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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to the
registration statement of Quaker State Corporation on Form S-3 (No. 333-33133)
of our report dated January 27, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated
financial statements and financial statement schedule of Quaker State
Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997, which report is included in the
Quaker State Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts."
 
                                              /s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
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                                            Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 
Dallas, Texas
April 9, 1998