Costco is limiting how much motor oil you can buyNewsNationAndrew DornMon, September 14, 2026 at 4:35 PM UTCAdd us on Google(NewsNation) — Costco has raised the price of its Kirkland-brand motor oil and started limiting how much customers can buy.A 10-quart case of Kirkland Signature full synthetic motor oil is now $58 on Costco's website, after hovering in the mid-$30s for years, according to The Auto Wire.Customers are currently limited to two cases per week, as stated in bold on the product page.The Auto Wire said there are generally two reasons a retailer like Costco caps purchases: it doesn't think it can keep a product in stock, or the profit margin has gotten so thin that letting customers buy an entire pallet no longer makes financial sense.AdvertisementAdvertisementNewsNation has reached out to Costco for more information about the price increase and how long the purchase limit will last. Diesel hits $6 for first time. What it could mean for the economy Why did Costco raise motor oil prices and limit purchases?Several factors are at play, but supply challenges are the most "obvious culprit," according to The Drive, which pointed to dwindling global stocks amid the "ongoing Middle East entanglement.""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," The Drive wrote.AdvertisementAdvertisement How often should you change synthetic oil? Both automotive publications said higher quality standards and more rigorous testing since the start of the decade have also put upward pressure on costs."Automakers spent the last decade chasing fuel economy by shrinking engines and bolting on turbochargers," The Auto Wire wrote. "The oil industry's answer was a chemically more complicated product built to keep those smaller, harder-working engines from eating themselves."None of that complexity is optional anymore, and none of it is free."Will oil changes be more expensive?Costco's move matters most for those who do their own oil changes at home to save money.AdvertisementAdvertisement"A DIY full-synthetic change built around a Kirkland twin-pack and a filter now runs close to what many independent shops charge for a synthetic-oil service, narrowing the gap that used to make the driveway worth the trouble," The Auto Wire wrote.The auto publication added: "It matters even more for owners of engines with well-documented oil-consumption quirks, where topping off between changes adds up faster than the price of one case suggests."Costco also sells Mobil 1 full synthetic motor oil. A six-pack of 1-quart bottles of 5W-30 was priced at $43.99 on Monday, with a limit of five per membership.It remains to be seen whether other major retailers that sell motor oil, like Walmart, Amazon and AutoZone, will raise prices or set purchase limits. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press.AdvertisementAdvertisementCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.