motor oil storage

I bought a case of synthetic oil about 6 months ago and had it shipped
to my parents. Well, in not thinking, they stored the box on its side
and once I came upon it...there had been leakage on the box. All the
containers also seem loose too, and not sealed tight enough for the
security ring seal to be totally intact.

I know oil normally has a long shelf life (at least 3 years, if not
more like 5-10) would you say this oil will be fine for the next 2
years or so (6 month service changes, possibly less with mileage)??

Every discussion about oil storage says "as long as it's not
opened"...I'm not sure whether to consider these "opened"....

 

well if its been in the ground for a million or so years a few months
shouldn't make any difference.

CaptainKrunch

 

I don't think synthetic oil is "in the ground".

 

Not literally and the point is true in terms of shelf-life. Synthetic
oil's starting point is ethylene gas though which comes from cracking
petroleum distillates. Even non-synthetics have always been highly
processed petroleum cuts but then again, "in the ground" does not cover
exposure to oxygen. To tell the truth I'm not sure what the effective
shelf-life of any oil is but I believe the oil compnaies will tell you
something like 6 months... to be on the safe side.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??