Motor Oil Supply

What Motor Oil Supply does

Motor Oil Supply is a wholesale distributor of automotive and industrial lubricants, coolants, chemicals, parts, shop supplies, and equipment serving business customers across the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1979 by John Ruth in Kent, Washington, the company has grown into a multi-brand distributor offering hundreds of thousands of SKUs from flagship suppliers including Castrol, Red Line, Phillips 66, Kendall, Purus, TechSelect, and PEAK, alongside its own MOS private-label line of chemicals and consumables. The company operates two distribution facilities — the Kent headquarters and a Bellingham warehouse acquired in the early 2000s (formerly Ekdahl Distributing) — totaling more than 35,000 square feet of combined storage, with bulk oil silo capacity installed in 2004 and an in-house CDL delivery fleet covering Western Washington.

The business runs on a B2B wholesale model combining direct inside sales, in-house delivery, will-call pickup, and an Odoo-powered e-commerce storefront with a secure customer self-service portal that supports paperless invoicing and account management. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional wholesale distribution of lubricants (engine oils, transmission fluids, greases, hydraulic fluids), coolants, chemicals, parts, and shop supplies, complemented by equipment sales and value-added services including installation, repair, and maintenance support for shop equipment such as fluid management systems, vehicle lifts, and bulk lube tanks. Pricing is quote-based with Net 30 invoicing for established accounts; the company does not publish list pricing. The company has stated plans to integrate IoT tank sensor data with the Odoo platform to enable automated customer bulk tank replenishment.

Motor Oil Supply serves a diverse vertical mix spanning automotive, commercial vehicles, construction, manufacturing, maritime, aviation, mining, agriculture, racing, service vehicles, and transportation, with maritime and aviation explicitly flagged as growth priorities. Customer segments range from large OEM dealerships to one-person repair shops. The company is privately held with no public stock listing, no outside investors, and no disclosed parent organization, exhibiting the characteristics of a founder/family-owned private business now in its fifth decade of operation.

Name

Motor Oil Supply

Legal name

Motor Oil Supply

Website

https://motoroilsupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Motor Oil Supply is a Pacific Northwest wholesale distributor of automotive and industrial lubricants, coolants, equipment, and parts, serving repair shops, dealerships, and commercial fleets across Western Washington from its Kent and Bellingham distribution centers since 1979.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Lubricants Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals) (424720)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)

akta.pro primary industry

Lubricants Distribution & Wholesale (Bulk, Packaged, B2B) (EUALAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL), Packaging, Filling & Private Label / Contract Manufacturing (EUALAJAD)

Keywords

• Automotive lubricants distribution
• Wholesale lubricant supply
• Shop equipment distribution
• Automotive parts wholesale
• Fluid management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale product distribution: Core revenue stream: wholesale distribution of lubricants, coolants, chemicals, parts, shop supplies, and equipment to B2B customers. Product mix includes multi-brand engine oils, transmission fluids, gear oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, coolants, brake cleaners, solvents, DEF, undercoats, and windshield wash. Offered in cases, eco packs, pails, quarter drums, drums, and bulk oil. Net 30 invoicing supported.
2. Product delivery services: Direct product delivery to customer shops via in-house CDL drivers and a fleet of specialized trucks, handling pumped bulk products, drums, and cased goods. Included as part of wholesale relationship.
3. Equipment installation and repair services: Expert installation, setup, final testing, repair, and ongoing maintenance support for shop equipment such as lubrication systems, fluid management, vehicle lifts, alignment racks, air compressors, bulk lube tanks, and waste reclaim systems. Services are scheduled via a service call and optional facility survey.
4. Equipment sales: Sale of shop equipment from top-tier brands, including shop planning and design, vehicle lifts, alignment racks, fluid management, bulk lube tanks, drum handling, hoses and fittings, and more. Bundled with installation and repair support.
5. Private-label / house brand products (MOS): Sale of in-house MOS-branded products including break clean, kerosene, methanol, solvents (including 140 Flash), windshield wash concentrate, and hydraulic fluids, distributed alongside national brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Motor Oil Supply is a wholesale distributor of automotive lubricants, coolants, chemicals, parts, shop supplies, and equipment to B2B customers across the Pacific Northwest. The company also provides direct in-house delivery via CDL drivers, equipment installation and repair services, and operates an e-commerce storefront with a secure customer portal powered by Odoo ERP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MOS: Motor Oil Supply's in-house brand used on proprietary chemical and consumable products such as MOS Break Clean Select, MOS Kerosene, MOS Methanol, MOS Solvent, Solvent 142-66, and MOS WSW Reservoir Conc Dyed DX115.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two distribution centers (Kent and Bellingham) covering Western Washington with 35,000+ sq ft of combined storage
• +3 more outcomes

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• PEAKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Proud partnership since 2022. PEAK supplies OEM-specific coolants and universal yellow coolants distributed by MOS. PEAK's Safety & Product Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• PuruscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Legacy of partnership since 1998. Purus supplies heavy-duty extended life coolants, OEM-specific coolants, universal yellow coolants, heavy-duty engine oils, and molybdenum grease. Purus's Safety Data Sheets and Product Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• TechSelectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Partnership in success since 1998. TechSelect's Safety Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• KendallflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Partnership since 1991. Kendall supplies full synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, and heavy-duty engine oils, multi-vehicle synthetic, CVT, low viscosity, and ultra-low viscosity transmission fluids, gear oil, and high-mileage and limited slip additives distributed by MOS. Kendall's Safety Data Sheet is linked from the MOS website.
• Phillips 66flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Partnership in success since 1991. Phillips 66 supplies full synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, and heavy-duty engine oils, gear oil, and high-mileage additives distributed by MOS. Phillips 66's Safety Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• CastrolflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Long-standing lubricant supplier partnership since 1982. Castrol products distributed by Motor Oil Supply include full synthetic, synthetic blend, high-mileage, conventional, and heavy-duty engine oils, gear oil, lithium grease, brake fluid, hydraulic fluid, power steering fluid, and heavy-duty extended life coolants. Castrol's Safety & Product Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• Red LineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979Thriving partnership since 1979, dating to the founding of Motor Oil Supply. Red Line supplies synthetic oils, CVT transmission fluid, power steering fluid, break-in additives, and limited slip additives distributed by MOS. Red Line's Safety and Product Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• IdemitsucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner. Idemitsu's Safety Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• Service ProcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner supplying parts (filters, wiper blades), full synthetic, synthetic blend, high-mileage, conventional and heavy-duty engine oils, transmission fluids, gear oil, hydraulic fluid, lithium grease, brake fluid, OEM-specific coolants, universal yellow coolants, brake cleaner, carburetor cleaner, and premix -20 windshield wash. Service Pro's Safety Data Sheets and Product Data Sheets are linked from the MOS website.
• Rain-XminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner supplying wiper blades distributed by MOS.
• AlemiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner. Equipment supplier.
• American EquipmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued equipment partner.
• ChallengerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner.
• BalcrankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner. Equipment/lubrication supplier.
• GracominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued partner. Equipment/lubrication systems supplier.
• RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued equipment partner. (Rotary Lift)
• SamsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued equipment partner. SAMSON Corporation (North Carolina) produces conventional and customer engineered lubrication equipment and systems, and is part of the SAMOA Industrial Group.
• MobilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a trusted brand for multi-vehicle synthetic transmission fluid and low viscosity transmission fluid offered by Motor Oil Supply.
• ChevronminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a trusted brand for synthetic blend engine oil, gear oil, and hydraulic fluid offered by Motor Oil Supply.
• AROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a supplier of the ARO-Flo Series 'Piggyback' Filter-Regulator (air filter and regulator) distributed by Motor Oil Supply.
• MusketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a trusted brand for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in 55 gallon drums distributed by Motor Oil Supply.
• RisloneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a trusted brand for Hy-Per Lube additive distributed by Motor Oil Supply.
• JohnsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a trusted brand for windshield wash concentrate and power steering fluid distributed by Motor Oil Supply.
• OdoocoreTechnology or IntegrationModern, cloud-based ERP management system adopted by Motor Oil Supply in October 2025 to manage invoicing, order processing, payments, account updates, customer portals, and IoT integration. Odoo also powers the company's e-commerce storefront.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Safety-Kleen (Clean Harbors): National broadline provider of lubricants, parts cleaning, and waste fluid management with direct-delivery and equipment-service capabilities. Overlaps substantially with MOS's product distribution plus equipment services model, but at much larger scale and with a broader geographic and service footprint.
• Genuine Parts Company (NAPA): Largest US automotive parts distributor with NAPA Auto Parts stores and NAPA AutoCare service-center network. Comparable as a multi-channel automotive aftermarket distributor with regional warehouse footprint, but at vastly greater scale and brand reach.
• Shell Lubricants: Major global lubricant manufacturer whose brands (Shell Rotella, Pennzoil, Quaker State) are stocked by MOS-adjacent distributors. Represents the upstream supplier side that competes for direct relationships with MOS's largest customers.
• CITGO Lubricants: Major US lubricant manufacturer with commercial and industrial product lines distributed through independent regional distributors like MOS. Comparable as a brand supplier whose direct-sales motion threatens independent distributors' margins.
• Chevron Lubricants: Major lubricant manufacturer (Havoline, Delo, Techron) whose products are referenced as a trusted brand by MOS. Relevant peer because it competes for the same end customers and could disintermediate regional distributors with direct supply programs.

Direct peers

• PetroChoice: US industrial and automotive lubricant distributor with multi-brand supplier relationships, in-house delivery, and a regional/multi-region warehouse footprint — directly comparable in business model, customer mix (commercial fleets, industrial, automotive), and product breadth to Motor Oil Supply, though at larger scale.
• Lubrication Engineers: Manufacturer and distributor of industrial and automotive lubricants with deep vertical expertise (manufacturing, mining, construction, agriculture). Comparable to MOS in serving heavy-duty industrial customers with technical-spec-driven product recommendations and recurring consumable replenishment.
• Warren Oil Company: Lubricant blender and distributor serving automotive, commercial, and industrial customers across multiple brands (including private label). Comparable to MOS in the multi-brand distribution-plus-house-brand model and in serving automotive and commercial fleet end markets.
• Klüber Lubrication: Specialty industrial lubricant manufacturer with distribution into manufacturing, automotive, and heavy-duty verticals. Comparable in serving specification-driven industrial customers where technical guidance and product-equipment bundling drive the sale.

Regional players

• Auto-Wares Group of Companies: Regional automotive aftermarket parts distributor serving the Midwest with warehouse distribution and store-based pickup — comparable to MOS in warehouse-based wholesale distribution to repair shops, though operating in a different US geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motor-oil-supply-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Motor Oil Supply