Costco has raised Kirkland motor oil to about $58 and limited members to two boxes weekly as rising oil prices squeeze supplies.
Costco is putting a new limit on how much motor oil shoppers can purchase as the warehouse retailer raises prices amid mounting pressure on global oil supplies.
The company has increased the price of its popular Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil to about $58 for a 10-quart package, while limiting members to two boxes per week. The change comes as crude oil prices surge and supplies of key ingredients used to make lubricants become increasingly strained.
Costco puts new limit on motor oil
Costco’s Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil, sold as a two-pack of 5-quart containers, has historically been a popular option for customers who perform their own vehicle maintenance.
The product is now listed at roughly $58, compared with approximately $30 last year. Costco is limiting customers to two boxes per membership each week, effectively capping the amount a shopper can purchase.
The retailer has also placed restrictions on another major motor-oil product.
Mobil 1 full-synthetic motor oil, sold in a six-pack of 1-quart containers for about $44, is limited to five per membership, according to the latest reports.
Why Costco is limiting purchases
The restrictions come as the global oil market faces significant disruption.
Brent crude climbed above $109 a barrel Monday as ongoing conflict in the Middle East continued to disrupt oil shipments. Brent had been below $72 in early July, highlighting the dramatic increase in crude prices over the past several months.
Motor oil is heavily dependent on Group III base oils, which are largely produced from crude oil. The United States imports more than 40% of these base oils from the Middle East, according to AP reporting.
That makes lubricant production particularly vulnerable when crude supplies and transportation routes are disrupted.
Motor oil prices nearly double
The Costco price increase represents a significant change for members accustomed to buying Kirkland motor oil at a discount.
A 10-quart package that previously cost around $30 is now approximately $58, meaning the price has risen by nearly 100% compared with the price shoppers had been paying.
The higher price could make do-it-yourself oil changes considerably more expensive for drivers who have relied on Costco’s bulk pricing to reduce maintenance costs.
The increase also comes as Americans are already paying more for gasoline and diesel.
Gas and diesel prices are also climbing
The broader energy crunch is being felt at the pump.
The national average price of regular gasoline has risen to nearly $4.32 per gallon, up from $4.08 a month earlier and $3.18 a year ago, according to AAA figures cited by AP. Diesel has climbed even higher, reaching about $6.23 per gallon nationally.
Higher fuel prices can also influence refinery decisions.
With gasoline and diesel commanding strong demand, refiners may have greater incentives to prioritize those products over motor oil, potentially putting additional pressure on lubricant supplies.
Other retailers could face pressure
Costco’s move raises questions about whether other major retailers will follow.
Walmart, Amazon and AutoZone had not indicated similar price increases or purchase restrictions in the latest reporting. The companies also had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
If supply constraints persist, however, motorists could see higher prices for motor oil across multiple retailers.
For Costco members, the immediate change is clear: one of the warehouse club’s familiar bulk-buying advantages has been reduced by both the higher price and the new weekly purchase cap.
Costco members face a changing shopping landscape
Costco is widely known for selling products in larger quantities at competitive prices, making purchase limits particularly noticeable to shoppers.
The new motor-oil restriction shows how supply disruptions can reach products far beyond the gas pump. A combination of elevated crude prices, strained lubricant supplies and strong demand for transportation fuels is now affecting a routine vehicle-maintenance product.
For drivers who regularly change their own oil, the new $58 price and two-box weekly limit could become an important consideration when budgeting for vehicle maintenance.
Whether the restrictions remain temporary or spread to other retailers will depend largely on how quickly global oil supplies stabilize. For now, Costco shoppers are being asked to buy less while paying considerably more.
Also read: LongHorn Steakhouse Responds to Viral Roach Video
