Can Edible Oil Be Stored in a Car?

[DiEmmanuel]

It is safe to store edible oil in a car. Edible oil can be kept in a vehicle because its ignition point is significantly higher than that of gasoline and other fuels, so it is not classified as a flammable or explosive material and does not fall under the category of hazardous goods. However, it should not be stored for long periods. Below are the hazards of high temperatures on edible oil: 1. High temperatures accelerate the oxidation and deterioration of edible oil: The primary cause of edible oil spoilage is oxidation, and the oxidation rate of edible oils increases with rising temperatures. When the temperature exceeds 60°C (140°F), the oxidation rate increases significantly. 2. Storing edible oil in the trunk for a short time is not a problem, but it should not be kept there for extended periods: The temperature in the trunk is not high enough to pose a danger to the oil. The main concern is the health risks posed by the deterioration of the oil due to high temperatures.

[AdamLynn]

Last time I left a whole bucket of oil in the trunk for two weeks and it caused trouble. In summer, the temperature inside the car can easily soar to 60°C, and cooking oil starts to spoil after just two or three days, developing a rancid smell. Especially for oil stored in plastic containers, high temperatures can cause plasticizers to dissolve into the oil. Not to mention, during sudden braking, the oil bucket rolls around and leaks, making the trunk sticky and hard to clean. If you really need to keep oil in the car, covering it with a sunshade can lower the temperature by about 10 degrees, but it's best to take it out the same day. Oil stored in the car long-term tends to bubble and produce black smoke when used for cooking, and can even cause diarrhea after eating. Once, my neighbor's car had oil spontaneously combust—heard that oil vapor can explode when encountering static sparks, which is terrifying.

[LeJulian]

The car is definitely not a good place to store oil. I've personally seen olive oil bottles left in the trunk swell up like balloons under the sun, with their caps popping off. Especially when parked in an open space, the windshield acts like a magnifying glass, concentrating heat—the dashboard thermometer once showed 71°C. Oils like peanut oil, which contain unsaturated fatty acids, oxidize particularly fast under high temperatures. Last week, while helping a friend move, half a bucket of cooking oil spilled in her car, soaking even the seatbelt slots, costing over 800 yuan in repairs. Plastic oil bottles also become brittle after prolonged exposure to sunlight, making them prone to cracking on bumpy roads. If you must temporarily leave oil in the car, wrapping the bottle in aluminum foil to reflect sunlight is recommended.

[AndrewFitz]

When I first bought my new car, I also loved stocking up on cooking oil in the trunk. That was until one time when I poured the oil and noticed white flocculent substances at the bottom of the bottle. The mechanic explained that large temperature fluctuations caused wax to precipitate, and this type of oil could produce acrylamide when used for high-temperature stir-frying. Now, I always use insulated bags to store oil bottles and place them under the driver’s seat with the AC on to keep them cool. I remember a news story a couple of years ago about an SUV brand recalling vehicles due to a circuit short caused by leaked cooking oil. Now, whenever I see oil barrels placed in the back seat, I can’t help but feel nervous for them. Honestly, keeping a small car fridge in the trunk is the safest bet—no worries about oil spoilage even on long trips.