Motor Oil Shortages

[telenerd]

I was at 2 Walmarts and noticed the large 5 quart jugs of 5w 30 oil are flying off the shelfs! I had to buy the smaller 1 quart jugs because the large jugs were sold out and ended up costing me a bit more for my oil change.

Anyone experiencing this in their area? I heard on the news it’s getting worse in some areas and folks are panicking like buying up all the butt wipe during Corona.

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[Newbie]

We are supposed to not talk about that......

 

[BroncoA512021]

No comment…..because It will be deleted

 

[HotdogThud]

In before the inevitable "No PoLiTiCs!" thread nuking.

...but due to my own habits of being terrible about needing oil when it's oil change time, I've got enough oil in my garage for 2-3 oil changes per car. Mostly because the bronco has different needs than the GTI, which has different needs compared to the wife's Macan.

We're currently burning through about 10M barrels per day of the SPR, and while synthetic oil is mostly made from non-crude chemicals, the knock-on effects on the rest of the industy are gonna hurt. e.g. I do a fair bit of 3d printing, I am certain that PLA and PETG are both about to go up in price

A lot of people are getting screwed by what's going on because of the 2nd and 3rd order effects that weren't anticipated. Cope as best you can I suppose.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I was at 2 Walmarts and noticed the large 5 quart jugs of 5w 30 oil are flying off the shelfs! I had to buy the smaller 1 quart jugs because the large jugs were sold out and ended up costing me a bit more for my oil change.

Anyone experiencing this in their area? I heard on the news it’s getting worse in some areas and folks are panicking like buying up all the butt wipe during Corona.

My guy at NAPA told me to buy now, not looking good.

 

[McRightclick]

In before the inevitable "No PoLiTiCs!" thread nuking.

...but due to my own habits of being terrible about needing oil when it's oil change time, I've got enough oil in my garage for 2-3 oil changes per car. Mostly because the bronco has different needs than the GTI, which has different needs compared to the wife's Macan.

We're currently burning through about 10M barrels per day of the SPR, and while synthetic oil is mostly made from non-crude chemicals, the knock-on effects on the rest of the industy are gonna hurt. e.g. I do a fair bit of 3d printing, I am certain that PLA and PETG are both about to go up in price

A lot of people are getting screwed by what's going on because of the 2nd and 3rd order effects that weren't anticipated. Cope as best you can I suppose.

Vast majority of "full synthetic" oils on the market are Group III base, which is severely hydrocracked crude.

Very few majority-PAO oils left, and most GTL production is offline after Shell's plant got drone bombed in the early days of the war.

 

[SierraBronco]

Vast majority of "full synthetic" oils on the market are Group III base, which is severely hydrocracked crude.

Very few majority-PAO oils left, and most GTL production is offline after Shell's plant got drone bombed in the early days of the war.

Couple that with the fact that while yes, the US does have vast reserves, we mostly produce light, sweet oil. And while that can be utilized for the production of some engine oils, most refineries in the US are setup for the heavy crude that is now in restricted supply for…reasons…

So yes, @telenerd, what you’re seeing isn’t something your brain made up and it won’t be limited to your area. Expect to pay more for engine oil as a result.

 

[Quatermain]

Vast majority of "full synthetic" oils on the market are Group III base, which is severely hydrocracked crude.

Very few majority-PAO oils left, and most GTL production is offline after Shell's plant got drone bombed in the early days of the war.

Not showing too much impact currently in rural Idaho. Not sure where you are, but around here (McCall area) the shelves were mostly full at NAPA on Tuesday. I order my Motorcraft oil on line because no one carries it locally. The price has gone up but i just got 6 more quarts on Wednesday. Getting spooky like 1973...

 

[BlueWaffle]

The only thing that's gonna have shelves bare is FOMO panic buying just like ass paper during covid.

 

[heavyD]

Seems to be no shortage up here. In fact Mobil has current mail-in rebates for $10 off 4.73L.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

Auto companies seem to be taking it seriously.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/second-automaker-sounds-alarm-over-dwindling-motor-oil-stock

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/05/autozone-motor-oil-shortage/

I’m not that concerned. It’s expected to last into next year, but not nearly as long as the consumer ammo shortages have dragged on.

 

[CitrusBronco]

Well I did my part to add to the shortage, it’s time for 2 oil changes in June so I bought some today so I’ll have it when I need it in a few weeks.

 

[MilesTeg]

Glad I've been stocking up.. 3 vehicles go through a lot of oil, hah

 

[CitrusBronco]

Couple that with the fact that while yes, the US does have vast reserves, we mostly produce light, sweet oil. And while that can be utilized for the production of some engine oils, most refineries in the US are setup for the heavy crude that is now in restricted supply for…reasons…

So yes, @telenerd, what you’re seeing isn’t something your brain made up and it won’t be limited to your area. Expect to pay more for engine oil as a result.

Well much of the oil we import comes from Mexico, Venezuela, Alaska (and CANADA) and it is sour so I don’t buy that we don’t have oil to refine. We do not bring in oil in any quantities that impact us from the Middle East. The US is in fact an oil exporter. There is no oil shortage in North America, only hype from market trader's driving up prices but no shortage.

Edited to add Canada since a few people pointed out I missed it.

 

[SierraBronco]

Well much of the oil we import comes from Mexico, Venezuela, Alaska and it is sour so I don’t buy that we don’t have oil to refine. We do not bring in oil in any quantities that impact us from the Middle East. The US is in fact an oil exporter. There is no oil shortage in North America, only hype from market trader's driving up prices but no shortage.

I appreciate the confidence in which you wrote this post. Good job.

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