ac expansion valve use by date?
 

I bought a new expansion valve as im getting the AC back to work and it has a use by date on it.. should i return this or ignore it?

It does seem odd to have an expiry date on such an item, but maybe most things have an expiry date based on their production date. Since it is still in a sealed bag, I'd think it was fine to use, bearing in mind that it's doubtful any of us have ever replaced the original ones in our cars and they would be over 10 years older than the part you have. Wait for MJs opinion.

To be honest what you say makes sense, plus there's no mention of changing it every XX years in the service book. I think I'll just stick it in :ROFL:

It makes sense on paint or perishable stuff like dessicant, but thats literally a filter with a tube in the middle. There's nothing in it to expire. I suspect its just got a lifespan for inventory control or legislation, in the same way a tin of beans or twinkies has a best before date even though they'll last a decade. In the case of Twinkies, the best date was just before they were invented :D

If it has an o-ring on it, it may be related to the o-ring cure date as rubber components should all be “lifed”.

I wouldn’t worry about it unless it decades out of date or the o-ring has gone hard/cracked.

Nick