[sjn1955]

Does anyone know the shelf life of gun oil and commercial gun solvents. If so please let me know. Thanks in advance!

[hiwall]

I've used some of both from the 50's. How much longer than 50 years do you need?

[sjn1955]

Originally Posted by hiwall

I've used some of both from the 50's. How much longer than 50 years do you need?

LOL Thanks for the info. You just cracked me up! Since I am 57 years old I don't think
I will need another 50 years.

[mes227]

Originally Posted by sjn1955

Does anyone know the shelf life of gun oil and commercial gun solvents. If so please let me know. Thanks in advance!

If they are in a sealed container, the life is - for most practical purposes - forever. It is evaporation of the volatile organic compounds that causes them to expire. Solvents have a high percentage of VOCs and they don't so much expire as simply evaporate. For oil, there is a very low VOC content and when it evaporates the oil's viscosity goes up slightly. If it's thicker than you'd like add a little solvent or lighter weight oil.

Extreme heat is really the only thing that makes oil 'go bad' as that breaks down the molecular structure and it will start to separate into its various parts (like fracturing crude oil in a refinery). That's part of why engine oil needs to be changed periodically.