20W50 oil for the summer? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dudemanstan · #1 03-09-2011, 11:55 PM

one of my older neighbors gifted me 9 quarts of some *really* old (as in its in tins) valvoline 20W50 oil. should i use it on my next oil change in anticipation of the blazing southern california summer or just stick to 15W40?

79Mercy · #2 03-10-2011, 12:01 AM

Does the label say its okay for use in a diesel motor? If not then, no, stay with your regular 15W-40 diesel oil.

DeliveryValve · #3 03-10-2011, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudemanstan

one of my older neighbors gifted me 9 quarts of some *really* old (as in its in tins) valvoline 20W50 oil. should i use it on my next oil change in anticipation of the blazing southern california summer or just stick to 15W40?

Dude, you need to keep those on a shelf for display purposes only... Or sell them on eBay, some collector would surely snap those cans up.

.

rs899 · #4 03-10-2011, 07:07 AM

IIRC, only Castrol 20w-50 was rated for diesels back in the day. Even if it was rated, I don't think I would use it as it has to be 20 years old at this point. I doubt that the oil would go "bad" but the additive package , not so sure....

75Sv1 · #5 03-10-2011, 07:33 AM

Oil has advanced so much since then. Also, the oil might have deteriorated to some extent. I'd also say that you would loose a bit on mpg. If your worried about the heat, and your engine doesn't leak oil, then I'd go with a diesel approved synthetic.
Tom

vstech · #6 03-10-2011, 08:11 AM

got pics of the valvoline?

dudemanstan · #7 03-10-2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

got pics of the valvoline?

I'll post some when I gget home from class. I doubt they are collectible, the. Tins are metal top/bottom but cardboard cylinders. I beliieve they are from the early 80s but I will have to double check

vstech · #8 03-10-2011, 12:19 PM

ahh. I thought you were talking about the tin cans from the 70's

I"m guessing you have these:

Not these:

Skid Row Joe · #9 03-10-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

Dude, you need to keep those on a shelf for display purposes only... Or sell them on eBay, some collector would surely snap those cans up.

I agree - those would be cool to have on a shelf display in your garage or den, as long as they do not ooze/leak.

John (vstech) posted the pics. of the '70s era Valvoline cardboard/tin quart cans. I would expect them to start leaking at some point.

As far as your question on oil wieghts?
I would go with a 20W-50 weight for Summer time.

sjh · #10 03-10-2011, 02:30 PM

The oil/additives should have an extremely long shelf life. If not exposed to extremes of heat it should basically always be good.

lupin..the..3rd · #11 03-10-2011, 03:55 PM

No way would I use that old stuff. Modern motor oil is so far ahead of the oils from 20 years ago. Plus that probably is a non-detergent oil, which means it *will* create sludge in your engine, even more so if you have a turbo. I wouldn't use it in my car, even if it was free. Lastly, motor oil doesn't have a published expiration date, but that's because nobody has done any studies on it, it very well might be degraded and you'll never know. It would be fun to take a sample of it and send it in for a UOA test.

As for the weight, I've found 5w-40 to be an excellent year round weight, even in extreme temperatures, well below freezing winter and above 100 F summer. All my best UOA's are from 5w-40 weight.

dudemanstan · #12 03-10-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

ahh. I thought you were talking about the tin cans from the 70's

I"m guessing you have these:

yep i have exactly those, 9 quarts worth.

SD Blue · #13 03-10-2011, 09:58 PM

A great addition to your "display" would be one of the old plunger oil spouts that opened the can.

JHZR2 · #14 03-10-2011, 10:07 PM

I would not use them. The typical shelf life of oil is a few years, likely more in reality, but additives may dropout/come out of solution, and newer oils have far better detergency/dispersancy as well as basestocks.

If the engine is fairly worn and uses oil, you might use it to top up at the end of an oil change interval. But I would rather keep it as a prop for your automotive memorabilia shelf...

dudemanstan · #15 03-11-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

A great addition to your "display" would be one of the old plunger oil spouts that opened the can.

the plunger funnel thing came with them! i lucked out it seems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

I would not use them. The typical shelf life of oil is a few years, likely more in reality, but additives may dropout/come out of solution, and newer oils have far better detergency/dispersancy as well as basestocks.

If the engine is fairly worn and uses oil, you might use it to top up at the end of an oil change interval. But I would rather keep it as a prop for your automotive memorabilia shelf...

indeed. i am thinking that i may assemble a 'period correct' loadout for the car - original mb toolkit (i have some parts, still need to find others), etc. i have the original hard-boxed first aid kit with everything intact and in great condition. also have all the original manuals and things. i checked the oil tins and guess what, they're the same year as the car - '81! if i bring the 240 to cars & coffee (huge car meet in irvine near me) it would be pretty cool to have all the period-correct gear along with the beautiful car