Costco reportedly doubles Kirkland motor oil price and rations purchases
The reported increase comes as lubricant supply faces pressure from crude, fuel-market and certification costs.
Costco has reportedly raised the price of a 10-quart case of Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil from about US$30 to US$57.99, while limiting customers to two cases per week.
The changes were reported by Yahoo Finance, citing The Drive. Costco has not been directly confirmed in the supplied material. The retailer has also reportedly capped Mobil 1 purchases at five units per member, with six quarts priced at US$44.
The reported measures come amid pressure on lubricant supplies. Base oil shares crude inputs with petrol and diesel production, and stronger fuel margins can give refiners an incentive to favour finished fuel over lubricant production, according to The Auto Wire.
Testing and licensing requirements have added to costs. Kirkland’s 5W-30 carries GM’s dexos1 Gen 3 certification, while the API SP standard introduced additional laboratory testing, including checks related to low-speed pre-ignition in modern engines.
The wider oil market is also under strain. The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast to 102 million barrels a day in August and projected a third-quarter deficit of 1.8 million barrels a day. The supplied report also cited global inventory drawdowns and US diesel prices reaching US$6.06 a gallon.
At the reported Kirkland price, the savings from changing oil at home have narrowed, with the cost approaching what an independent repair shop would charge, according to The Auto Wire.
