Updated on November 1, 2023

The oil refinement business is extremely competitive and nowadays only the biggest companies are able to stay relevant. Costco is one of the largest wholesale distributors but even so, their Kirkland comes at a suspiciously low price. So who makes it, and is it any good?

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Kirkland motor oil is a Costco wholesale brand, but it’s actually made by Warren Oil. Warren also makes oil for Walmart’s Supertech brand and Amazon Basics motor oil. Kirkland motor oil is very good despite being very cheap, but it’s outperformed by the top-tier brands.

Who Makes Costco’s Kirkland Motor Oil?

It’s an open secret that Costco doesn’t actually make any of their Kirkland products. Their production is delegated to various manufacturers, labeled Kirkland, and sold in Costco at very good prices.

You can find a premium brand and Kirkland product shelved next to each other, with their contents being identical. The trick is figuring out who the manufacturer of the value brand is, as that information is often kept a secret.

With Kirkland motor oil, we’re certain that it’s produced by Warren Oil. The fine print on the back of the Kirkland oil jug says “Manufactured by Warren Distribution, Inc”. We can’t guarantee that Warren is the only manufacturer, but historically that has been the case.

Warren is not a well-known brand in the retail business, despite having a few retail options such as the Lubrigold, Lubriguard, Warren, and Coastal brands. Their main focus is on wholesale business where they supply a number of industries:

• Lubricant distributors
• Automotive aftermarket
• Convenience and grocery
• Mass merchandisers
• Original equipment manufacturers
• Industrial retailers and distributors

How Good Is Kirkland Oil?

Motor oil quality discussions are very opinionated and rarely backed by facts. Because cars cost so much and motor oil is so important, there’s a strong superstition that buying anything but the best puts the car at risk.

Kirkland motor oil gets a lot of undeserved flak just for being a Costco brand and very cheap. The typical argument is that going cheap on motor oil can damage the engine, but these claims have no basis in reality.

Kirkland is not the best oil on the market, but good and completely adequate for use in most vehicles. The highest oil standards it satisfies are the API SN PLUS and ILSAC GF-5, which are among the highest or among the highest currently. This is a guarantee that your engine will be protected from wear.

There is also a great unbiased and independent test done by Project Farm on YouTube. He compares Kirkland with SuperTech and finds that the two perform nearly identically – No surprise considering that they’re both likely made by Warren Oil.

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He ran the oil in his SUV for close to 4300 and sent it for testing afterward. The results showed that it performed very well, and that it was still fit for use, probably for a total of 5-6 thousand miles. I strongly suggest checking out his video as he’s one of the few trusted authorities on the subject.

Why Is Kirkland Oil So Cheap?

Costco is known for providing affordable, but not the greatest products under their Kirkland brand. Combined with the suspiciously low price, I can see how a lot of people would steer clear of their motor oil to avoid any risks.

I’ve already addressed the misconceptions in regard to the quality, so now let’s clear up any reservations regarding the pricing scheme.

Considering how spread-out Costco stores are, it’s safe to assume that Kirkland oil is made in huge quantities. The large demand makes it easier for Costco to leverage a better price from Warren, and get their oil at very affordable rates.

Another significant factor is the marketing. The reason you know of Valvoline, Mobil1, and Pennzoil is because their logos have been plastered on Formula 1, Nascar, and a bunch of other motorsport vehicles. They run ads, put up billboards and signs at mechanic shops, and do all kinds of marketing schemes to get ahead.

Marketing is a vital part of maintaining and growing a business, but it also makes for a significant expense. This cost is always transferred to us, one way or another. Costco does next to no marketing, so they can transfer those savings to the consumer.

There’s more to the pricing story, but the short of it is: Kirkland motor oil pricing isn’t suspicious in the slightest, and you should take full advantage of it.

Should You Use Kirkland Motor Oil

Costco’s Kirkland oils are made for standard gas-powered engines and are not fit for every vehicle, especially diesels. It lacks the long range, high mileage, performance, and extra protection variants that are offered by brands like Valvoline or Mobil 1.

Kirkland motor oil is available in three viscosities:

• 0W-20
• 5W-20
• 5W-30

So who is Kirkland oil for? I would say that despite the limited viscosity range and only one oil one synthetic oil type, Kirkland oil still has plenty of uses.

Changing the oil more frequently and at shorter mileage intervals matters a lot more than what brand of oil is used. With Kirkland, the engine will be perfectly fine for 5,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Combine the protection properties with a very low price, and Kirkland oil is a great choice for gas truck owners who cross a lot of miles every year. These trucks go in for an oil change multiple times a year, so by using Kirkland you can save a lot of money.

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Kirkland is also a good choice for people on a tight budget, as it makes it far more manageable to stay on top of the oil change intervals. It’s also nice for 20+ year old cars that have lost next to all of their value and where minimizing the upkeep makes a difference.

You should not use Kirkland motor oil in delicate or high-performance engines, as they are better suited for high-end oil that keeps them running smoothly. Unless your vehicle is known for engine trouble, you should be fine with Kirkland oil as long as you change it regularly.

How Does Kirkland Oil Compare to Other Brands?

Objectively comparing Kirkland oil with other motor oil brands is difficult because we have no tests or data to analyze. We’ll have to base our comparison on the track record and our experience with their products.

Kirkland oil goes head to head with Walmart’s Supertech and Amazon Basic motor oil. These brands are partially or fully supplied by Warren Oil, just like Kirkland, and we can suspect that they’re more or less the same.

I think that Kirkland oil can also compete with the basic oil range from Valvoline, Mobil 1, and Pennzoil. These cheaper, 5,000-mile oils should all perform similarly, and that’s where Kirkland can edge ahead with a much better price.

Kirkland oil comes in only one variant, and that’s where it really falls behind the big companies that focus solely on oil production.

It cannot compete with the 10,000+ mile, heavy-duty, and advanced protection oils made by the aforementioned brands as well as Royal Purple and Liqui Moly. I’m not sure if I would ever run any oil for more than 6,500 miles, but I’m sure these advanced formulas offer superior protection.

Conclusion

Costco’s Kirkland motor oil is manufactured by Warren Oil, a large oil company that supplies a number of store brands including Supertech and Amazon Basics.

Don’t let the low price scare you – Kirkland oil is good and perfectly adequate for use in gas-powered engines. As long as you change the oil every 4,000 – 5,000 miles, Kirkland oil will fully protect the engine and you should see no difference in how it runs.

However, if you want the very best for your engine, Kirkland is not it. With only 1 line of oil, Kirkland is outshined by most big names in the engine oil industry. Those options will cost you significantly more, but if you can stay on top of the service schedule, they’re just as worth it.

Here are some more articles for you to check out:

20W50 vs 10W40 Oil: What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?

Is Castrol Engine Oil Good: 2022 Review

Is Engine or Motor Oil Flammable?

Source: https://t-tees.com
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