--- title: "Costco Is Now Rationing Motor Oil Because the Global Shortage Is Getting Real" date: "2026-09-10" modified: "2026-09-10" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/costco-is-now-rationing-motor-oil-because-the-global-shortage-is-getting-real" categories: - "Aftermarket" - "Car Tech" - "Culture" - "News" --- # Costco Is Now Rationing Motor Oil Because the Global Shortage Is Getting Real ![Two-pack of Costco motor oil on sale]() *\Kevin Carter/Getty Images\* Here in 2026, everything is getting more expensive. So it probably won't come as any great surprise that even Costco, the wholesale retailer renowned for low prices and letting you return practically anything, in any state of use, at any time, for any reason, has tightened its purse strings with regard to its own motor oil. Not only does 10 quarts of Kirkland Signature full-synthetic [now cost $58]() when it used to go for as low as $30, but stores are now imposing a two-per-customer, per-week limit. The obvious culprit is supply—or, rather, a lack thereof. Demand remains strong as ever as global stock has [dwindled]() due to our ongoing Middle East entanglement. As *[The Auto Wire]()* highlighted in its own story unpacking the factors at hand, motor oil ultimately comes out of the same barrel that also gives us gasoline and diesel, and right now, refineries can earn more money finishing crude into gas compared to what Costco stocks on its shelves. We're all getting the short end of the stick at the pump as it is, so it's not difficult to imagine the pressure the motor oil market is facing. In the background, though, this is more than a matter of simple economics. Over the years, oil chemistries have gotten more sophisticated to cope with the stresses of tinier engines pushing bigger boost while also mitigating their environmental impact. That's led to more rigorous testing and higher standards, including a [set of rules by the American Petroleum Institute]() that took effect at the start of the decade. ![Note the Dexos 1 label that also appears on Mobil 1's packaging.]() *Note the Dexos 1 label that also appears on Mobil 1's packaging. *Kevin Carter/Getty Images** Plus, some companies—namely [General Motors]()—have found clever ways to monetize that validation. Dexos is GM's label that appears on Costco's house-brand packaging. Any vendor that wishes to market their oil as Dexos-approved, which the automaker unsurprisingly strongly advises for its own vehicles, must pay the company [two licensing fees](): per product and per unit sold. GM's shrewd little maneuver here is nothing new, as Dexos has been a thing for over 15 years now, but the criteria associated with it and similar programs used to be the exception for especially demanding engines, not the rule that they've become. Roll it all together, and that's how we get to a place where 10 quarts of old Kirkland Signature costs $58, and six quarts of Mobil 1 is going for $44. Yeah, you're still getting a deal by going for Costco's own product, but it's nothing like the one shoppers could get just a few weeks ago. Consider that the retailer is also limiting how much Mobil 1 you can buy, but the cap there is only five per member. *Got a news tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()