Quaker State - back in the day

[mercuryblues]

Hey guys,

I was just on EBay looking at the Quaker State memorabilia. Now I knew that more than 25 years ago (and for many years) they had several versions of their passenger car oil, namely the regular version, DeLuxe, Super Blend and Sterling. Does anyone know what was the main difference between each one? I do remember them in the stores but I was very young at the time. Thanks!

 

[Johnny]

DeLuxe was their 10w30, Super Blend was their 10W-40, and Sterling was 10w30 and 10W-40 with a boosted additive package.

 

[Johnny]

I might have those first two reversed.

 

[TTK]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I might have those first two reversed.

I think super blend was 10w30.

 

[mercuryblues]

Thanks Johnny and TTK! Also about the regular version of Quaker State? Was that a straight-weight oil?

 

[troyb43]

I seem to remember a 10-20W-30, and a 20W20 back in the late 60's and early 70's

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: mercuryblues
Thanks Johnny and TTK! Also about the regular version of Quaker State? Was that a straight-weight oil?


Yes, SAE 20W-20, 30W, 40W, and 50W.

 

[Slick17601]

Yup, Super Blend was 10w30. I used it for my first oil change at the age of 14. Then changed to Pennzoil because they had the nice, round plastic bottles. I still wish I had one of those.

 

[edhackett]

Super Blend was also available in a 20W-40. I first started looking at oil product data sheets back in 1984 when I purchased my first new car. Super Blend was my choice. I ran 10w30 in the winter and 20W-40 in the summer.

Ed

 

[addyguy]

Back in those days, QS was the no. 1 oil in America.

I'd imagine a lot of vehicles were running on it.....

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
DeLuxe was their 10w30, Super Blend was their 10W-40, and Sterling was 10w30 and 10W-40 with a boosted additive package.



Yep, thats what I used! QS Sterling 10W40. Never had a lick of trouble on it either. I even ran it until there was no oil on the dipstick! I heard all of this noise,and the car started shaking (at a red light) drove .5 mile home real slow, but made it!

 

[engineerscott]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Back in those days, QS was the no. 1 oil in America.

I'd imagine a lot of vehicles were running on it.....


Yep, and they all gummed up because of the candle wax they used to make it from.

 

[maersk]

20w40?!

And here I thought 15w40 was primeval.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: maersk
20w40?!

And here I thought 15w40 was primeval.




I bought a case of that oil back in the mid 90`s from the Chevy dealer I worked for. And ran it in my 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra with the 3.0 Buick V-6. It ran GREAT in that hot running motor!

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: engineerscott
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Back in those days, QS was the no. 1 oil in America.

I'd imagine a lot of vehicles were running on it.....


Yep, and they all gummed up because of the candle wax they used to make it from.

Many old mechanics called the stuff "Quaker Sludge" and said it left more stuff garbage to the oil pan when compared to others.

Sometimes I would pour current Quaker State in a car, and the old guys would freak out about it. I would say "The minimum standards now are far tougher than they were when you called it Quaker Sludge. How can it possibly fill my engine with garbage if I change it on time."

 

[TTK]

That wasn't sludge...it was "fatty acids".
Super Blend was labeled 10w-20w-30 HD

 

[teddyboy]

I worked in an independent garage when in high school as the gopher and helper on the parts counter. The mechanics hated Quaker State to a man, saying that it caused sludge. The consensus was that it just had too much soap in it. Years later when I received some statistical training I began to realize the likely culprit as to why they observed so much sludge in QS engines. QS was a very popular brand with considerable advertising. Among people who knew little about cars, it was probably the most recognizable and most frequently chosen brand. Poor maintenance habits were probably common among this group of casual car care people.

 

[Quest]

Urban legend perpetuates in this automobile society where ignorance leads to casual blaming (to avoid responsibility, simple!).

Folks regularly neglect their cars of scheduled maintenaces such as oil changes (and then blame the oil for causing sludge), tune ups (then blame the car manufacturer(s) for making sheety cars); valve lash adjustments (then blame the car manufacturers for "cheepening" on hardened valves, etc.

Sometimes it is hard to live in a society where folks made mistakes and instead of taking on full accountability (unconditionally), but to blame somebody else for that matter (sometimes even going as far as pursuing it as a form a lawsuit) beyonds me.

Q.

 

[addyguy]

In reference to the 20W-40 mentioned...Johnny has said that when Pennzoil made a 20W-40 in the 1960's thru 1980's, it was one of the best oils Pennzoil made.

I can imagine...not too thick, and very shear stable.