Quaker State is calling for an end of today’s “Wear Wars” by challenging its motor oil competitors to a head-to-head motor oil comparison. Quaker State has issued a challenge to Mobil1, Valvoline and Castrol to prove that that no leading full synthetic SAE 5W-30 motor oil provides better wear protection than Quaker State Q HorsePower — not Castrol, not Valvoline, not Mobil 1.
“In recent months we have seen all of the claims going back and forth from some of the brands we have challenged claiming superiority over one another,” said Steve Harman, president, Quaker State Americas. “This must be confusing to consumers. Today, we hereby pledge to bring clarity to this ‘Wear War,’ by making public the scientific data that illustrates for consumers the actual wear rating of each brand’s full synthetic motor oil.”
Quaker State is so confident that none of its competitors’ currently available ILSAC GF-4 full synthetic motor oils are better at wear protection in the Sequence IVA test that it wants to prove it. A letter, penned by Steve Harman was sent to senior managers at Mobil, Castrol and Valvoline, and a reprint of that exact letter was published in a full-page advertisement in today’s edition of USA Today to make the motoring public aware of the challenge.
Quaker State has arranged for a respected, third-party applied research and development organization to conduct the one-time, unbiased ASTM Sequence IVA test. If the challenge is accepted, the independent testing firm Test Engineers Inc. will purchase off the shelf at a major national retailer the product that each brand respectively identifies for testing. The products will be marked as blind samples for the test.
Competitors have been given until Friday, March 27th at 5 p.m. EST to respond. If a competitor chooses to participate, the results of the test will be released publicly to end the “Wear Wars.”
Quaker State
Quaker State provides everyday drivers with a durable oil that can withstand the harsh conditions of everyday driving. In a time when value is more important than ever, Quaker State is offering consumers unsurpassed wear protection that helps maximize the performance of an engine at an affordable price.
In addition to lab testing, Quaker State’s Q Horsepower full synthetic has been tested in the harshest everyday driving conditions like those faced by New York City taxis. Quaker State full synthetic motor oil has been tested in a dozen New York City taxis – with some vehicles accumulating more than 200,000 miles and some experiencing extended oil drains.
These stringent testing environments provide the makers of Quaker State with the confidence to lay down the challenge.
Testing and the ASTM Sequence IVA
Quaker State has employed Southwest Research Institute and Intertek- independent, applied research and development organizations in San Antonio, Texas, to conduct the testing of each of the commercially available full synthetic motor oils.
The ASTM Sequence IVA wear test is the accepted, industry standard method to measure the potential for wear in the valve train area and the level of protection against that specific type of wear. The lower the score in the ASTM Sequence IVA the better with 90 microns of wear being the maximum acceptable score to be ILSAC GF-4 and API SM certified.
The test uses a Nissan 4-cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft and fixed slider followers. The engine is run under conditions simulating extended idling. Wear is measured on the camshaft lobes. This is an ideal position to measure wear because fixed slider followers create a condition where the camshaft lobes rotate against the non-rotating followers, creating high contact pressures and a potential for wear.
For more information on this challenge, the ASTM Sequence IVA wear test, and the full line-up of Quaker State products, visit www.QuakerState.com.
