In the engine oil industry, Kirkland is most certainly a new name. While Castrol and Mobil 1 have been leading the market for years, Kirkland Oils came as a surprise for vehicle owners being very affordable while not compromising on the quality of the oil.

As a result, who makes Kirkland motor oil has been one of the most explored questions among motor oil customers.

Look no further because we are here to answer all the questions about who makes them; if they are worth the money, the best lower cost oil on the market?, and many more. Let’s get started!

What Company Makes Kirkland Motor Oil?

Warren Distribution, a USA-based company makes Kirkland motor oil. Warren Distribution was founded in 1922 by James Schlott. As it is a family-owned business, currently his grandson Robert Bob Schlott is running the company. 

In the United States, Warren Distribution is standing at the very top of the tree as one of the largest blenders of private oil in the USA. They also have their own trademarked brands including Warren, Lubriguard, Autoguard, Itasca, Coastal, LubriGold and Saxon.

Aside from Kirkland’s oil manufacture, they are also producing oils for some other renowned engine oil brands. They mainly produce car motor oil, heavy-duty engine oil, industrial oils, and greases. Warren Distribution makes SuperTech Oil, Amazon Oil and now Kirkland Oils.

Furthermore, they serve a wide variety of engine oils that are produced in their 2,000,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution facility in Iowa, West Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. 

Warren’s headquarters are situated in Omaha, Nebraska, USA employing only around 300 employees. This is one slick operation!

The manufacturer’s core principles revolve around uncompromised dedication to integrity, quality, and service.

Who Sells Kirkland Motor Oil?

All types of Kirkland’s motor oil are marketed by the retail giant Costco. Also, Kirkland is a prominent home brand of Costco serving its customers.

As a result, Kirkland motor oils are only available at Costco stores all around the world. You are likely to find Costco stores in the USA, Canada, and all over the UK.

Kirkland Motor Oil Types

Based on viscosities, Kirkland Motor oils can be mainly divided into four main types. These are:

  • SAE 0W 20
  • SAE 5W 20
  • SAE 5W 30
  • SAE 15W 40 ck Diesel engine oil

Starting with 0W 20, which is one of the best-selling full synthetic engine oils from Kirkland, this thinner oil is perfect for colder climates. It currently retails for $39.99 for a 5 quart twin pack from Costco direct and can be bought here. After that, 5W 30 which is the same price here and is a thicker oil has also earned many good reviews for its performance and quality. It comes in at the same price as the 0W 20 at the time of writing is $39.99 for a 5 quart twin pack, you can see a lot of positive reviews here.

It is even compared by some buyers as being at the same level as Mobil 1, quite how they can measure that without a full laboratory experiment is unknown! but Costco brand products are generally very high quality so it is possible.

Finally, the SAE 15W 40 is designed for on- and off-road diesel engines and Kirkland states that it provides outstanding year-round protection and performance. Comes in 3 x 1-gallon bottles for $39.99, you can pick them up from Costco here .

Are Kirkland Dexos and API Approved?

Dexos certification is mainly given when a motor oil meets recent emission standards along with some other conditions. An excellent fuel-efficient system is also ensured if any motor oil meets Dexos standards. 

On the other hand, API certification is there to ensure you of the quality of the company behind the Oil. Both of these certifications are essential and some would say “must-have” certifications for motor oils. 

It is a good thing then, but not surprising given Costco’s usual quality, that Kirkland’s motor oil is both Dexos and API approved and hence has gained the trust of their customers within a short time.

Are They Any Good?

If motor oil is good or not mainly depends on the certification it received for its overall performance. Among them, Dexos and API accreditation are some of the important certifications that customers mainly seek. After all, most people just assume the oil will do its job and forget all about it until the next time the car is serviced.

As mentioned in the last section, Kirkland motor oil meets both standards while giving outstanding performance throughout. 

In most cases, they have even outperformed when compared to other big brands for longevity and of course, competitive pricing.

Is Kirkland Oil Safe to Use?

Looking at the price, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you were suspect about the quality. Customers keep wondering if these inexpensive oils will be worth the money or not. Are they even safe to use? 

They most definitely are. Kirkland motor oil is also known to extend your engine life as they come with advanced wear protection. To add to that Warren Distribution is a proven supplier of such products and they will likely be made to the same exacting standards as more expensive brands.

However, to get a further and clearer idea we would suggest you have a watch of this video: (interstingly after some testing the Oil reviewer concludes that the Supertech Oil, Amazon Basics Oil and Kirkland Engine Oil are all Identical! and are all made by Warren Distribution. Hows that for a knockout fact!

Best Kirkland Motor Oil Review

For the review part, we will introduce you to Kirkland’s best engine oil which has been ruling the budget motor oil market since soon after Costco introduced it.

Kirkland Synthetic 5W-30

With a 5W-30 viscosity, this has been one of the thickest viscosity oils that Kirkland ever made. The customers who have used it come back for more and use only this brand rather than any other. Whomakehub has trawled the web for reviews on Kirkland motor oil and the news is good, people are very happy with their purchase and so they should be, it’s a great engine oil.

For 2 packs, the price is also extremely budget-friendly when compared to other big-name brands.

FAQs

Kirkland synthetic oil vs Castrol EDGE, which one is better?

Being an inexpensive brand, Kirkland’s synthetic oil is great value for money. However, they have a slight negative purely due to being a lesser-known brand when compared with big brands like Castrol. If you are not on a budget, it is better to go with Castrol EDGE.

Who makes Kirkland motor oil for Costco?

Warren Distribution manufactures Kirkland motor oil for Costco.

Who makes Kirkland diesel motor oil?

All type of Kirkland’s motor oils including Kirkland Diesel motor oil is made and supplied by Warren Distribution.

Is Kirkland synthetic oil as good as Mobil 1?

From several user reviews, it is evident that with the lowest price tag Kirkland synthetic is giving a very similar quality to that which Mobil 1 offers.

What is the difference between 5w 20 and 5w 30 motor oil?

The 20 has a thinner viscosity (best for colder temperatures as provides lubrication better from a cold start) whereas the 30 has a thicker viscosity (better for hot climates as the oil won’t thin out as much in the hotter conditions).

Kirkland Synthetic Oil vs Mobil 1

As mentioned above, in real terms there is likely to be little difference between one modern synthetic oil and another one, except for price and of course big brand power… Make of that what you will!

Conclusion

The next time you go to Costco, do consider this brand’s motor oils for further consideration. It is very likely they will meet all the demands of your car’s engine oil specs. 

Warren distribution; the company who makes Kirkland motor oil is extremely trusted by its consumers for great producs like Kirkland’s signature line. Therefore, you can relax in the knowledge Kirkland motor oil is a well respected product at a low price, made by a tried and tested manufacturer.

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Max Stokes Author
Author

Hi, and welcome to WhoMakeHub. My name is Max Stokes. I am a degree qualified journalist and a passionate blogger! It is this combination of knowledge and curiosity that brought WhoMakeHub to life. On whomakehub.com you will find detailed information about product makers and manufacturers. After building this site over several years I have some great industry sources and contacts which help me bring the FACTS and the odd secret to our articles! This helps you in selecting the best products for your specific needs at any point in time.

3 Comments

  1. Hey, that was a fantastic evaluation, summary of methods & findings, as well as presentation. I’m a physician and usually only see this degree of rigor in medical study write-ups. Great job! As to your findings, I’ve maintained my own family cars (former auto mechanic!)and have been a Castrol user for decades. After watching this, I think I’ll take the plunge and try using Kirkland full synthetic in the part of our fleet that uses those motor oil weights. Thanks for your video!

  2. Excellent article guys thanks a lot some brilliant information in here!

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