Biting the bullet in the Quaker "durability" game.

[j_mac]

I'm ready to buy the oil for my new Hyundai Accent's first oil change @7000-7500 mi.
The owner's manual recommends Quaker State, and Quaker has that 300,000 mi. deal where they pay you money if you make it to 300k and use their oil. The green bottle stuff is one of the cheapest available, so I was thinking about going with that in 5w-20. But I have some questions...
What is the difference in the green bottle, red bottle, and the syntheic they sell? Their names indicate different levels of "durability." What kind of nonsense is this? Is it like saying the green bottle really isn't all that good of an oil and the more expensive "durability" levels are? I mean I can see a synthetic holding up better in an extreme high-heat situation, but is the stuff in the red bottle really any better than the green bottle? Do you really need to switch to the red bottle when the car gets up to 75,000 miles?

And what is the deal where the red bottle stuff doesn't have ANY API certifications listed on the bottle? Is it an SN or GF-5 oil? I have no way of knowing without an API cerification.

Can someone help me decipher all this Quaker State marketing [censored]? This durability, that durability.
Wait. Does the Quaker 5w-20 return good Used Oil Analyses anyway?

Or should I use another 5w-20 that has a proven track record?

 

[Chris142]

The QS is an execelant oil. I'd rank it up there with PZ

 

[needsducktape]

Do what your owners manual says-

If your Accent is new, I would be more concerned with keeping it in spec for warranty purposes.

Buy a binder or file holder and store all your receipts with DATES and miles.

On a side note its also an excellent way to track how much you actually spend on your car AFTER the purchase.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

I only use Sopus products, in my truck, and parents cars. Red bottle is for higher mileage vehicles, green bottle is their basic conventional oil, and synthetic is just that, synthetic.
I use the green bottle in my mothers malibu and in my dads saturn. in my truck I normally buy the red higher mileage bottle as I was burning/or leaking roughly 1 qt every oci. The red bottle sealed the leaks, expanding the seals. I also only burn at most 1/4 a quart at every 3000 miles. I thought, I MAY be mistake as I am a newbie, that Motorcraft Dino/Synthetic blend is in fact QS Blended oil. The synthetic i am not so sure of. Never used it. right now I have Pennzoil High Mileage in my truck, after this knocks anything loose in the oil pan I am going to switch to QS blend for around 4000 miles then to either Quaker State or Pennzoil Full Synthetic.

regardless with that low of miles, you should try QS Green bottle. Its a great oil for a really good price. The best cheapest name brand you can buy.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

and I have gotten a used oil analysis on Quaker State High Mileage I ran for 5000 miles, on a cross country trip from FLA to Idaho. Came back better than some castrol, and valvoline ones I have seen changed at 3000. It depends on the oil yes, but it also depends on your car, the condition of the engine, driving conditions etc. not just 100% the oil

 

[tinmanSC]

Don't forget to sign up on their web site for their rebates. They are pretty good.

 

[pbm]

Green bottle is basic dino (and a pretty good one) and should be good for 5 or 6K.
Red Bottle is High-Mileage and not for your application.
Quaker State Ultimate Durability (synthetic) is an excellent synthetic and should be good for 7 to 10K......there that's the 'cliffs notes' on QS..

PS: j_mac: I looked at Hyundais today while the wife was shopping....they had a new basic 2012 Accent 4 door stick shift for $13300ish (12500+795? transportation).
It said 30 city/40 highway on the sticker..Do they deal a bit or charge sticker?
One Hyundai dealer added $$$ for paint sealant etc...like Honda used to.

 

[BigTallV]

QS green bottle was used in my 4 banger 4Runner for years.

Sleep well.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I too was always weary of Quaker State oils but everything I have heard on here says that they are great oils. I cant believe how much cheaper they are then the other ones, I may have to start looking into these instead of Valvoline and others that seem to be the same oil for 2-3 dollars more. I also have a Hyundai and until I came here never realized they reccomend the Quaker State I always used Valvoline most of the time becuase the dealer used it. Maybe mine will like the Quaker State better and I know my wallet will.

 

[Eosyn]

I don't know, I used to use Quaker State Conventional in my '97 Chevy Corsica 2.2L. On the highway, the engine sounded rough, like it was "roaring" really loud.

I switched over to Valvoline conventional on the advice of my father-in-law and the engine (on the highway) hummed along better, not as loud and felt better. It could just be me

Used Valvoline brand (maxlife and Synpower) for about 8 years until I came here and found out that most everyone on here really likes Pennzoil so I finally went out and bought some tonight (Pennzoil conventional, since it is $3-4 less than valvoline in the 5+qt jugs). I'm hoping that Pennzoil lives up to the reputation that it has here

 

[daves87rs]

Still good stuff regardless...

 

[tommygunn]

I'd definitely use the QS Green Bottle...... The QS red bottle is "High Mileage" and for vehicles over 75k....the "idea" here, appears to be that QS did some quite crafty "cost cutting" for their High Mileage oil line; they figure, most people who are using "High Mileage" oil, are no longer "under warranty" and thus no need to look for the "donut"

BUT, be rest assured, it's still quality Oil! BUT, I would stay away from it. personally, I'm not a big believer in "High Mileage" oils.

The QS 3,000,000 mile stone is kinda neat, but read the fine print closely, it's not guaranteeing you 3 grand for your car that you make to 3000000 miles.....they will give you the KBB value of your vehicle at the time of redemption; but no MORE THAN $3000

But [censored], It still can't hurt, IMHO. Even my 88 Dodge is said to be a little over $3000 per the KBB value....

So clearly, it is marketing at it's best, they got you "locked in" to 3-4k mile oil changes....and yes, make sure you document the oil changes thoroughly if you decide to claim the $3000

They will want those receipts, etc....and I believe they have a section on their site to help you "log" your OCIs as well....but if I recall, you had to have the OCIs done at 3k, with a 1k "grace period" which to me, sounds like 4k....? But you may want to inquiire their legal team!

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn

So clearly, it is marketing at it's best, they got you "locked in" to 3-4k mile oil changes....and yes, make sure you document the oil changes thoroughly if you decide to claim the $3000

They will want those receipts, etc....and I believe they have a section on their site to help you "log" your OCIs as well....but if I recall, you had to have the OCIs done at 3k, with a 1k "grace period" which to me, sounds like 4k....? But you may want to inquiire their legal team!

Reading this on QS web site;

Quote:
Change your vehicle’s oil and oil filter at least as often as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer


Very FEW vehicles come with a 3-4k recommended OCI so they don't have you "locked" into a 3-4k OCI.

Follow the manual and you are fine with QS and their program. No shorting of OCIs to 3-4k if not needed.

Bill

 

[j_mac]

I was looking at the rules of the Quaker State 300,000 mi. cash back game and I have some questions.

They want you to use their "specialty" oil after 100,000 mi. You can't use the green bottle "Advanced Durability" or the deal is apparently null and void. Does this indicate that the green bottle oil isn't good enough to run the engine on and expect it to last?

This game has me frustrated. Makes me wonder about doing my new cars first oil change with green bottle since they act like it wont make the engine last or something.

Can someone help me make sense of this game they're playing?

Or better yet, can someone tell me a 5w-20 oil that has a proven track record and good documented used oil analyses. ? Then I'll just drop this game and run an oil I can trust to protect my new engine for the long haul.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: j_mac
I was looking at the rules of the Quaker State 300,000 mi. cash back game and I have some questions.

They want you to use their "specialty" oil after 100,000 mi. You can't use the green bottle "Advanced Durability" or the deal is apparently null and void. Does this indicate that the green bottle oil isn't good enough to run the engine on and expect it to last?


At least in the Canadian program, Quaker State Conventional let's you into the big warranty, but not the cash back thing. For that, you need to buy the big bucks stuff. SOPUS is simply banking on people spending more money on very conservative OCIs. Few will make it, and it will tend to be something else killing the car, rather than any lube related failures. Others won't keep the right records, others will give up, others will be sold.

As for whether or not Quaker State conventional will do the job? Well, this is many years later, but I managed a number of taxis in the 1980s and 1990s, running Quaker State conventional 10w30, for a combined mileage in the millions. One particularly shone, a 1981 Chev Impala with a 305. It went over 600,000 miles, all on Quaker State conventional with 6,000 mile OCIs.

 

[JasonC]

I doubt very seriously that SOPUS will ever have to pay a dime on this "marketing gimmick".

 

[SteveSRT8]

BIG marketing gimmick. I can't believe anyone really takes this seriously.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: GumbyJarvis
I thought, I MAY be mistake as I am a newbie, that Motorcraft Dino/Synthetic blend is in fact QS Blended oil.


Motorcraft doesn't make a dino, its either synblend or full syn. It is not QS/SOPUS as it is manufactured by Conoco Phillps. CP aslo makes Kendall, Trop Artic, and Hondas oil.

 

[dwendt44]

I see Valvoline has a similar 'guarantee'.

https://valvoline.promo.eprize.com/engineguarantee/

 

[3putter]

biting the bullet?? Sounds painful. No pain involved with using QS. Green bottle is fine in your appln.