I started to post this in Flork's thread but, its been a while since anyone posted. I have some Lubriplate I have had for probably close to 10 years, maybe longer. Both grease and oil. The grease is seaming to separate and the oil well, its kind of ugly looking. Seems to be darker than when it was new.

Anyway, got me to thinking. At what point does grease/oil expire. I wasnt really expecting it to. I keep it in my basement, 60ish degrees and no sun but, I suspect 10-15 years old is pushing some of my supply to expire. I got everything from slideglide, lubriplate, various others in bottles I don't even remember what they were originally. slip 2000 which I think is the newest. looks the best anyway and what I have been using as of late.

What say you? stop using on guns and use on door hinges and various other household squeakies that dont matter?

Isn't oil millions of years old?

Oil will oxidize for sure. I have an old bottle of Militec that's many many many shades darker than when it was new, but it seems to work just fine.

Interesting post for me as I'm in the same boat. Looking forward to the opinions.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Isn't oil millions of years old?

Kind of like millions of years old salt that has an expiration date on the package.

Ever watch that guy on YouTube who eats military rations from the 17-1800’s? Expiration date on gun oil? Nope. Pour some out, mix it up with a toothpick, apply as needed. That’s what I would do.

I'm still using USGI rifle grease from the 50's and 60's with no issues I'm aware of.

I have some WWII cream or yellowy colored Lubriplate 130A that has separated and while I don't use it, I think at one point I stirred it up again and it looked OK-ish.

Just mix it up if it's separated, and roll on.

It's fine.

The only oil I'm worried about expiring is if I'm eating it, e.g., cooking oil, olive oil, salad dressings.

What Rogue said.

Well no disrespect to rogue but I said it first. lol plus you gotta watch that old K rations guy on YouTube. It’s disgusting. And fascinating.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Well no disrespect to rogue but I said it first. lol

Well, I said it better. Or at least louder and more obnoxiously.

I've had a container of Slide Glide Lite on my workbench for I don't know how many years.
I use it on all kinds of stuff but mostly on my firearms.

Good point rogue, you win. Lol

I get that stirring/mixing grease that has separation is likely to work for our (firearms) purposes, but does the same hold for oils specifically the clp lubricants?

I have a gallon of the old Break-Free (probably 20 years old) that has seemed to separate (lots of black stuff on the bottom of the jug) and while some of it goes back into suspension after shaking, some of it doesn't. And what is re-suspended appears to fall back out after a bit.

I know, the answer is "Throw it out and get something new if it bothers/concerns you.". A valid position, certainly. For educational purposes, though, is there any way for a layman to determine when a lubricant has lost enough of its lubricating property as to not be useful?

^^^ yes it’ll be fine. BTW is it the BreakFree with the white glop and the strange banana smell? Because that’s the good stuff-benzene and all.

We used to get it by the 55 gal drum in the armory. The ships could come up and get it by the gallon and it was great at cleaning, lube & protecting(as long as you kept the gun slathered in it.

Aboard ship we went to the 50s, removed the cover, then hosed them down with BreakFree and moved the action. As long as the deck under them was slimy wet with oil-they didn’t rust. We once got a new CO who, during g an inspection of the ship, was not a fan of the deck being slimy and he asked me what the deal was-I told him we could have working, rust free machineguns or the deck would be oily. He nodded and went on. The XO was the one who told us to simple green the deck daily after we oiled the guns. Aye aye.

I have lots of oil. Every one of them guaranteed to be superior to the last best and greatest oil on the market.

I have actually seen no real difference in any of them. But, I usually buy them in bigger quantities, because it’s cheaper per ounce.

I shake the beejesus out of the big containers and fill them into the little military green LSA oiler bottles. And drop a small stainless steel nut in each bottle. A few shakes before use, and I know they haven’t separated.

Mike - it does have a banana-ish smell, but what is the "white glop"?

Sgt - I, too, tend to buy in larger units and have enough oil and grease to last several lifetimes at the rate I go (or don't, rather) to the range. Good tip about putting something in the bottle to help with mixing. Thanks.

I used some hoppes oil and not sure what kind of grease for assembly after completely stripping an Inox 92FS down for a deep clean

Several years later, I pulled it out of a temp and humidity controlled safe and it was locked up solid. Slide would barely move.

Not sure the shelf life of “gun oil” but automotive oil and moly grease I use now have never done that and cost 95% less.

great feedback. Was curious of others experiences.

Good piece of info. According to Lubriplates Shelf Life its 5 years. Didnt look up any of the others. They might not have a shelf life listed.

Edit: meant to add its the FMO 350-AW Oil that comes in the bottle from Lubri-kit

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
I get that stirring/mixing grease that has separation is likely to work for our (firearms) purposes, but does the same hold for oils specifically the clp lubricants?
I have a gallon of the old Break-Free (probably 20 years old) that has seemed to separate (lots of black stuff on the bottom of the jug) and while some of it goes back into suspension after shaking, some of it doesn't.

My decades old Breakfree CLP I don’t mix up.
I pour out the oil without disturbing the PTFE at the bottom. (The PTFE was always iffy in my uses.)
It’s been working great as a lube and if I want to thicken it, I use Wilson Combat Ultima Lube II grease. (Works in 40° to 350°)
Those 2 get along very well.