COSTCO Engine Oil

Does anyone know who makes the engine oil for COSTCO? Wifey is on my case to start buying oil from COSTCO. (For my T4R, so it would be 0W-20 Synthetic)

I have been a diehard VALVOLINE user for decades, but she is on a penny pinching kick.

I haven’t priced COSTCO oil yet, so I’m not sure just how many pennys we would actually be saving, not to mention the quality of the oil- I don’t want to cause long term harm to my “bullet proof” legendary 4.0L V-6. (2022 model)

I am changing my own oil at home, on a 5,000 miles or 6 month / whichever comes first change interval regimen. I am using oil filters purchased direct / locally from my Toyota dealer.

Is anyone here using COSTCO 0W-20 synthetic in their fifth gen T4R, with any degree of confidence? I also plan on holding on to my ‘22 T4R ‘til death do we part, so I don’t want to regret it down the road if I use COSTCO oil. It’s not used / recycled oil, is it????

Is it safe, or should I run like the wind from it, and stick to my guns and stay with VALVOLINE?

Thanks.

 

Short answer: Your fine. Long answer: Your fine.

Without a deep dive i would venture to guess that the Costco oil meets the exact same specs and tested to the same standard as the Valvoline oil you're currently using. Plus your oil change interval is so frequent (same as mine) you'll be fine.

Save the money, keep the oil change interval and go for Costco oil.

 

Oh sneaky Googs. Giving answers.
Ive used it multiple times and been just fine at next change.

 

It’s good oil. Can’t beat the price either. Use it with confidence

 

I've been a valvoline oil guy also. But I started using super tech from Walmart. I also use toyota filter I buy off Amazon. An oil change costs me around $25.

 

It’s good stuff.

 

I'd run it with confidence, especially with a 5K iinterval.

Ditto the SuperTech stuff from Wallyworld.

 

Warren is where Costco and many other manufacturer oils come from. Project Farm ran a test on multiple oils and for everyday use, it won’t make much of a difference.

I have been using Kirkland oil for years on all of my cars. The only issue that I have had in the past with Costco, was that it was only available in 5 quart jugs. They solved that and you are now able to buy in 12 quart cases online.

 

Big fan, only deviation I might make from my pile of Kirkland Signature 0W-20 is for a 250k mile Accord (oil leaks, some seals just fixed), but it seems to be happy still.

There’s an in-warehouse High Mileage 5W-30 but I’ll probably continue with 0W-20 unless I notice anything.

Edit: I usually wait for the occasional sale. I believe last time it came down to $30/10 Qt

 

Have you priced the 5 Qt jugs at walmart? Usually very low.
Buy 2 jugs and you can save unused oil for next change when you only need 1 new jug.
I also get my filters from local dealer.

 

It’s good oil.

 

All righty then. Having read everyone’s comments and blessings here, I’ve already gone to our local COSTCO and I bought two cases, at $35.99 / case. “Kirkland Signature Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20 Motor Oil. I’m stocked up for a while now, lol.

Thanks to all who replied putting my mind at ease.

 

Beware of "AI" and similar large-language model/generative answers as the first (and last) stop for truth!

The technology is great at creating correctly-written text in response to a prompt but problems is that randomness is inherent and the training data quality varies. (and that's before touching the human, social, political, financial pressures at play too. https://kaveland.no/posts/2025-06-06-library/)

 

Personally i think its an upgrade vs Valvoline, but 1/2 in one 1/2 in the other. In the end wont make one bit of difference if you do 5k oil changes.

 

Kill yourself over a USB? seems kinda extreme, but hey if the interwebs says to.

 

I started buying Walmart Supertech. Under 20$ for 5qt If I remember correctly.

 

He didn't???

 

I’ve been using their 0w-20 for many years in my 4runner and the wife’s RAV4. It removes the contaminants from the engine just fine. Also, I doubt that Costco would put so much risk in selling an inferior product that is critical for their customers.

 

https://youtu.be/e8dCFcF0qBQ?si=nGflcBo9f-HWTbBE

 

I use it, seems good to me

 

According to Oil Geek testing, Napa Oil (made by Valvoline) had fewer wear metals in the oil analyses when compared to the Costco/Walmart oil made by Warren Distribution. Napa's oil had more Moly in its additive package.

They were all pretty close though.

 

This brings up one of my favorite quotes. The people who analyze oil for a living, Blackstone Labs, say in their FAQs: "Oil is oil." Meaning as long as whatever you use meets the manufacturer's standard - and you change it regularly - you're good. Of course there are differences between brands, but choosing one over the other will not provide any significant advantage in performance, mileage, or longevity. It's actually just like gas - different blends at different places but as long as you use the minimum octane for your engine, it's fine.

 

The gas analogy is not a good comparison. Using Top tier gas has a larger benefits over time vs one quality synthetic oil over another. But yeah the general octane levels don't matter if you use the minimum.

 

Agree, but that’s drilling down a little. The comparison I was making was more along the lines of using what’s appropriate for your vehicle.

 

About that... Top Tier has been a pay-to-play racket for some time, so even major gasoline brands have dropped out of participation.

 

Very interesting. Looked it up and yes, the Top Tier name and a listing on their website requires a licensing fee. So other stations/brands may meet the standard but choose not to pay the fee.

Always be leery of certifications like this. I worked in a public safety dispatch center that bragged about being among just 2% that had earned whatever certification. Discovered the reason why it’s only 2% is b/c the standard requires every 911 call to be evaluated and graded. Many jurisdictions likely meet every other criteria but few can or will pay a F/T position to do that. Our evaluator was a fire captain making $80K a year.

 

Makes sense you would have to pay to have a top tier gas, not aware of brands that dropped out of participation that still are top tier? Wonder with all the testing top tier vs regular why they have never never found a regular tier preform like a top tier? Would be good to know who they are.

 

^Common brands not part of Top Tier, according to: https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

US: BP, Speedway

Canada: Esso, Husky (formerly Sunoco), Petro Canada, Ultramar, Valero

Interestingly, Exxon pays to be part of Top Tier while its Canadian counterpart Esso (phonetic "S.O." i.e. Standard Oil) quit paying a few years ago.

 

Good to know, yeah it appears BP is not on the list but has the top tier additives still. Speedway didn't/doesn't use top tier additives though? Esso/Exxon is a strange one, maybe Esso is not going to be using additives going forward, same with BP?