Q: How to use old oil

asked by on May 17, 2016

My uncle owns gallons of motor oil from 1988. Is it good for anything other than recycling?

Change Oil and Filter $103.58 - $181.08 Get a Quote

It’s hard to say. Oil is pretty mixable and it stays in the solution pretty well. Gasoline settles down but oil really doesn’t. If he has gallons of that stuff, and if you’ve got lawn mowers, you can try and use that for lawn mowers. They don’t need much lubrication. Or put it in oil spray can and use it to lubricate things like chains and things like that.

But I wouldn’t recommend using it on a car. It probably wouldn’t work and I wouldn’t want to chance it, with new oil being as cheap as it is. Use the old oil for other things.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I customize the Chime Volume?
A chime accompanies many alerts in your vehicle. The volume of this chime can be adjusted very easily: 1. Turn on the infotainment system. 2. Press the CONFIG button to select the Configuration Settings menu. 3. Rotate the MENU/SELECT knob...
Steering wheel shaking
The speed must be taken into consideration, in order to properly diagnose a shaky steering wheel during driving. A shaking or vibrating wheel at low speed may point to a problem with tires, or with bent/broken suspension components. On the...
Is my fuel pump bad?
This means your fuel pump is coming on like it should. The pump will cycle on for a few seconds and then turn off if you just turn the key to on. This should happen each time you cycle the...
how do I change an external harmonic balancer?
You will have to remove the center bolt. Once the bolt is removed, then using a harmonic pulley puller and locking the puller to the three bolt holes and running the center bolt in until the pulley and harmonic pulley...
1998 gmc savanah 3500. 5.7l engine box truck shorts off and starts with starting fluid and shorts of after few minutes.
Hello. If the motor will only stay running with starting fluid, you likely have a fuel delivery issue. This can happen for a variety of reasons ranging from low fuel pressure to bad injector pulse to even just a dirty...
Truck sounds very loud when I step on gas...maybe muffler? 2007 GMC Yukon
Hello - this new, louder sound level (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/loud-noise-from-exhaust_24063) could be the muffler, catalytic converter, an exhaust gasket or one of the connecting exhaust pipe(s). I would recommend having an exhaust system inspection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-running-louder-than-normal-inspection) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as...
I think my daughters AWD is not working on her 2005 BMW X5. How much does something like that cost to fix?
Hi there: If your daughter's BMW X5 has an illuminated ABS, Trac Control or AWD light on the dashboard, it's likely that a problem exists with the AWD that is causing the traction issues on your slanted and icy driveway....
I have a 2010 ford fusion. The check engine light is on. My car jerks while driving. The rpm goes up and down while driving.help?
Hi there. Usually an engine that is displaying these type of symptoms is caused by a fuel system restriction, a vacuum leak or a sensor that has a faulty connection and is causing inconsistent or misfiring cylinders. Since the check...
Hood won’t close all the way
Hey Caleb. Thanks for contacting us today. Since this is likely an aftermarket hood, and we are not able to offer tips for anything beyond OEM applications, I think your best bet is to contact the manufacturer of the hood...

Related articles

How to Buy a Good Quality Oil Pump
The The movement of metal against metal in your engine can cause a great deal of friction and heat, which is tough on even the most durable metal parts. Metal-on-metal parts require a steady supply of high-quality motor oil to...
Symptoms of Bad or Failing Differential / Gear Oil
If your car has exceeded its gear oil service interval, or if you hear the differential whining, you may need to replace the differential/gear oil.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Oil Pan
Common signs include puddles of oil under the car, leaks around the oil drain plug, and visible damage to the oil pan.