How long does loctite last?

[Rod N]

I have some M4 x 10mm allen bolts that I need to use to pin coolant lines.
My blue and red loctite is probably 25 years old.
You think it is still good? Or almost as good?
Thanks
Rod

 

[48RON54]

as long as its not a rubber blob in the container or separating I would still use it

 

[DFB]

Ya does it come out liquid

I have had Loctite tightly sealed for years no issues still works as intended

 

[Rod N]

Still looks the same as it ever did.

 

[MrCat63]

Haven't ever had any go bad on me. Did have a tube of it leak out, by the time I found it had all matter of stuff stuck to it. what was left in the tube was still good.

 

[JB052]

I thought most Loctite's had a 'use before' date or is that only in the aviation world.

 

[mfewtrail]

Loctite claims something like a 2 year shelf life unopened and one year opened when stored at room temperature or below.

I've used loctite up to 10+ years old with no issues though. It cured and worked fine.

 

[fsae0607]

For our uses, it's fine as long as it's liquid. JB052 is right. In Aerospace, once the "Use By" date passes, it gets ****-canned. Then it ends up in our garages lol.

A tip, try using some Loctite Primer. Helps curing.

 

[Kevin54]

Loctite will last for quite a few years in the bottle. I have used 10 year old Loctite with great results. But it depends on what you want to use it on. For every day use on a lawnmower, car, something like that....you're good. In the aircraft industry, Loctite had to be tossed after one year, which I could see why.

 

[Rod N]

After 25 years i think red is the new blue. lol

 

[NUTTSGT]

I can't tell you how old mine is and if it comes out of the tube or bottle like it should, I'll use it.

 

[SwampCat]

Almost to the bottom of my big bottle of red, from 1978 ! Still works great. Dont know if they watered down the formula since then. Those big bottles sure are pricey now.

 

[6768rogues]

It might be ok but I would put a crowbar in my wallet and pry out a few bucks for new stuff. If it is critical enough for Locktite, why take a chance?

 

[dmdc411]

At home, no problem. Aviation, or ISO9000 use, must not use after the expiration date

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[6PTsocket]

Add me to the "it lasts forever" group. It is anerobic; that means it it cures when air is excluded not when it is exposed to air. When it is squeezed to a thin film, between the threads, that is what makes it harden. +1 in using primer. It makes it cure faster and helps it cure on certain surfaces that can be difficult for it to work on.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[The Cobbler]

had red loctite fail to cure, but it may have been that it froze in my unheated shed repeatedly

 

[n20junkie]

I have old bottles from the hangar that are now 20 years old and they still work great.

 

[Lwel9226]

I have some that is 20+ years old and I still use it.... about the only thing that I have found that makes it not work right is dirty or oily hardware.........

LynnW

 

[ard]

I took the heads off and had all the coolant fittings welded.

 

[odymar]

I'm glad to see all of this reassuring information. I looked at the bottle I have and the use by date was last year. I was debating whether or not to toss it but I am definitely going to hold on to it now.

 

[Doozer75]

Leave the cap off the Loctite bottle.
That will make it last the longest.
They actually make those red plastic bottles
permeable to air, so it will not harden in the
bottle. Putting on the cap is bad, but less
likely to spill it.

-Doozer