Retail

Is Costco Gas Good Quality? Then Why Is It So Cheap?

We're putting together an editorial staff that reflects our broad audience and their various financial circumstances. We value and encourage the experiences and perspectives that help us connect with our readers, answer their questions, and win their trust. Please read our disclosure for more information.
Updated on June 1, 2022 by
costco gas quality

CommonCentsMom.com is advertiser-supported: we may earn compensation from the products and offers mentioned in this article. However, any expressed opinions are our own and aren't influenced by compensation. The contents of the CommonCentsMom.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your Financial Advisor, CPA and Lawyer with any questions you may have regarding your situation. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website!

Just about everyone knows you can get great deals on high-quality food, electronics, furniture, clothes, and a lot more at Costco. But what about gasoline?

There are many gas oil companies such as Chevron, Phillips 66, Sunoco, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Arco, Valero Energy, Conoco, Petro, Texaco, BP, Marathon, and others. Most gas oil companies offer several grades of gasoline for different uses. However, not all grades of gasoline are of the same quality. Some gas oil companies have been known to cut corners by using lower quality gasoline in their product.

So, is it good in comparison with other gas stations, and is it worth the Costco membership fee to fill up your tank?

Is Costco Gas Good Quality?

Top tier fuel blends have been developed to enhance the performance of engines. These blends are designed to help cars, trucks, and motorcycles perform better on the road. The different types of gasoline available for sale at Costco include conventional gasoline, mid-grade gasoline, premium gasoline, and high-performance gasoline.

Automakers often add detergent additives to gasoline to improve the performance of engines. These additives are commonly known as detergents. These substances are also added to premium grade detergent gasoline to increase its octane rating. The different types of detergents include cetane boosters, which can increase the performance of engines and reduce engine wear, and octane enhancers, which increase the octane rating of gasoline.

Cetane boosters contain isopentyl alcohol, and may be used in some premium fuel with ethanol content. Isopentyl alcohol is also added to premium grade gasolines without ethanol content. These blends are designed to improve engine performance by increasing combustion efficiency and reducing engine wear.

Kirkland Signature gasoline is considered high-quality gas. It meets all the U.S. government thresholds for a top tier gasoline in terms of fuel additives, efficiency, and purity. The United States federal government’s evaluation criteria for gasoline is one of the most stringent in the world.

That means Costco’s gas meets or exceeds the quality of any other top-tier gas and exceeds the quality level of any gasoline that does not make the top tier standards.

Costco gas stations are also equipped with fuel pumps that are specifically designed to prevent contamination from the underground pipelines. These pumps are built to withstand frequent up and down movements of gas tanks and storage. The Costco fuel pumps are made with thicker metal parts and include extra seals.

Costco gas stations also feature custom-made underground pipelines that are resistant to corrosion. This ensures that Costco gas stays fresh and pure. You can find Costco gas stations in most major cities throughout the United States. These gas stations are also located in Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

But there is a big question about the quality of Costco gas. We don’t know how much the quality of Costco gas is compromised by transportation problems or impurities from the fuel tanker truck itself. There are reports of Costco gasoline being contaminated with water and possibly other additives from the fuel tanker truck’s tank before it reaches your local Costco station, but these reports have not been verified by third-party tests.

What we do know is that there are no known health risks associated with using Costco gasoline when properly maintained and serviced regularly, just like any other high-quality gasoline you would buy at a gasoline retailer such as QuikTrip or at a filling station on your way home from work or school.

Automotive gasoline is a petroleum-based fuel used in engines to power cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. The chemical components of gasoline are ethylbenzene, ethene, and butane. Ethanol is also added to some grades of gasoline to increase octane levels. However, detergent additives may be used by some people to increase the octane rating of gasoline.

Buildup of carbon deposits on internal engine parts is a common problem for cars, trucks, and motorcycles. If the carbon deposits are not removed from the engine regularly, they can prevent proper operation of the vehicle.

The octane rating of gasoline determines how well it will burn in an engine. A higher octane rating is usually required to run a car on a low grade of gasoline, but can also be used to increase the performance of an engine that is designed for high octane fuel. The amount of ethanol in gasoline is important to most cars, trucks, and motorcycles. However, some vehicles require high octane gasolines with no ethanol content.

Fuel economy is important to most car owners. However, fuel economy is also a key factor in choosing the type of gasoline that is best for your vehicle.

The process of making gasoline is similar to the process used to make kerosene, but the production of kerosene has been replaced by refining crude oil into gasoline. Petroleum products are generally shipped to major refineries located in various locations throughout the United States. The products are refined and transported by tankers or pipelines to local gas stations and service stations throughout the country.

One popular form of gasoline is unleaded gasolines, which contain additives designed to help prevent deposits from forming on internal engine parts such as piston rings and valves. Many people who want better fuel economy also prefer unleaded gasolines because they do not have any ethanol content, which can cause an increase in engine wear.

However, many gas stations offer premium gasolines with high octane ratings for those who want better performance from their vehicles and require no additives to keep deposits from forming on internal engine parts. Premium unleaded gasolines with high octane ratings can cost more than standard unleaded gasolines with low octane ratings.

How Much Does Costco Gas Cost?

Costco per gallon gas prices are generally about 17 to 21 cents lower per gallon than the gasoline of any of their competitors, depending on location.

How Is Costco Gas So Much Cheaper?

The secret to Costco’s gasoline prices lies in its membership structure. Part of every membership fee goes to offset the price of discounted items. That includes the price per gallon for gasoline.

Most Costco members do not get their gas from Costco, though, or only get it when it is convenient, such as when they are shopping for other products. That means part of their fees offset the cost of gasoline to Costco directly.

Part of that savings is passed onto the retailer’s members.

Different Cars, Different Gasoline

The type of car, truck, or motorcycle that you drive may require a specific grade of gasoline. However, if your vehicle is not equipped with a computerized fuel injection system, it is very difficult to tell which gasoline grade your vehicle requires.

BMW, for example, is one of the few manufacturers that uses computerized fuel injection systems. BMW requires specific gasoline grades for its vehicles. Audi, which uses computerized fuel injection systems, requires a different grade of gasoline than does Mercedes-Benz.

Gasoline is also required for other vehicle types. Aircraft require high octane gasoline to prevent engine damage from the ignition of spark plugs during takeoff and landing. Railroad engines require a different grade of gasoline than do diesel engines. Diesel engines require higher octane gasoline than do gasoline engines.

Toyota, Nissan, and other manufacturers of diesel-powered vehicles use high octane gasoline in their vehicles. Diesel engines require higher octane gasoline than do gasoline engines. Diesel engines are also used for buses, trucks, and some types of military vehicles.

Honda and Toyota vehicles use lower octane gasoline in their engines. However, Toyota and Honda have come out with vehicles that are equipped with computerized fuel injectors. These vehicles require higher octane gasoline than do diesel-powered vehicles.

Ford, GM, and other manufacturers of gasoline-powered vehicles also have not been as concerned with octane ratings as have diesel-powered vehicle manufacturers. Gasoline engines do not require high octane gasoline. However, most gas engines require a higher grade of gasoline than do diesel engines.

Gasoline is a volatile liquid that can explode when it comes in contact with the wrong type of fuel or spark plug. Automobile manufacturers are concerned about the possibility of engine damage from the ignition of fuel and spark plugs in the presence of other gases such as carbon monoxide. The manufacturer’s warranty on your vehicle may be voided if you have damaged your engine by using lower quality gasoline than required by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

The intake valves of a gasoline engine are located on the cylinder head. The intake valves open when the piston reaches the top of the compression stroke. The exhaust valves are located on the cylinder head. The exhaust valves open when the piston reaches bottom dead center (BDC) of the compression stroke.

In addition, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require gas oil companies to monitor and report on the quality of gasoline that they produce. This is done to ensure that their gasoline is of the highest quality and not contaminated with dirt, water, or other harmful substances.

The Break-Even Point

As with any business, Costco does not lose money on its gasoline. If you are a member, you get a discount, but a portion of your dues covers that discount.

To break even on your dues, you would have to fill up with Costco gas on average about 35 times per membership cycle. Each membership cycle is one year from the point of purchase. If you buy other products besides gas when you shop at Costco, you hit that break-even point quicker.

So, Is Costco Gas Worth It?

You can usually use your debit or credit card to buy gas at Costco wholesale gas stations. However, there are some gas stations that do not accept credit cards. If you plan to use your debit or credit card to buy gas at a Costco wholesale gas station, then it is important to pay attention to the fine print.

If you want to get the best quality gasoline for your car, truck, or motorcycle, then you can consider purchasing gas from a Costco wholesale gas station. Gasoline is of good quality when it is sold by Costco wholesale gas stations.

To figure out if Costco gas is good and if the discount is worth it, consider the following: Costco gasoline is top-tier quality as per the U.S. government’s rating system for efficiency, additives, and purity.

So in terms of fuel quality, Costco’s gas is as good, at least, as any of its competitors.

The prices are on average $0.17-$0.21 per gallon less expensive than other places that carry gasoline. To break even on your membership dues, you will need to go to Costco to fill up on gas about 35-40 times a year. That works out to filling up at Costco about three times a month.

That remains the case if you buy nothing else from Costco. If you do purchase other goods from the retailer, you break even quicker. Most members buy a lot more from Costco, meaning they break even on the cost of their membership faster.

On the whole, that is why Costco gas is good in terms of quality and worth.

At the end of the day, you should use the best gas for your car, truck, or motorcycle. Whether you believe that Costco wholesale gas stations are the best gas for your car, truck, or motorcycle is up to you.

(Visited 2,907 times, 1 visits today)

🏔 Read Next 🏔

Best Side Hustles of 2023

The 27 highest paying side hustles you can start today.

View article ➞

The Common Cents Mom Newsletter

Join thousands of curious consumers getting the inside scoop.