' s long-term test fleet , those intervals range from to 16, miles and almost always include oil-filter changes. Most modern vehicles have change intervals in the to,mile range—generally a good schedule to use if you absolutely cannot find any information on the oil-change interval for your vehicle.
Manufacturers also have a special set of recommended synthetic oil-change intervals for vehicles driven in severe conditions like Mojave Desert heat or Alaskan cold—or for vehicles that spend most of their time on dusty roads.
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