The American retailer Costco appeared to have instituted unusually strict restrictions on motor oil purchases at some of its locations this week, sparking widespread fears that the ongoing oil price surge stemming from the U.S. war against Iran may only be the beginning.
“Remember when I urged everybody to buy some extra motor oil a few months ago? Yeah, now the rationing has begun,” warned Mike Adams, a controversial right-wing podcaster and blogger.
According to the automotive news publication The Auto Wire, Costco is now limiting its members to a single purchase of its store-branded 5W-30 full synthetic motor oil per transaction, with a maximum of two purchases every seven days. Costco’s own website references the restriction on its stock of 5-quart, 2-packs of the motor oil in question.
The new motor oil purchase restrictions were also reported on by Yahoo! News and The Drive, another automotive outlet, with the news coming as gas prices in the United States soar to record-high levels, so high in some instances that a handful of gas stations have been unable to display the correct price.
“Costco put a purchase limit on motor oil. Things are about to get so f------ bad,” wrote Gavin McCracken, an independent investor, writer and podcaster, in a social media post on X Sunday. “[One] motor oil per membership limit. Oh boy.”
Antonio Moore, a California-based attorney and reparations advocate, said that Costco’s decision was a clear possibility as far back as May.
“I told you this was a possible consequence of the Strait of Hormuz closure in May. It isn’t just about the reality of the shortage once these stories start publishing,” Moore wrote Sunday in a social media post on X.
“It’s now about runs on oil on top of the actual shortage. That [is] why Costco is implementing rationing. Don’t get caught without enough for an oil change or two to take with your car to the mechanic.”
In a follow-up post, McCracken warned his more than 30,000 followers on X that Costco’s new restrictions on motor oil suggested something far more dire loomed ahead.
“The point is that Costco via Kirkland, has a high resolution view of all supply chains relevant to Costco,” McCracken wrote.
“That perspective has resulted in them enacting rationing; that means they see severe problems upstream & coming down the pipe to the consumer level. Costco is the bulk store, and now you're not allowed to buy bulk oil.”
I told you this was a possible consequence of the #StraitofHormuz closure in May. It isn’t just about the reality of the shortage once these stories start publishing.
It’s now about runs on oil on top of the actual shortage. That why Costco is implementing rationing. Don’t get… https://t.co/KL5yfL1XjW
— Antonio Moore (@tonetalks) September 13, 2026