Hyundai, Quaker State Pair up with Two Strong Warranties, One Weak One

Hyundai Motor America has announced a relationship with Shell Oil to recommend its Quaker State branded motor oils for Hyundai’s dealer network as part of a new lubricants program. Hyundai dealers participating in the Hyundai Lubricants Program will provide Quaker State branded motor oils for the vehicles they service. Hyundai also uses Quaker State as the primary supplier of initial motor oil for its vehicles as they roll off the assembly line.

Miles Johnson, a Hyundai spokesman, said, "The plan is to have 300 dealers enrolled in the lubricants program by the end of the year." There are approximately 800 Hyundai dealers in the U.S.

But the true value in the program could be the Quaker State warranty as Johnson pointed out. He said, quoting from Quaker State material, "The free Quaker State Lubrication Limited Warranty covers 15 critical engine parts for 10 years or 300,000 miles from your first qualifying oil change.

"In other words, for the first 10 years or 300,000 miles of your car’s life (whichever comes first), you’re covered. But that’s just the beginning. If you haven’t reached 300,000 miles within those first 10 years, you have until your car is 20 years old to cash in on the bonus.

"That’s right, reach 300,000 miles before your car is 20 years old using eligible Quaker State motor oils and [the company] will give you a check for the Kelley Blue Book trade-in value of your car—up to $3,000! AND you keep your car.

"And best of all, it’s fully transferable. So let’s say somewhere along the way you decide to sell your car. As long as the new owners continue to comply with the program, they’re still eligible for the engine warranty AND the bonus."

On the surface, there's an inherent bonus then to combining the Hyundai 10-year, 100,000-mile bonus and the Quaker State warranty except for one thing. You're probably not going to at this point reach 300,000 miles in a Hyundai (or most cars for that point). Over at About.com, I wrote about Long Lasting Used Cars, Trucks and SUVs. The list from iseecars.com doesn't include any Korean vehicles on it – and that's for used cars hitting the 200,000-mile mark. Might you hit the 300,000-mile mark with your Hyundai? Anything's possible but odds are Quaker State won't be cutting too many checks in the future.

By the way, if you're curious like I am, the current Kelly Blue Book value for a 1994 Hyundai Sonata GLS with a V6 would be $1158. I picked the V6 because I can't believe too many four-cylinder Hyundai engines are capable of hitting 300,000 miles, even with Quaker State oil in them.

The true value in all of this seems to be the lubrication limited warranty. Just like Hyundai's limited warranty, both companies are counting on you never having to use it. Warranty claims are expensive.