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Is the Cheaper Costco Kirkland Oil Miserly on the Additives Your Car’s Engine Needs?

Cheaper oil begs the question “Is my car engine getting the additives it needs to ensure long-lasting performance when buying a less expensive motor oil?” Here’s one analysis comparing Kirkland motor oil with Mobil 1.
Is Cheap Motor Oil from Costco OK?

Can You Put a Price on Your Car’s Motor Oil?

The current view today when it comes to maintaining your new car is to follow the advice of being sure to change your motor oil every 5,000 miles. However, with extra oil changes comes the extra expense of following this advice―especially if your car manufacturer recommends a particular brand that is pricier than most.

Related article: Thinner Oil Warning for New Car Owners

Additive Engine Protection

Aside from price, one of the key factors that differentiates one motor oil from another is the additives used to protect your car’s engine.

Motor oil additives are used to enhance the performance and properties of motor oil in various ways. Some common purposes of motor oil additives include:

Engine protection: Additives can help protect engine components from wear and tear by providing additional lubrication and reducing friction between moving parts.

Cleaning: Certain additives help to keep the engine clean by preventing the buildup of deposits, sludge, and varnish inside the engine. This helps maintain engine efficiency and prolongs its lifespan.

Temperature stability: Additives can improve the viscosity index of motor oil, ensuring that it remains stable across a wide range of temperatures. This helps maintain proper lubrication and engine performance in both hot and cold conditions.

Corrosion prevention: Some additives contain corrosion inhibitors that help protect metal surfaces inside the engine from rust and corrosion, especially in harsh environments or when the engine is exposed to moisture.

Seal conditioning: Additives can help condition and rejuvenate seals and gaskets, helping to prevent leaks and maintain proper engine performance.

Fuel economy: Certain additives claim to improve fuel economy by reducing friction and improving engine efficiency, although the effectiveness of these claims can vary.

Emission control: Some additives are designed to help reduce harmful emissions produced by the engine, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, by improving combustion efficiency.

Overall, motor oil additives can play a crucial role in maintaining the performance, efficiency, and longevity of an engine when used appropriately and in conjunction with high-quality motor oil. For most care owners, it is essential to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines when selecting and using motor oil additives to avoid potential compatibility issues or adverse effects on engine performance.

However, from a DIY car maintenance perspective for owners who take the time and energy to really understand what their motor oil is or is not doing for their car, there is an opportunity open to car owners to put their recommended oil to the test and see how it compares to brands that could save them a significant amount of money in the long run―especially if you change your oil every 5,000 miles.

Cheap vs Expensive Motor Oil Comparison Test

That was the message in a recent Enthusiasts Garage YouTube channel episode where the host―an owner of a 2015 Toyota Corolla―admits to changing his engine oil every 10,000 miles. However, he backs his decision based on experience and the fact he takes his car’s engine oil needs seriously by having his motor oil analyzed.

Follow along with the host in the video below and find out what he discovered as he pits the more expensive Mobil 1 motor oil against Costco’s Kirkland brand after using Mobil 1 the first 150,000 miles of his car’s life and the Kirkland oil in the following 160,000- and 170,000-mile oil change intervals.

Related article: Warehouse Discounted Gas You Should and Should Not Buy

Oil analysis was performed by Blackstone Laboratories and revealed in a printout showing how the two motor oils compared with trace metal wear data and additive levels detected between each brand.

The Value of This Video

The value of this video is that it not only shows whether there are differences between the additives used in both motor oils, but that when it comes to other implied question of whether oil changes should be 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles (or more) it really depends on your personal driving conditions as the host explains when more frequent motor oil changes really does matter.

That said, here is the video that is well worth watching and considering your future motor oil purchasing.

Comparing Costco Kirkland Oil to Mobil 1 After 10,000 Miles

 

For additional articles related to motor oil, here are three for your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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