For a warehouse retailer famous for selling items in endless bulk, imposing strict purchasing limits is a massive red flag. But if you plan on doing a driveway oil change this weekend, you are in for severe sticker shock.

As The Drive originally reported, Costco has officially started rationing its motor oil to combat a rapidly deteriorating global lubricant shortage.

The days of grabbing cheap bulk oil are over. A 10-quart box of Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil, which historically retailed for a bargain-basement $30, has skyrocketed to $58. More concerningly, Costco has implemented a strict two-box-per-customer weekly limit. Name brands aren't faring much better; a six-quart case of Mobil 1 is currently sitting at $44, with purchases capped at five per member to prevent hoarders and scalpers from clearing the shelves.

While it's easy to blame corporate greed for retail price hikes, this specific shortage is deeply rooted in international conflict.

Modern synthetic motor oil relies heavily on Group III base oils. Historically, the United States imports nearly 44% of its Group III supply directly from three major Persian Gulf producers: Bapco in Bahrain, ADNOC in the United Arab Emirates, and Pearl GTL in Qatar.

The ongoing military entanglement with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have effectively choked off these crucial exports. To compound the supply chain disaster, the massive Pearl GTL facility in Qatar sustained heavy damage from Iranian airstrikes in March 2026, instantly crippling a major portion of global production for at least a year.

Refineries Chase 40-Year Profit Highs
Typically, when Middle Eastern supply lines fracture, South Korean refiners step in to pick up the slack. Unfortunately, those refiners are currently struggling to secure raw crude oil themselves.

Furthermore, the petroleum industry is aggressively shifting its manufacturing priorities. Right now, global profit margins for diesel and jet fuel have hit staggering 40-year highs. Motor oil, diesel, and aviation fuel all originate from the same barrels of raw crude. Given the choice between producing essential base oils for passenger cars or cashing in on incredibly lucrative aviation and commercial diesel markets, refiners are overwhelmingly choosing the latter.

This geopolitical squeeze is hitting at the exact worst time for everyday drivers. Today's highly stressed, turbocharged, small-displacement engines require incredibly sophisticated oil chemistries to prevent catastrophic failure and comply with strict environmental standards.

Because modern engines are so sensitive, automakers demand rigorous chemical testing and licensing. General Motors, for example, requires vendors to pay double licensing fees (both per product and per unit sold) just to print the "Dexos-approved" badge on their packaging. This certification appears directly on Costco's Kirkland brand.

Combine a fractured Middle Eastern supply chain, international refiners chasing diesel profits, and the expensive licensing fees required for modern engines, and you have the perfect storm for empty shelves.

SOURCE: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/costco-just-put-purchase-limit-15000029

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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Modern synthetic motor oil relies heavily on Group III base oils. Historically, the United States imports nearly 44% of its Group III supply directly from three major Persian Gulf producers: Bapco in Bahrain, ADNOC in the United Arab Emirates, and Pearl GTL in Qatar.

The ongoing military entanglement with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have effectively choked off these crucial exports. To compound the supply chain disaster, the massive Pearl GTL facility in Qatar sustained heavy damage from Iranian airstrikes in March 2026, instantly crippling a major portion of global production for at least a year.

Sounds like someone needs to build train tracks across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. No matter where this current conflict goes, it would get everyone out of Hormuz where Iran can play games.

Mike

--- ScorpioWeb v0.38a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

On Mon 14-Sep-2026 4:06p, Mike Powell@1:2320/107.0 said to Rug Rat:

Sounds like someone needs to build train tracks across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. No matter where this current conflict goes, it would get everyone out of Hormuz where Iran can play games.

Interesting idea, but more than likely Iran would just bomb the tracks like the bombed the Saudia Arabia pipline that bypassed the SOH.

Trains can not carry as much as a ship can anyway.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
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Ham's Over IP - 104196
--- CNet/5
* Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)

Hello Mike!

** On Monday 14.09.26 - 16:06, Mike Powell wrote to Rug Rat:

Sounds like someone needs to build train tracks across Saudi Arabia to
the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. No matter where this current conflict goes, it would get everyone out of Hormuz where Iran can play games.

Train tracks would be just as easy/exposed target.

The Saudis' east-west pipeline is supposed to serve the purpose of bypassing the Hormuz Strait. The pipeline has been bombed by Iran.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: My Westcoast Point (1:153/757.21)

On Mon 14-Sep-2026 4:06p, Mike Powell@1:2320/107.0 said to Rug Rat:

Sounds like someone needs to build train tracks across Saudi Arabia to the
Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. No matter where this current conflict goes,
it would get everyone out of Hormuz where Iran can play games.

Interesting idea, but more than likely Iran would just bomb the tracks like the bombed the Saudia Arabia pipline that bypassed the SOH.

Trains can not carry as much as a ship can anyway.

The idea would be to have multiple trains carry the oil to a port where a ship could be loaded. A pipeline would probably work also. If Iran is bombing things in their territory, sounds like they need to retaliate.

Mike

--- ScorpioWeb v0.38a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

Hello Mike!

** On Monday 14.09.26 - 16:06, Mike Powell wrote to Rug Rat:

Sounds like someone needs to build train tracks across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. No matter where this current conflict
goes, it would get everyone out of Hormuz where Iran can play games.

Train tracks would be just as easy/exposed target.

Not nearly as easy as the ships stuck on the wrong side of the stait.

The Saudis' east-west pipeline is supposed to serve the purpose of bypassing
the Hormuz Strait. The pipeline has been bombed by Iran.

As I said in another message, if they are bombing things in other countries (and not just in the strait), sounds like someone should be retaliating to the point where they stop.

Mike

--- ScorpioWeb v0.38a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

On Tue 15-Sep-2026 3:13p, Mike Powell@1:2320/107.0 said to Rug Rat:

The idea would be to have multiple trains carry the oil to a port where a ship could be loaded. A pipeline would probably work also. If Iran is bombing things in their territory, sounds like they need to retaliate.

That would put them between a rock in the hard place with the rest of the Arab world and Opec. Remember who really started this thing. Kind of amazing that we haven't lost all our allies in the ME over this.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
Ham's Over IP - 104196
--- CNet/5
* Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)