A man says Costco’s motor oil has gotten so expensive that shoppers appear to be leaving it on the shelf.
TikTok creator @theclawboss recorded himself in Costco’s motor oil aisle after noticing something unusual for a Sunday. “Nobody’s buying the oil,” he says.
According to @theclawboss, the pallets are typically “half empty” by then because Kirkland Signature motor oil is usually a “hot seller.”
This time, he says, the shelves were still packed. Then he shows viewers the price: nearly $60.
@theclawboss says he used to swear by Costco’s oil and remembers buying the same amount for about $30. He even pulled up old receipts to show what he had previously paid.
“They raised the price by $20 overnight,” @theclawboss says of Costco.
“Costco motor oil prices are out of control!” he adds in the text overlay of his clip.
The price difference was enough for him to go shopping for oil elsewhere.
@theclawboss then pulled up Quaker State motor oil on Amazon, where he says he bought two five-quart containers for roughly $20 each. By comparison, he could get about twice as much oil for roughly the same price Costco charged for its Kirkland product.
That appeared to be the last straw.
@theclawboss says he no longer plans to renew his Costco membership when it expires, accusing the retailer of being “grimy” over the price increase.
As of this writing, his clip has more than 100,900 views.
Via TikTok direct message, he told Motor1, "I just think raising the price by $20 overnight was gouging. I work in a shop and we’ve barely raised our prices and we’re trying our best to keep costs down. Costco seems to be taking advantage of the market."
Has Motor Oil Gotten More Expensive?
@theclawboss isn’t imagining the jump in Kirkland motor oil prices.
Earlier this month, Fox News reported that Costco’s Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil has risen from roughly $30 to about $58 for a 5-quart package. Costco has also imposed purchase limits as motor oil prices and supply have tightened.
Costco is far from the only affected store. The Financial Times reported that prices for Group III base oil (the highly refined oil in synthetics) have surged amid supply disruptions tied to the Middle East. That has left retailers, including Walmart, and service shops facing tighter inventories. Some sellers have reacted by raising prices sharply.
That helps explain why Costco’s price could jump so quickly, even if it doesn’t make the increase any easier for shoppers to swallow.
But price also isn’t the only thing drivers should compare.
Costco says its Kirkland Signature 0W-20 full synthetic oil meets API SP and ILSAC GF-6A specifications, among others, and is approved for vehicles that require oil that meets those standards. Quaker State’s full synthetic 0W-20 similarly lists API SP-RC and ILSAC GF-6A specifications.
The American Petroleum Institute says its certification marks, also known as the “Starburst,” identify oils that meet specified performance requirements. In other words, a cheaper oil isn’t automatically worse just because it carries a different brand name, and drivers still need to make sure the viscosity and specifications match what their owner’s manual calls for.
Are People Turning On Costco Motor Oil?
Not everyone watching @theclawboss thought Costco’s oil price was outrageous.
“That’s 5.80 a quart. That’s not bad at all,” one person wrote.
Another pointed to the broader oil market.
“What do you think [is] gonna happen when crude oil goes up?” they asked.
One viewer from the US’ northern neighbor said they had noticed a similarly abrupt jump.
“It went from 54.99 to 69.99 up here in Canada overnight,” they wrote.
Others were less interested in defending Costco.
“Walmart has the cheapest oil,” one commenter wrote.
A few viewers questioned buying Kirkland motor oil in the first place.
“I definitely wouldn’t be putting Kirkland oil in my car lol,” another said.
“Who buys Costco oil?” another asked.
One commenter argued that the branding mattered less than people thought.
“All that oil is the same stuff. It’s all about marketing. Same with batteries. There [are] only a few battery manufacturers, and then everyone puts their labels on it,” they said.
And for at least one viewer, the price increase fed into a much broader frustration about the economy and politics.
“We are not winning!!! People need to WAKE UP,” they said.
Motor1 contacted Costco through its press request form. We’ll be sure to update this if it responds.
