Time to Stock Up?

[Greg L]

I'm wondering if now is the time to stock up on major label oils that are on sale...to add to the stash. I'm thinking this rash of skyrocketing fuel costs are also affecting quarts of oil sales.

While at AutoZone last night, I noticed quite a bit of their regular stock of oil had gone up in price; including their generic oil.


My currrent stash:

4 Jugs - Rotella 30w
6 Quarts - Pennzoil 20w20
2 Quarts - Castrol Syntec 0w30
1 Quart - Mobil Clean 5w30
1 Quart Pennzoil HD30
6 Quarts - Valvoline VR1 20w50
4 Quarts - Havoline 5w30
2 Quarts - Havoline 10w30
2 Jugs - Valvoline Premium Blue 15w40
1 Jug - Mobil 0w30
4 bottles SLOB


Any recommendations to add to my measly stash, before its too late? My concern are the OCI's I will be making over the next year, and I am running low for quantity on the Honda and newer GMC truck. (In fact the Jeep and old GMC truck may have to share the heavier weighted oils).



GL

 

[UNC017]

Even if motor oil price triples, its still a tiny fraction of the cost of owning and operating a vehicle with less than an 8-quart sump IMO. Especially with longer drain intervals. Cost of motor oil is just not something I care or worry about. Fuel... yes. Engine and drivetrain repair components... yes. Tires...yes. Oil... no. That's why I don't even have a "stash."

Just my way of doing things, YMMV.

 

[rslifkin]

^ I agree. Mind you, if you see something on sale, it's worth stocking up. But, if it's just normal price, and you expect it to go up 10%, I wouldn't go nuts over it.

 

[daman]

If it's on sale and M1 it's mine!!,been stocking up on the Delvac for $9.87 @ Walmart with a $4 rebate offer,can't beat it under $6 for a quality HDEO.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I think you are right. Sooner or later the increase in crude oil prices will have to affect the price of motor oil too. I don't use any of the oil you have listed in your stash but I am planning on adding to my own stash and stocking up on Quaker State conventional 10W30 and Purolator filters at Advance before their sale ends this month. AAP has a decent sale on Valvoline with a Purolator filter too, I need to stock up on it for my girlfriend's Honda Accord before the sale ends on the 30th.

Personally I believe the prices will get much worse before they ever get any better, so I am adding to my own personal strategic oil reserve now while there are still a few good deals to be had. Right now I am out of oil for her Accord and I only have 20 quarts of Quaker State 10w30 and 5 Puro Classic filters in my stash for my truck.

I say buy now if you can find any good deals/prices.

Just my .02.

 

[CivicFan]

Whenever the crude prices go up, the motor oil prices get jacked up, too. Unfortunately, the opposite is not true since it's effectively an oligopoly.

We will probably see about 20% increase in the retail price of the motor oil so stocking up might be a prudent choice.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Whenever the crude prices go up, the motor oil prices get jacked up, too. Unfortunately, the opposite is not true since it's effectively an oligopoly.



Well, let's be truly fair here... its Wall Street speculators who drive the cost of crude oil futures up, not so much the oil companies directly. It may be part of your or my own investment portfolio that's to blame. The oil companies aren't at all innocent, but you gotta spread the hate around a little wider if you're honest with yourself :-(

 

[Artem]

I stocked up on 20 quarts of Mobil 1 Extended Performance when it was on sale @ advanced autozone (my biggest stash EVER)

I usually run down to Walmart when its time for an OC.

Since i because a PC with Amsoil i've stocked up on 10 cases of oil

My garage is literally loaded to the roof with the stuff. I can see it lasting quite sometime with 10k OCIs in all 3 of my cars if all Heck breaks loose but as someone else has said, Oil is a small fraction of total car care cost and i don't pay much attention to it either... not counting my stash

 

[demarpaint]

I have a stash that will last about 18 months. I'm more concerned with the cost of gas, food, and everything else to be honest. Oil is a small part of the equation. Still if I see a great deal I'll grab more, but.......................

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Whenever the crude prices go up, the motor oil prices get jacked up, too. Unfortunately, the opposite is not true since it's effectively an oligopoly.



Well, let's be truly fair here... its Wall Street speculators who drive the cost of crude oil futures up, not so much the oil companies directly. It may be part of your or my own investment portfolio that's to blame. The oil companies aren't at all innocent, but you gotta spread the hate around a little wider if you're honest with yourself :-(



My main point was that it's a ratchet effect - the prices for motor oil go up (with an excuse) but do not come down because there is really no competition. We now have the excuse, I don't really care how and why the crude price is up, the motor oil prices will go up as a result if this continues for a few more months.

 

[number_41]

Just a thought--

Yes, I have a stash. But it's useable for complete oil changes on all my vehicles. Got things on sale that were my preferences.

IMHO your stash doesn't look that useable. So if you're actually going to have a stash you need to add to it to round up oil change amounts of the types you already have or switch to something you like.

Just sayin'.

 

[Greg L]

number 41 -

My thoughts exactly. The stash I have is really just for the older vehicles.....while my newer supply is almost gone (certainly not quite enough to do a full change on the 0 weight and 5 weight oils).


Guess I'll keep an eye open for the occasional sale around the $2-3 dollar mark. And yes, Food and Gas are the priority now, oil is on down the list.


If anything, Target clearance oils seem like a deal for the GTX and FS. And like mentioned previously, the Mobil Delvac in the jugs.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I try very hard to save money any way that I can. I buy and stash oil and filters when they are on sale for a good price. Usually I buy the deals from AAP because they sell my Purolator Classic filters there too. I have no idea what the motor oil prices will be later this year or next year. My guess is it will only go up, because of world events and the increased price of fuel having a direct effect on the price of transporting the oil and filters to the store. I bet the price of everything else, such as food, clothes, appliances, furniture, etc will all keep going up this year too for the same reason. Plus I like having the oil and filters on hand at home, it saves me that much more time from having to go to the store to buy it on the day when I change my oil. It also saves me a little gas in the process.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Even if motor oil price triples, its still a tiny fraction of the cost of owning and operating a vehicle with less than an 8-quart sump IMO. Especially with longer drain intervals. Cost of motor oil is just not something I care or worry about. Fuel... yes. Engine and drivetrain repair components... yes. Tires...yes. Oil... no. That's why I don't even have a "stash."

Just my way of doing things, YMMV.


Me too. EXACTLY!

 

[VRAY]

Hi guys
I dont keep much of a stash because when its time to change oil, i just go to which store that day has the best sale on. I dont really have a brand that I must use.As long as its a name brand oil I am ok with it. But I will be honest with you,since I have been a member here I find myself looking for bargains more than before.What am I turning into??

 

[Greg L]

A Franken-oiler?

 

[Bruce T]

Congratulations, CivicFan. It's a good discussion when I have to check an online dictionary ("oligopoly"). Yes, the general predictions are the cost of motor oil will go up as much as 10% this year.

I agree with both Magnum440 and CivicFan. Crude oil prices can drive up motor oil prices, but then the motor oil stays up when crude oil goes down. Commodities trading does affect oil prices, not just the oil companies. I've heard that oil contracts are traded daily for three times the volume of oil production. Does this highly-volatile speculation mean the market needs to be better regulated? Yes, it does.

Still, motor oil prices really are insignificant compared to the other costs of vehicle operation. I suppose since we're no longer cavemen being threatened by predators, we need to exaggerate other threats.

 

[ledslinger]

My stash just became bigger than needed. High fuel prices means I will drive less and change oil less.

 

[kcfx4]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
My stash just became bigger than needed. High fuel prices means I will drive less and change oil less.

I like this

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
My stash just became bigger than needed. High fuel prices means I will drive less and change oil less.




True...