Oil Problems and Fixes | Page 2 of 2

If you've ever wandered through the auto aisles at Walmart or AutoZone looking for the best motor oil, you know that the number of choices can be overwhelming. Quaker State is a motor oil company that's been in the business a long time--since 1931--but is Quaker State good oil? Keep reading to learn more about what makes Quaker State high-quality motor oil and where you can find it in stores. Key Takeaway Quaker State oil is good oil because it exceeds the requirements of GM Dexos. Is Quaker State Good Oil? Yes, Quaker State is good oil. Quaker State products surpass the requirements of GM Dexos, which is a rigorous testing standard for motor oils designed by General Motors. Only the highest-quality motor oils are allowed to use the Dexos label. Quaker State oil is durable, long-lasting, and budget-friendly. Using high-quality motor oil for your vehicle is essential for a long-lasting engine. Not only does the motor oil protects the engine from wear and corrosion, but it also helps the engine run at the correct temperature. With Quaker State motor oil, you don't have to worry about dirt and deposits floating around your engine. Regardless of whether your vehicle is relatively new, or you are trying to prolong the life of your current vehicle, Quaker State is the first line of defense against large repairs. Of all the oil available on the market, the formulation that provides the greatest durability is synthetic. Pure synthetic motor oil like the Quaker State, provides a lot of benefits for your engine. Today, most vehicles have smaller engines that are placed under greater demands including being supercharged and turbocharged. Having a high-quality motor oil is very important. The Quaker State oil is fully compatible with regular oil and you can switch to synthetic at any time. It also maintains viscosity better at a higher temperature than other motor oils on the market. Why I personally like Quaker State because it prevents the formation of deposits which is very bad for the engine. Plus, it is less volatile and prevents oil consumption better than conventional oils. The Best Of The Best: GM Dexos Requirements The Dexos standard was created by General Motors to help consumers decipher between standard and truly exceptional motor oil products. According to the GM Dexos website, motor oils with the Dexos label have increased performance when compared with conventional oil types. Here are some benefits of using Dexos-certified products: It moderates friction levels Keeps engine temperatures within the appropriate range It provides excellent lubrication It improves fuel efficiency Reduces piston deposits It reduces the buildup of sludge In addition to being high-quality oil, Dexos-licensed products are required in GM vehicles manufactured after 2011. In fact, not using Dexos-licensed motor oil in your GM vehicle can void the warranty. Quaker State products meet or exceed all of the GM Dexos requirements--meaning their quality far surpasses that of conventional oil products. You can't go wrong with using Dexos-licensed Quaker State motor oil. Quaker State's Other Quality Certifications While GM Dexos is the most stringent of quality tests in the industry, two other standards are worth mentioning: the International Lubricants Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) standard and the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard. These standards help to define motor oils that meet or exceed industry standards. Quaker State motor oils exceed the API and ILSAC requirements. When you're searching for API-grade motor oil, look for the API service symbol "donut," which certifies that the oil meets current API requirements. Motor oils that have the API certification mark "starburst" are even higher quality, surpassing the ILSAC requirements for reduced emissions and increased fuel efficiency. Types Of Quaker State Oils Before buying motor oil for your vehicle, it's important to know the different types that are offered and what they provide for your vehicle. Here are Quaker State's products, along with a brief description of their qualifications. Quaker State Motor Oil This is the most basic Quaker State oil--but still incredibly high quality. Oil type: Synthetic blend Price for one quart: $4.79 on Amazon Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: Yes Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: No Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: No Meets European vehicle specifications: No Quaker State High Mileage Motor Oil This oil is similar to the Quaker State, but it is formulated for high-mileage vehicles. Oil type: Synthetic blend Price for one quart: $5.66 at Amazon Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: Yes Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: Yes Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: No Meets European vehicle specifications: No Quaker State Full Synthetic Motor Oil This is Quaker State's base fully-synthetic oil. Oil type: Full synthetic Price for one quart: $5.96 at Walmart Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: Yes Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: No Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: Yes Meets European vehicle specifications: No Quaker State High Mileage Full Synthetic Motor Oil This is Quaker State's high-mileage synthetic oil, specially formulated for engines with more than 75,000 miles. Oil type: Full synthetic Price for one quart: $5.56 at Walmart Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: Yes Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: Yes Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: Yes Meets European vehicle specifications: No Quaker State Euro Full Synthetic Motor Oil This synthetic oil is specifically for European vehicles. Oil type: Full synthetic Price for one quart: $5.56 at Walmart Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: Yes Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: No Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: Yes Meets European vehicle specifications: Yes Quaker State All Mileage Motor Oil This oil is formulated to work with all vehicles, regardless of mileage. Oil type: Synthetic blend Price for one quart: $4.98 at Amazon Combats engine sludge: Yes Reduces wear: Yes Decreases oil breakdown: No Conditions seals to reduce the number of leaks: Yes Prevents damage from temperature fluctuations: No Meets European vehicle specifications: No Quaker State: A Decorated History Quaker State originated in Oil City, Pennsylvania in 1931. Its home state is where the company name came from: Pennsylvania is called the Quaker State. Quaker State was headquartered in Pennsylvania until 1995 when the company made the move to the Lone Star state. The company cited a shift in its operations to the southwestern United States as its reasoning for leaving Pennsylvania. After experiencing rapid growth in the 1970s and 1980s, Quaker State experienced setbacks in the early 1990s. After being named the second most popular motor oil company in the United States, sales plummeted and profits became nearly extinct. In 1998, Quaker State was purchased by its rival, Pennzoil. The companies merged to become Pennzoil-Quaker State Company. In 2002, Pennzoil-Quaker State Company was purchased by Shell Oil Company, which now sells the products separately as Pennzoil and Quaker State. Roadblocks To Success Combined with leadership issues in the mid-to-late 1900s, Quaker State developed a reputation for causing sludge buildup in engines, especially in the 1970s. Unfortunately, this rumor has held strong in the minds of many even into the 21st century. Thankfully, the motor oil industry has improved significantly since the 1970s--Quaker State included. Advancements in technology have allowed for motor oil to prevent sludge instead of causing it, keeping engines running sometimes even up to 300,000 miles. Changes in manufacturing and leadership have also positively affected the quality of Quaker State motor oil. Shell is regarded as one of the highest-quality motor oil companies; both brands manufactured by Shell, Quaker State, and Pennzoil, exceed the strictest industry quality requirements. Where To Buy Quaker State Motor Oil Now that you know Quaker State is one of the highest-quality motor oils on the market, you may be wondering where you can purchase it. Another perk of Quaker State motor oil is that it is readily available at most retailers. If you're purchasing online, here are the companies who offer Quaker State products: Advance Auto Parts Walmart Pep Boys Amazon Autozone If you're searching for Quaker State in person, you can try any of the above options. Other retailers often carry limited quantities of Quaker State as well. Final Thoughts It doesn't matter whether you drive a 1995 Ford pickup or a 2020 Audi because Quaker State has quality motor oil options for you. Quaker State has been a leader in the motor oil industry for nearly 100 years. In recent decades, the quality of their product has improved even more; you can't go wrong with putting Quaker State motor oil in your vehicle.