# An impending shortage of synthetic motor oil? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677 "2026-05-15T12:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/1 "2026-05-15T12:35:53Z")
I’m due for an oil change next month, so I guess I can look forward to a higher price for that service. 😡 [Second Automaker Sounds Alarm Over Dwindling Motor Oil Stock [UPDATE]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/second-automaker-sounds-alarm-over-dwindling-motor-oil-stock) ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/2 "2026-05-15T12:48:29Z")
Oil shortage ? Gee, I wonder if we could just blame one person for that? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/3 "2026-05-15T14:05:53Z")
Better head off to Wally World and lay in a stock of 50 gallons or more of your favorite grade of synthetic oil. Are the oil shelves going to look like the toilet paper shelves at the grocery store before the big storm? ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/4 "2026-05-15T14:57:27Z")
It’s a conspiracy to get everyone on board with the extended OCI of 10k miles! 😄 I seem to have trouble finding 0W-16 anyway… ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/5 "2026-05-15T16:51:47Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > I seem to have trouble finding 0W-16 anyway… I’d use 0w20. Wife’s Crown oil recommendation is 0W8. I will NOT use that . ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/6 "2026-05-15T17:33:33Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Better head off to Wally World and lay in a stock of 50 gallons or more of your favorite grade of synthetic oil. Are the oil shelves going to look like the toilet paper shelves at the grocery store before the big storm? People tend to overreact. His vehicle’s maintenance calls for 1.25 gallons/year, 50 gallons would be a 40-year supply. Car dealers charge $12/quart for synthetic motor oil, next month it could be $13. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/7 "2026-05-15T18:31:21Z")
I’m fairly well stocked with at least enough for several oil changes on the shelf. I just keep a normal inventory but I could buy another jug or so. I just remember back in 1958 my dad forgetting to put the drain plug back so I always have extra oil in case if my own senior moment. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/8 "2026-05-15T19:41:14Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > 50 gallons would be a 40-year supply. I exaggerated for effect. I doubt that there’s 20 gallons of any specific grade on the shelves. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/9 "2026-05-15T19:47:38Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > I exaggerated for effect. I interpreted it as hyperbole, probably for some comic effect, and not to be taken as a serious suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/10 "2026-05-15T19:51:10Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > I doubt that there’s 20 gallons of any specific grade on the shelves. Costco usually has several pallets of motor oil on the warehouse floor, each box has 2.5 gallons of oil. Car dealers stock oil in 500-gallon tanks, plus several dozen cases of bottled oil. 20 gallons wouldn’t last until lunch time. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/11 "2026-05-15T19:55:27Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > I interpreted it as hyperbole, probably for some comic effect, and not to be taken as a serious suggestion. Of course, but on the other hand, why did people buy so much toilet paper? Or light bulbs? People do strange while in a panic. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/12 "2026-05-15T22:46:16Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > why did people buy so much toilet paper? The only people I knew/heard of that did that were to sell it at a profit. One guy was advertising TP at $100/roll ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/13 "2026-05-15T22:47:38Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Of course, but on the other hand, why did people buy so much toilet paper? Or light bulbs? People do strange while in a panic. At my house we stocked up on gin, bourbon, and canned/frozen foods. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/14 "2026-05-15T23:58:13Z")
Unless my wife is hiding some, I have no hard spirits in the house.. haven’t bought any in 30 years or more. Wine and ■■■■ is all. I was reasonably well stocked in the paper goods but there was one package left on a pallet at WM. As I was reaching for it, a young lady swooped in and grabbed it. I let her have it, figured she might need it more than me. A lady I know in phoenix had to ship a few rolls to her son in Saint Paul though because he couldn’t find any. So it was no joke. I’m not a preper but easy to see how panic could step in with shelves empty, no heat, no electricity, etc. I like pasta though and you can make that and hot dogs on the grill. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/15 "2026-05-16T01:09:48Z")
I went to Wally World today to buy oil… The Mustang is getting close and it takes 10 quarts! I have the truck’s 6 quarts ready and the wife’s Audi isn’t due for a while. The shelves were full of synthetic and semi-synthetic. Wally’s Supertech as well as the rest of the major brands. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/16 "2026-05-16T12:03:31Z")
Isn’t synthetic oil made from natural gas, of which we have an abundant supply and which the prices have actually declined? Sounds like click bait and/or an opportunity to encourage panic buying and increased profits. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/17 "2026-05-16T15:13:32Z")
Autozone is telling stores to expect 40% less stock than normal. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/18 "2026-05-16T16:22:09Z")
This is just one of the shortages of critical materials caused by the war, it’s only getting worse. > **[It's not just oil — the Iran war is disrupting helium and aluminum supplies....](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-helium-aluminum-shortage-impact/)** > > Shortages of helium, a byproduct of natural gas processing, could create problems for semiconductor and medical equipment manufacturers. > **[It’s not just oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuz blockage is rattling another...](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/fertilizer-price-iran-war-food-security-inflation-urea-potash-nitrogen-farmers.html)** > > “I'm a lot more concerned about the current crisis than I was when Russia-Ukraine happened four years ago,” one fund manager told CNBC. And carmakers will be affected. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/19 "2026-05-16T16:22:28Z")
What? I thought synthetic oil came from artificial dinosaurs. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677/20 "2026-05-17T04:10:42Z")
> [@Beancounter](#): > > Isn’t synthetic oil made from natural gas, of which we have an abundant supply and which the prices have actually declined? Not in most cases: “Synthetic oil [lubricant](https://en.wikipedia.org/api/rest_v1/page/mobile-html/Lubricant "Lubricant") comprises chemical compounds that are artificially modified or synthesised. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified [petroleum](https://en.wikipedia.org/api/rest_v1/page/mobile-html/Petroleum "Petroleum") components rather than whole [crude oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/api/rest_v1/page/mobile-html/Crude_oil "Crude oil"), but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically.” The shortage appears to be real. Not “clickbait” [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/an-impending-shortage-of-synthetic-motor-oil/205677.md?page=2)