Lubricating Oil

Motor Oil & Car Fluids at Sam's Club

For the do-it-yourselfer, performing oil changes and basic preventative maintenance at home can save money and help keep your car in tip-top shape while minimizing costly repairs down the road. Sam’s Club has engine oil and fluids from trusted brands to keep your vehicles running smoothly and reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions: Engine Oil

How do I know when my engine needs oil?

This depends on the vehicle, so you should always consult your owner’s manual or call the dealer to make sure. Many older vehicles lack the high-tech sensors necessary to alert you when it’s time to top off or change the engine oil, so it's best to check the oil dipstick each time you fill up on gas. While you’re at it, give the windshield wipers a quick check to make sure they aren't degrading or falling apart.

How do I choose the right engine oil and car fluids for my vehicle?

The first step should be consulting your car’s owner’s manual or calling the dealer and asking, “What kind of oil does my car take?”

There are three types of car oil that you’ll usually find on the shelves: Conventional oil, synthetic oil, and synthetic blend. Your manual or dealer will help you choose the best oil for your vehicle. Make sure to also find which viscosity of engine oil your car requires. You’ll see numbers like “5W-30,” “10W-30,” and so on.

With those two pieces of information, you should be able to pick the correct motor oil for your car.

What other car fluids, such as transmission fluid or coolant, should I consider?

While engine oil is the most important fluid to keep track of, you should also monitor the levels and condition of

transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid. Sam’s Club stocks a variety of the most common car fluids to make maintenance easier for you.

Can you recommend oil change intervals and maintenance tips for optimal vehicle performance?

While your best resource for car oil change intervals is the owner’s manual, most modern vehicles will have a helpful dash light illuminate or a notification in the instrument cluster to indicate it's time to swap the motor oil. While conventional motor oils typically need to be changed every 3,000 miles, some synthetic oils can go for 5,000 or even 10,000 miles between changes.

Also, check your tires often. If it’s time to replace them, Sam’s Club has various popular and specialty tires, plus a convenient online tire finder to help you determine the correct size.

Is your car still reliably starting every morning? If that starter is beginning to sound sluggish or you often need to jump the car, it may be time to explore Sam’s Club’s selection of new car batteries.

For everything else, check out Sam's Club's auto accessories, which include microfiber towels, tarps, trailer hitch accessories, tie-downs, vacuums, flashlights, and more to round out your “home mechanic” inventory.