Is Costco Gas Good? 5 Things to Know About Costco Gas
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Costco is known for providing pretty much everything you need and that too for amazing prices. But did you know the company also provides gas? On our website we already shared some tips to find cheap gas. If you want to fill your tank without breaking the bank, Costco is your ideal pick.
But is Costco gas good? Where can you find Costco stations? Costco gas stations are open to all members. In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Costco gas.
Costco gas refers to the fuel provided by the American warehouse club chain Costco. This gas is different from other gas brands in several ways.
First, Costco guarantees the highest quality for its fuel, which means that your vehicle's engine will be in good shape if you fill it frequently with gas from Costco. Second, Costco's gas prices are very low compared to those of competitors.
Additionally, the fuel is formulated using powerful deposit control additives. They allow your vehicle to run smoothly while cleaning the engine simultaneously.
Additionally, Costco claims that their gas also reduces pre-existing deposit buildups on different components of your engine. Here are some other benefits of Costco gas:
Is Costco gas cheaper? Costco gas costs much lower than its competitors, although the price of Kirkland Signature at the retailer may be different, depending on several factors that are not under Costco’s control.
Previous reports have shown that Costco gas prices are nearly 10 cents cheaperper gallon as compared to other providers. Costco gas stations are some of the cheapest places to buy gas in almost every state.
There are mainly two reasons for Costco beating its competition in terms of pricing, but keep in mind that this does not include the quality of Costco gasoline.
Firstly, Costco knows it has a huge number of loyal customers, and the company does not want to lose them. People who come to Costco know they’ll find everything they need under the same roof.
So, it makes sense that the retailer wants to offer them gas for lower prices, too, since that is what Costco is known for.
Secondly, most Costco gas stations are close to the company’s warehouses. People who come to the gas stations to fill up their tanks are likely to go to the stores too and spend money inside as well as outside.
In this way, selling gas at a lower price does not put the company in a loss.
Instead, Costco’s strategic placement of its stores and lower prices actually help the company bag more sales and profits.
Yes, Costco gas is good. Costco's stable of gasoline is primarily composed of its own Kirkland Signature brand, which consists primarily of three grades - 87, 89, and 91 octanes. A smattering of other brands is available at select locations as well, including BP, Exxon Mobil, and Shell.
Gas stations that sell their own branded fuel often have the best prices since they're cutting out the middle man (i.e., the station that buys wholesale fuel in bulk and then sells it to customers at a markup).
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The first important point to understand is that Costco gas stations are for members only. If you are not a Costco member, you can save money at Safeway gas stations. Here are some things you should know before you purchase gas from the retailer.
In most Costco locations, you will see the gas prices displayed at the food court or the warehouse club's entrance. But it's still better to check the gas prices at Costco for today at home using GasBuddy or a similar app.
The benefit of knowing the gas prices beforehand are:
When you go to a Costco location, you'll notice that there's a middle lane too.
Make sure you're not blocking everyone's way by leaving your car in the middle lane. What is the purpose of this lane anyway?
Well, Costco locations are designed to be convenient for everyone. Normally, when you go to a gas station, there are two pumps in the same lane.
Sometimes, it so happens that the car in the front pump leaves first. That's when you'd have to make your way to the pump in the front by taking over the car in front of you.
A middle lane gives you enough space to go to the front pump. That's why you should always leave this lane empty unless you're using it to reach the front pump.
When you pull up to a Costco location, you'll find a huge queue of cars waiting to fill up at their gas pumps during the weekends. But surveys show that the price of gas tends to go lower on a Monday or a Tuesday.
You are also less likely to experience any traffic if you go early in the morning. During this time, the gas stations are open, but the warehouse clubs are closed.
Due to this, there's less traffic at the location. Check the timings for your nearest location on Costco's website.
Costco's Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is extremely handy for those looking to save on gas at the pump.
Gas prices are always lower if you use the card as a form of payment. In addition to saving money, there's also the option of earning points for free food and products from Costco itself.
If you are a rideshare driver or a delivery driver, you can get 2% cash back on your gas expenses using Nearside.
When you typically go to a gas station, you want to make sure your car is parked the right way for the gas nozzle to be in line with your car.
However, this is not a concern at Costco since the company has long pump hoses. You can take them around your car to fill gas from any side.
Related Article: Does Costco deliver
If it's your first time buying gas from Costco, you must have some questions about who can buy gas from the company and how to pay for it. Here are the different aspects of how a Costco station operates.
Now that you know how Costco gas stations work, it's time to learn about the quality of fuel you get from these stations.
Costco gasoline is undoubtedly high-quality because the company focuses on two major aspects: station maintenance and deposit control additives.
DCAs refer to the type of additives that are added to your fuel to prevent corrosion. This helps improve the quality of your engine and prevent it from potentially stalling out later on.
DCAs are designed to better your fuel and engine.
You can also rest assured that the company will only use the best fuel for their customers. It follows stringent standards as well as federal regulations to ensure you get nothing but top-notch quality every time.
Costco also takes care of its pumps by focusing on cleaning them regularly. The cleanliness of these pumps ensures you'll get the best possible gas-pumping experience every time.
Here are some station maintenance steps taken by Costco:
Here are some frequently asked questions about Costco top tier gasoline.
Costco sells premium and regular gasoline. Some locations also sell diesel. Although gasoline octane is different, based on city state or zip address, most gas stations have 91 octane for premium gas and 87 for regular gasoline.
Costco buys its fuel from reputed distributors and refineries in every state. The Kirkland Signature from the company is of the highest quality, like everything you'll find in the Costco warehouse.
Octane is a hydrocarbon present in gasoline, which regulates the burn rate of the fuel. The octane rating determines how quickly or slowly your vehicle will combust while also determining its efficiency.
Thus, vehicles that are designed for lower octane levels use more gasoline to get the same job done as vehicles that are designed for higher octane levels.
The price you pay for the premium is dedicated solely to the processing of gasoline. Octane has no effect on performance or fuel economy, but it can greatly affect how you feel about your vehicle. High-octane fuels are preferred by people who wish to avoid knocking and pinging in their engine during high acceleration.
Yes, Costco Kirkland Signature fuel has ethanol in it in compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that requires all fuel supplies in the country to have a specific volume of ethanol.
Costco sells renewable diesel in some states across the country, especially California. However, the fuel is still relatively new due to which Costco hasn't been able to provide it all over the country yet.
Wrapping up, Costco's fuel is definitely high in terms of quality and reasonable with respect to the price point. If you want to get high-quality gas while enjoying the perks of Costco wholesale, it's best to get a Costco membership card.
Make sure you check the gas prices beforehand and use the company's website to find the nearest gas station before you head out to fill your tank the next time.
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