What would it cost to import a couple gallons from Australia? Contra HPL/Amsoil?
I have seen a few on reddit that have imported 5W30 to Europe.
Here's an idea that might help import some 10w40 Valvoline Restore and Protect.
There's mechanisms in place that (if you know about them) facilitate importing goods from foreign nations.
I've done this buying goods from Western Europe, especially Britain, Germany, Turkey, and Japan so I could buy goods that are unavailable in USA.
Join a foreign shopping/shipping service, such as Forward2Me.com which provides you with a shipping address in Britain, Germany, Turkey, and Japan.
Then you use a VPN with your location set to the nation where you want to shop online. Then your Google searches for goods will display goods in that country, including from all websites in that nation, including Amazon.
Most foreign websites are in English or have clickable option to view them in English. If not, then use Google translate.
You can then buy from almost any website in a foreign nation, including websites that don't ship to USA. You give the selling website your Forward2Me.com physical shipping address in that country, which is a PO Box or storage locker in that country. The selling website ships your goods to your Forward2Me.com address in that country.
Forward2Me.com receives it and then forwards it (ships it) to your address in USA.
I have purchased goods from UK & Germany this way.
The cost of shipping from seller to your Forward2Me.com address is often free or cheap. The cost of reshipping from your Forward2Me.com address to your USA home address is usually about the same as the cost of the item you're buying. So you're paying double cost, but you get what you want from a foreign nation in a reasonably convenient matter.
Buying from Germany there is sometimes a language barrier because not all Germans can read and write English, especially warehouse workers. But it's not much of a problem because Google Translate is adequate.
Forward2Me.com has been saying they're going to expand their service into more nations. I don't know if Australia or New Zealand are included yet.
As for reliability... I bought 6 very awesome mobility scooter upgrade tires from Germany this way. The tires I wanted are only available in Western Europe and Germany had the lowest price. I think maybe Germany has lower VAT tax (sales tax) than some other EU nations. 5 of the 6 tires arrived without hassles. The 6th tire was missing. I received refund from FORWARD2ME.COM, but not from the seller. So buying from a website in a foreign nation is ⅚ reliable, IME.
I'm aware that Americans are supposed to be legally except from VAT tax. That would be the case if the seller was shipping directly to a USA address, but in this case the seller did not ship outside their own nation. So I had the seller ship to my Forward2Me.com PO Box/locker in Germany. So I had to pay VAT tax. Then Forward2Me.com forwarded (reshipped it) to my address in USA.
If you can find an EU online seller that ships directly to USA, then no VAT tax.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of Australia or New Zealand having VAT (sales) tax. I don't know if Forward2Me.com service is available in AU or NZ. If not, maybe some other similar service is?
P.S. - For people living outside the USA who want to buy goods from a USA seller who does not ship to other nations, you can use a VPN to shop on USA websites. The seller will ship to your Forward2Me.com address PO box/locker in USA. Then Forward2Me.com will forward (reship) your goods to your home address anywhere in the world.
There may be other ways to import goods. Possibly better ways than I know of. If anyone knows of better ways, I'd like to learn.