Ever since the late 90s I have used one brand of motor oil in my cars, and that brand is Mobil 1. The oil has served me well, giving me no issues of sludge or lack of protection. The only problem I have with Mobil 1 is the price, as it is normally the highest price synthetic oil in the parts store.
Through many articles and Facebook car groups, I had heard that the Costco brand oil, Kirkland Signature Synthetic, was “just as good” as Mobil 1. I have always taken unsolicited advice from the internet with a grain of salt, but could it be true? There was only one way to find out.
Blackstone laboratories, a lubricant testing company based out of Fort Wayne, Ind., provides oil testing for consumers interested in dialing in their maintenance. I decided to run the Costco oil in my Lexus CT200h and send a sample in to them, along with a sample from running my car on Mobil 1. I used the test results to film a video for my YouTube channel, Auto Scholar with Mr. B.
The results came back slightly in favor of the Kirkland Signature oil purchased at Costco, which surprised me since it was two dollars a quart cheaper.
I was living in a fool’s paradise using Mobil 1 all these years.
Brand loyalty is very common with automotive technicians and enthusiasts. It can stretch for generations, as most people drive what their parents did. I used Mobil 1 oil because I thought it was the best oil I could put in my car.
It was the most expensive, which had to mean it was better, right? Then I kept using it for decades because it worked. It never occurred to me that I could use lesser-priced oil and have the same, if not better, protection.
The biggest problem with brand loyalty is that brands constantly change and we consumers rarely notice unless the brand pulls a stunt like “New Coke” back in the 80s. As it turns out, the car brands I used to adore in my youth have been changing so much that they no longer align with my wants and needs as a consumer.
Maybe I’ve changed, too. For instance, I used to drive European cars exclusively but can no longer justify paying a premium for European cars plagued with reliability issues and high part replacement costs. Currently, I just want a useful car that can get me to work efficiently.
While I still own a classic BMW, it gets driven about 50 miles a month just to keep the cobwebs at bay.
Last month, I purchased a new 2025 Ford Maverick hybrid pickup truck and many of my car enthusiast friends could not figure out how this vehicle would even be on my mind, much less in my driveway. Pushing brand loyalty to the side, this little truck met my needs and while I would love to be scooting to work in the Porsche, I have things to do that make having a truck make sense.
I didn’t think I would enjoy driving it either, and I do. It has opened my eyes a bit and led me to question other spots in my life. I mean, maybe Pepsi is better than Coca Cola? Are the Atlanta Braves the best fit for my baseball team? Should I shelve my Colt 1911 for a Glock pistol? Maybe Snap-On tools aren’t as good as they used to be.
There are so many “mid-life brand crisis” decisions to make from here on out.
Brand loyalty can lead us to making blind decisions about many products, cars included. The next time you must purchase a car, try opening your choices a bit and you may be surprised at what you find. Also, the next time you are at Costco, I would recommend the oil, along with the $1.50 hotdog.
As for me, I will see you on the road!
