Shelf life of oil

[QBee]

I was looking for some TVR spares in the man cave yesterday and came across two full 5 litre cans of Millers Fully Synthetic engine oil.
The last time I can remember buying this was when I had my first Saab 9-5, and at 160,000 miles it began to smoke a bit on start up (worn valve guides).
Changed to the Millers and the smoking stopped.

That must have been around 2008, as I know I sold the car soon after to a very nice Lithuanian carpenter, telling him about the issue and to use the same oil to avoid similar smokiness.

Does anyone know if engine oil has a shelf life, ie is my Millers fit for the car or the bin?

[Penelope Stopit]

If there's no sell by and use by date....................could be wrong though

[N7GTX]

5 years is the normal shelf life.

[PhilF329]

You could always contact them to check.

The issue is that any additives can break down or settle so I agree it probably has a 5 year life.

[QBee]

Thanks lady and gentlemen

I will call them and check.
Better safe than sorry - an engine rebuild costs more than 10 litres of oil (as I found out quite recently)