VINTAGE OIL … IS THAT A THING?

So I recently acquired two cases of some apparently vintage Valvoline oil.

Labeled Valvoline Racing SAE 20W-50 Motor Oil, it looks like the same stuff that we know today as Valvoline VR-1 oil.  And as you see, this stuff is in the familiar plastic bottles, so it’s apparently not real, real old.

There was a price tag on the box that may help to date it.  It was labeled “Schuck,” presumably as in Shuck’s Auto Supply, and the price was $14.99.  Yes, for the case.  So maybe that helps date it: when was quality motor oil last selling for a buck twenty-five a quart?  1990?  1980?  Earlier?

So here’s the deal, since these are new-condition bottles I’m going to assume that the oil is safe to use in a Healey’s motor, and I wonder if it is old enough that it already has all of the good stuff we want in oil for our vintage cars.  You know, ZDDP.  I’m thinking maybe this stuff is so old that it dates from before they started removing the chemicals we want for our old motors, and this is the right formula without needing any additives.

If you can confirm or correct that, your enlightenment is invited.