Should oil drums be stored upright or on their side?

On their side. TotalEnergies' storage advice is that oil drums should be stored horizontally with the bungs on the sides, and its data sheets say drums kept outside should be laid horizontally to avoid contamination by water and to stop the label rubbing off.

What is the maximum storage temperature for engine oil?

Check the product's data sheet. For Rubia Works 4000 15W-40 it says the product should not be stored at temperatures over 60 °C and should be kept away from sunlight, intense cold and extreme temperature fluctuations. The Nateria MP 40 gas engine oil sheet is stricter: store away from humidity at temperatures not exceeding 35 °C.

Can I store oil drums outside?

TotalEnergies prefers a closed, ventilated, sheltered store. If that isn't possible, cover the packaging and protect it from the elements, and lay drums horizontally. Our view: on a WA site, a simple roof over a bunded area does most of the work.

How long does oil last in a sealed drum?

It depends on the product. The Nateria MP 40 data sheet gives a shelf life of 3 years for unopened drums, Nevastane AW 5 years from date of manufacture and Nevastane Chain Oil XT 3 years. For motor oil, TotalEnergies says its properties are best if used within two years, and oil with deposits on the bottom of the container should be replaced.

Where should food grade lubricants be stored?

In their own clearly identified area. TotalEnergies says special oils, including food grade, biodegradable and metalworking oils, must be stored in special, clearly identified areas. The Nevastane AW data sheet adds: store at ambient temperatures and minimise exposure to temperatures above 35 °C, daylight, dust and humidity.

Can someone check how we store and handle lubricants?

Yes. Bulk Lubricants Australia can arrange a TotalEnergies Storage and Handling Assessment, a review of how lubricants are stored, handled and kept clean. It is delivered by or with TotalEnergies.

Catalog / Storage guide

Lubricant storage guide

How to store lubricant drums safely on a WA site

Store lubricant drums under cover, laid horizontally with the bungs on the sides, on spill retention sized to local rules, and below the temperature printed on each data sheet: not over 60 °C for most TotalEnergies oils, and not above 35 °C for Nateria gas engine oils. Label every drum, use first in, first out, keep food grade and other special oils in their own marked area, and use separate, clean dispensing gear for each product.

Published 27 October 2026. Storage rules are from TotalEnergies’ storage FAQ and the TotalEnergies data sheets listed under Sources.

Where each point on this page comes from

Label	What it means
TotalEnergies says	From TotalEnergies' storage FAQ or the product's technical data sheet, in its wording. Footnoted.
Regulation and standards	Where the rules sit in WA. We point to them; we don't interpret them for your site.
Our view	Practical tips from us, labelled as opinion. Not a TotalEnergies statement.
Check your data sheet	Storage limits differ by product. The data sheet and safety data sheet for the product in your store always win.

Top takeaways

Lie drums down if they're outside. TotalEnergies data sheets say drums should be laid horizontally to avoid water contamination and to stop the label rubbing off [3, 4].
Read the temperature line on the data sheet. Most say not over 60 °C, but Nateria gas engine oils say not exceeding 35 °C and Nevastane AW says to minimise time above 35 °C [3, 5, 6].
Shade beats a hot yard. The same data sheets ask you to keep drums out of sunlight and away from extreme temperature swings [3, 4]. In a WA summer, that means a roof.
Shelf life is printed for some products. Nateria MP 40: 3 years unopened. Nevastane AW: 5 years from manufacture. TotalEnergies says engine oil is best used within two years [2, 5, 6].
Labels and FIFO prevent the expensive mistakes. TotalEnergies asks for clearly visible product names, delivery dates and first in, first out, with special oils kept apart [1].

Should drums be stored on their side or upright?

On their side. TotalEnergies says oil drums should be stored horizontally, with the bungs on the sides, to avoid accidental pollution [1]. Its data sheets give the reason for drums that can’t be kept inside: laid horizontally, they avoid contamination by water and the label doesn’t rub off [3, 4].

Why water gets in. TotalEnergies recommends air breathers or dryers on drums and tanks because they protect the oil against humidity more effectively [1]. A drum standing upright in the open collects rain on its lid, right where the bungs are.
Why the label matters. A drum you can’t identify is a drum that ends up in the wrong machine. TotalEnergies asks for product names to be clearly visible to prevent handling errors [1].

What temperature should lubricants be stored at?

Below the limit on the product’s own data sheet. Most TotalEnergies automotive and off-road oil sheets say not over 60 °C, but some are much tighter: the Nateria gas engine oil sheet says not exceeding 35 °C, and Nevastane food grade sheets ask you to minimise time above 35 °C. Here is what the sheets for five common products say, word for word where we can.

Product	Type	Storage temperature	Other storage advice	Shelf life
Rubia Works 4000 15W-40^[3]	Heavy-duty diesel engine oil	Should not be stored at temperatures over 60 °C	Keep away from sunlight, intense cold and extreme temperature fluctuations. If possible, don't expose the packaging to the elements; otherwise lay drums horizontally	Not stated on the data sheet
Dynatrans MPX^[4]	Tractor transmission oil (UTTO)	Should not be stored at temperatures over 60 °C	Keep away from sunlight, intense cold and extreme temperature fluctuations; otherwise lay drums horizontally	Not stated on the data sheet
Nateria MP 40^[5]	Gas engine oil	Store away from humidity at temperatures not exceeding 35 °C	Not stated	3 years for unopened drums
Nevastane AW 22-68^[6]	Food grade (NSF H1) hydraulic oil	Store at ambient temperatures; minimise periods of exposure to temperatures above 35 °C	Minimise exposure to daylight, dust and humidity	5 years from date of manufacture (unopened)
Nevastane Chain Oil XT^[7]	Food grade (NSF H1) chain oil	Store between 0 °C and +40 °C	Minimise exposure to daylight, dust and humidity	3 years from date of manufacture (unopened)

Other products carry their own storage line. Check the data sheet for each product you hold.

Can I store drums outdoors on a WA site?

You can, but it is the second-best option. TotalEnergies wants lubricants sheltered in a closed, ventilated area; failing that, the packaging should at least be covered and protected from the elements [1].

Keep the sun off. The data sheets ask for drums to be kept away from sunlight, intense cold and extreme temperature fluctuations [3, 4].
Lie them down. If drums have to stay exposed, lay them horizontally [3, 4].
Watch the tight limits. A gas engine oil rated to 35 °C [5] needs more care in a Pilbara or Goldfields summer than an engine oil rated to 60 °C [3].

Do lubricant drums need bunding?

Plan for it. TotalEnergies says packaging should be placed on retention whose volume is set in line with current local regulations [1]. In Western Australia, business.gov.au lists AS 1940, The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, as a code of practice under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, administered by Resources Safety in the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration [8].

What applies depends on what you store and how much. Ask Resources Safety, and read the safety data sheet for each product. We don’t size bunds or advise on compliance.

How do I stop mix-ups and contamination?

Label everything, keep special oils apart, and give each product its own dispensing gear. TotalEnergies’ storage advice covers each point [1]:

Visible product names on every drum and bay, to prevent handling errors.
Delivery dates and first in, first out, so stock is used before it expires.
Special oils in their own marked area, including food grade, biodegradable and metalworking oils. See our food grade NSF H1 lubricant guide for the Nevastane range.
Enough jugs and grease pumps that products are never mixed, and filtration to remove contamination before top-ups or fills.
Pack sizes that match use, chosen on the basis of how fast you use each product and the logistics you have.

How long do lubricants last in storage?

Where the data sheet prints a shelf life, use it: 3 years for unopened Nateria MP 40 drums [5], 5 years from manufacture for Nevastane AW [6] and 3 years for Nevastane Chain Oil XT [7]. For motor oil, TotalEnergies says it stays stable for an extended period in the original, unopened container at moderate temperatures, but its properties are best if it is used within two years [2].

TotalEnergies also says there should be no deposits on the bottom of the container. Shaking won’t redissolve them; the oil has to be replaced [2].

Our view

Our opinion: most storage problems on WA sites come down to two things, heat and water. Put a roof over a bunded area, lie the drums down, and write the delivery date on each one when it arrives. Order pack sizes you will use well inside the shelf life, and keep gas engine and food grade oils in the coolest, cleanest corner.

Common questions

Should oil drums be stored upright or on their side?: On their side. TotalEnergies' storage advice is that oil drums should be stored horizontally with the bungs on the sides, and its data sheets say drums kept outside should be laid horizontally to avoid contamination by water and to stop the label rubbing off.
What is the maximum storage temperature for engine oil?: Check the product's data sheet. For Rubia Works 4000 15W-40 it says the product should not be stored at temperatures over 60 °C and should be kept away from sunlight, intense cold and extreme temperature fluctuations. The Nateria MP 40 gas engine oil sheet is stricter: store away from humidity at temperatures not exceeding 35 °C.
Can I store oil drums outside?: TotalEnergies prefers a closed, ventilated, sheltered store. If that isn't possible, cover the packaging and protect it from the elements, and lay drums horizontally. Our view: on a WA site, a simple roof over a bunded area does most of the work.
How long does oil last in a sealed drum?: It depends on the product. The Nateria MP 40 data sheet gives a shelf life of 3 years for unopened drums, Nevastane AW 5 years from date of manufacture and Nevastane Chain Oil XT 3 years. For motor oil, TotalEnergies says its properties are best if used within two years, and oil with deposits on the bottom of the container should be replaced.
Do lubricant drums need a bund in WA?: TotalEnergies says packaging should sit on retention whose volume is set by current local regulations. In Western Australia, business.gov.au lists AS 1940, The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, as a code of practice under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, administered by Resources Safety in the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration. Ask them what applies to your quantities and site.
Where should food grade lubricants be stored?: In their own clearly identified area. TotalEnergies says special oils, including food grade, biodegradable and metalworking oils, must be stored in special, clearly identified areas. The Nevastane AW data sheet adds: store at ambient temperatures and minimise exposure to temperatures above 35 °C, daylight, dust and humidity.
Can someone check how we store and handle lubricants?: Yes. Bulk Lubricants Australia can arrange a TotalEnergies Storage and Handling Assessment, a review of how lubricants are stored, handled and kept clean. It is delivered by or with TotalEnergies.

Next steps

Find the storage line on the data sheet for each product in your store.
Check your bunding and quantities with Resources Safety and the safety data sheets.
Label drums with the product name and delivery date, and set up first in, first out.
Want a second pair of eyes? We can arrange a TotalEnergies Storage and Handling Assessment, delivered by or with TotalEnergies. See all TotalEnergies services.

Need stock? Tell us the product, pack size, quantity and site. Bulk Lubricants Australia confirms price, pack and freight on the quote. Collect from the TotalEnergies Perth warehouse in Maddington, or we freight to site anywhere in Australia.

Request a quote Browse the catalog Call +61 459 798 569

Sources

How we checked: each storage line was read from the TotalEnergies FAQ pages and data sheets above on 27 October 2026, and the WA listing from business.gov.au on the same day. Spot an error? Call us or use the quote form and we will correct it.