Does any one know what the shelf life is for motor oil in plastic quart containers?

Changed the oil in my 75 Chevy truck today and had 5 quarts of Valvoline 10W40 that were about 8 years old I wanted to use up. After poring in the last quart of oil I removed the dark plastic funnel and saw it was almost clogged with gunk. This gunk looked and felt like dark petroleum jelly mixed with candle wax.
Glad that was the last of the Valvoline oil.

Not sure about shelf life in the plastic bottles, but...

Oil sitting in an oil pan turns acidic after about 6+ months...so I can't see why it would be any different in a plastic container.

I wouldn't have put it in any of my vehicles.

try asking that question at bobistheoilguy forums, they would have the answer for ya: http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi

i personally dont think the oil is any good after 8 years, id do 3 years max on it

i hope you didnt start that motor -- i think the shelf life is like 2 years or something.

Un opened plastic container is sealed from the elements


But aside from that....You maybe ok just going through a couple of heat cycles.