Hi:

Randy brings up some interesting points here that unfortunately, there is no empirical data available to prove or disprove Swepco's claim about a limited shelf life on these products.

All I can offer are some unscientific observations based on long-term experiences. I've seen a LOT of transmissions over the past 30+ years and their internal conditions have run the gamut. Some have used Swepco and some have used Redline and I must honestly say that driving habits had more to do with the wear & tear, than anything.

Some gearboxes looked simply pristine after 150K miles and some were pretty well trashed at 50K. Even transmissions that were taken from wrecked cars after many years didn't necessarily have terminal corrosion on the various ferrous and nonferrous components.

Personally speaking, I have no angst about using a remnant of leftover gear oil as long as its been in an airtight container to prevent contamination. All I do is change the stuff per the manufacturers recommendations unless its a race car. Naturally, those applications receive more frequent oil changes,.....:)

One merely needs to be observant and take note about what type of lubricant to use in various transmissions.

It's rot-gut now. I'll paypal you ten bucks if you courier it to me for use as a rust remover.

To add to Steve's comments, the fact that P AG says to change the GL-5 oils every 60,000 miles suggests that the 1 year shelf life is - at least - _highly_ conservative.

I say the GL-5's b/c there was a big change in the trans. oils in the early 1970's; P AG altered the trans.; spec'd the GL-5, and extended the drain intervals about that time.
- as per Aichele's 911 book.

And, just for the record, I am using some 201 that's been sitting at my house for > 1 year.

:D ;)

I seriously doubt that there is any petroleum that has been sitting around for more than 75 milion years ...

Original Mobil 1 was based on highly-modified castor bean oil stock, so I doubt that any comparisons with petroleum are valid ...

<b>Salesmen's claims and proclaimations without documentation are ALWAYS to be doubted!!! I can't tell you how many times in the past a feature or specification for equipment ... was based solely on the imagination of a salesman, in person, not over the phone or Internet! I'm quite sure the 'salesman imagination' phenomenon is worse these days, and must be checked vigorously for validity ... cheating is an out-of-control behavior in high school and college these days, and surveys show that most kids have no concept of, or belief in ethics when asked about why cheating is acceptable to them. Habits from school don't just go away on their own ...</b>

I found some at the 7-11 here... just behind the milk that expired in the the pre-Cambrian era. So there!:D

For the record, I don't think it was a salesman - I called them. I reached a woman, perhaps a receptionist -- and she asked someone in the back ground. I'm not sure that Swepco has any salesmen -- at least at the retail level.

If everyone on this thread calls them and asks if the shelf life is REALLY one year... we may not reach a real answer, but we will drive them insane.

Reviving this thread for some added information.

An equipment manufacturer that I deal with stocks a lot of 201 for use in their factory and for distribution to their customers. They informed me today that Swepco tells them 201 has a 5 year shelf life if unopened.