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Posted on 09/13/2026 10:29:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
I'm sure you've already noticed, but oil prices are getting downright absurd. Now, those inflated costs are coming for Costco's motor oil. The wholesale retailer may be known for its solidly low prices, but even it can't help the fact that Crude Oil is trading around $100 per barrel right now. Because of that, it's upping prices and tightening how much it'll sell to any one person.
While 10 quarts of Costco's Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil used to set you back $30, and you could buy as much as your heart desired, those days are over — for the time being, at least. That same oil now costs $57.99, and stores are limiting supplies to two per customer per week, according to The Drive.
While it's been par for the course for oil-related prices to increase, seeing them nearly double is unheard of. But as The Auto Wire explains, there's a good reason for it, and it all has to do with what makes the most money. Since motor oil comes from the same barrel as the gas and diesel that fuels our cars, refineries can make more money refining crude into fuel rather than the motor oil Costco sells to customers.
The chemistries of these oils have gotten far more sophisticated than they once were as they're tasked with dealing with ever-smaller engines pushing out ever-increasing amounts of boost. It has led to more rigorous testing and higher standards, making the oil more expensive. They've also got to contend with licensing fees that certain automakers force companies to pay to get their branding on the box. It's not a recipe for cheap oil, is it?
Why is this happening?
There are a few reasons as to why prices have gotten so high of late. Of course, you've got the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran and the fight over the Strait of Hormuz. That has been driving up prices on its own. However, there's now satellite imagery showing smoke in the vicinity of Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, according to Reuters. It has become a vital means for the kingdom to divert its crude exports from Hormuz, and if it goes down, that spells trouble for everybody.
Oh, and just to make things even more fun, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reached the island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, NPR reports. While it isn't as well known as Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb is another critical Middle Eastern shipping lane that, if disrupted, could send shockwaves to the global supply chain.
All of this has led to the price of diesel cracking $6 per gallon for the first time in history, with it sitting at $6.06, according to AAA. That also represents an 8-cent jump from just yesterday and a 21-cent increase from a week ago. Unless something changes quickly, I don't expect this trend to slow much in the coming weeks and months. Hell, President Trump doesn't either. He just said gas and oil prices won't come down until after the midterm election in early November, according to CNBC. We're biffed, man.
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I add maybe a quart every other month. More means you have a leak somewhere.
You don’t empty the used oil?
Wonder why this is unique to Costco and not other retailers?
Could be ring blow-by.....
[Conceptually a leak but doesn’t leave spots on the floor.]
I change it every few months (I forgot about that)
If the rings are bad it would be time to get the engine rebuilt if I the money, but I would probably trade it in instead.
Valve seals a possibility too.
Even a quart every 1000 miles is not historically a yuge problem. Been there, done that....
[Carried a box of oil quarts in no shortage of vehicles....]
if you’re delivering pizza or people you don’t wanna be adding oil every 4 days
No, but finding and buying a new vehicle is also a PITA.
Step up and monitor oil level daily.
It only takes a minute or two once you are set up to do it.
Buying a new vehicle takes hours.
And then one has to dispose of the old one.
If you hate the general design of the current vehicle and know of one you can replace it with that is much better, then maybe go4it.
If one really wants to consider Trump as diabolical, perhaps his real goal is to create an environment similar to post World War 2, in which the USA is the only major industrial economy still standing...
Granted, that does not explain the self-destruction part of the wrecking of Europe’s industrial base, but, Trump could just be taking advantage of it...
I don’t know if Trump could or even would cook up such a scheme on his own, but, Scott Bessent is another story. That dude...
I have a good supply of motor oil, but, I need to do a transmission fluid change, and there’s a slow leak somewhere in the power steering of our older Subie Outback... :-(
Hard to tank this Trump economy but oh how they try.
A repeat of the obvious to observe ‘2008 down in the mouth’ ploy is being tried again by the enemies of this country and their enimedia coconspiriters.
The midterm sour grape koolaid is being served and the Jim Jones analogy need be told.
Synthetic is your friend.
Wal-Mart had rows and end caps full of Mobil One “synthetics” aka hydrotreated group III vizbreaker base. $35 for the ESP or EP grades.
Saw 3 grades of Royal Purple the only Group IV base oil on the retail market at big boxes you can get Redline, Amsoil or Liquid Moly online but RP is the only PAO based Group IV left its $45 for 5 qts in the SAE / API lines the HPS will set you back $11 per qt and no 5qt jugs.
So it must be a supply line thing for those house Kirkland brand. Sam’s Club sells Mobil One in 6 qt cubes not 5qt jugs.
“Could be ring blow-by.....
[Conceptually a leak but doesn’t leave spots on the floor.]”
Look and smell for oily exhaust at the tailpipe. Over time the cylinder walls are scored which effectively channels oil up the cylinder wall past the damaged rings and into the combustion chamber.
The last car I had where I had to add oil between changes was a ‘61 Chevy Bel Air
No, ZERO, gas lines here. And plenty of oil at the stores.
The thing about price gouging any excuse works and you never have to lower the price.
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