Date expired chainsaw oil, ok to use?

Found an unopened container of 5L chain oil in the mancave.
Date at the top. There is some sediment at the bottom of the container.
Ok to use still?

Hell yes!

Actually, wait…… No, send it to me for proper disposal. 😈

That be fine to use.

LOL, ok will do!

Cheers, was thinking the same thing
Tbh. Didn’t realise there were dates on these things.

Dates on oil! I recon there must be loads of expired stuff under the North Sea.

It’s probably fine, just smell it first.

Well, it depends on what you’re using it for. It’s to lubricate a chain, don’t overthink it.

Sometimes the expiry date is more to do with the container and whether the contents degrades it over time

It’ll be ok as long as you only cut rotten with it

I have the Stihl 2 stroke oil 5l looks much the same and it lasts for ages accurately measuring out 100ml to 5l of petrol, must check if there’s a best before

A friend of mine’s dad has been a forester for the past 40 years. They used to use old engine oil from the company cars and trucks that had been put through a sieve as chain oil. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Good heavens, it’s chain oil, yes it’s fine. If it were really out of date 2 stroke I’d consider bit using but chain oil.. Fine

Quick question, do you have a saw to go with that?

Redmex, 2 stroke life is 5 years supposedly

Whilst there are many other things you can use, regular chain oil is more pleasant to work with, whatever its age.

thestabiliser
Free Member

It’ll be ok as long as you only cut rotten with it

?

mattarb
Free Member

Quick question, do you have a saw to go with that?

I do, MS181

Don’t drink it. Not safe, it’s out of date.

It’s degraded. Separation can be a sign of oxidisation, which can increase acidity and viscosity
Would I run expired oil in an engine? Definitely not
Opening the container and using some will allow more air and humidity in so it might be tempting as a single use but not to stick it back on the shelf. Personally I’d buy some from Screwfix for £6.49 🙂
Makes good wet bike chain lube too

It doesn’t get run in an engine, its chainsaw oil, it just lubes the chain.
I would use it.

Actually having looked further – according to Still  it is indeed the container that has a shelf life not the oil inside. the container eventually degrading / leaking is  the problem the expiry date guards agains. Not too much of a problem for a home user – other than maybe sitting the container in something else in case it leaks. But if you have a warehouse full of them or transporting them in bulk  it’d be a bigger issue so I guess it just helps with stock control

Oil does degrade in storage, as well as the container which hadn’t occurred to me https://news.kixxoil.com/how-to-properly-store-engine-oil/

It doesn’t get run in an engine, its chainsaw oil, it just lubes the chain.

Yes and I’d consider it for a single use as said, but not for further storage after opening.
To clarify, I wouldn’t use expired oil in an engine at all

In general terms there’s perhaps some theoretical possibility of some volatile components evaporating off which could degrade performance of oils over time. But chain oil? What’s the worst thing that can happen? It’s not like you’re using it in a high-tech F1 engine.

if its taken 7-8 years to use a quarter of the tub – I’d probably decant it into something else to cover the next few decades 🙂

2014 was an excelent vintage though – might worth a few bob

Might give you a sore tummy if you insist on ingesting it…

I wouldn’t use it for cooking, but reckon it’ll be fine to live a chain.

A lot of suppliers insist on having best before dates on certain categories of product.

When I used to work for a software company specialising in food & drink I visited a suet manufacturer. They were ripping up boxes of new product to re-package with new dates. “this stuff lasts for years” I was told “but Tesco insist they want 9-12 month dates”.

if its taken 7-8 years to use a quarter of the tub – I’d probably decant it into something else to cover the next few decades 🙂

Still sealed old chap. 🙂

Well some got used yesterday and the saw didn’t blow up… 🙂
Need some new chains now, will start another thread on that.

Need some new chains now

Aaahhh, there’s your answer. It’s ferked, get some ‘new’ million year old oil 👍