MTF LT 2

[Rawbin24]

I have 2 unopened 1 liter bottles with a date stamped 02/07/2021. Is that an expiration date? Do they have a shelf life?

[karter16]

I have 2 unopened 1 liter bottles with a date stamped 02/07/2021. Is that an expiration date? Do they have a shelf life?

It's the manufacture date.

Source: I bought some from BMW at the start of 2017 and it has a mid 2016 date on it.

I can't imagine there is any practical shelf life for an unopened bottle.


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[Syfon]

Oil doesn't expire. Kept in a cool dry place it will never go off. It's not a perishable item...

[Arith2]

Mobil 1 states 5 years.

Penzoil states 4 years.

Castrol states up to 5 years.

Motul slaps a 2 year shelf life guarantee. That's it.

Also CHF 11S has its expiration stamped on it. Modern BMW diff fluid has the expiration dates stamped on them. I'm currently at work looking at bottles of oil.

Oil is not magic and doesn't just last forever until it's used. Additives break down over time. You also have to remember, after it's shelf life, then it's in a vehicle under operating conditions throughout a service interval. Transmission fluid made in 2018 used in a car now will be in that trans for another 4 years. It'll be 9 year old fluid. That's a no go for me.

[elbert]

It's not just the amount of time, but also storage conditions.
Need to avoid temperature extremes, humidity, and possibly sunlight.

You also have to remember, after it's shelf life, then it's in a vehicle under operating conditions throughout a service interval. Transmission fluid made in 2018 used in a car now will be in that trans for another 4 years. It'll be 9 year old fluid. That's a no go for me.

Really good point.

[bimmerfan08]

I have 2 unopened 1 liter bottles with a date stamped 02/07/2021. Is that an expiration date? Do they have a shelf life?

What's the packaging? Plastic bottles, I assume?

Metal and coated glass packaging typically have the best barrier properties for reference. To the points made in this thread, environmental conditions can have a big impact on shelf life.