Is Sam’s Club Gas Top Tier? (Price, Type, Quality + More)


is sams club gas top tier

Do you know if Sam’s Club gas top tier is? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

You may know Sam’s Club for their bargain and wholesale products, but you may not know that they also sell gas! Their gas is often quite a bit cheaper than other gas stations, and filling up your tank at Sam’s can be a great way to save money. But you may be wondering: Is Sam’s Club gas top tier?

While Sam’s Club gas is not top tier. While Top tier gas is certainly better for your car, more often than not, opting for the cheaper no-top-tier option such as at Sam’s Club won’t do your car any harm. 

If you want to learn a little more about what makes gas top tier or not, as well as why it might be the right choice for your to purchase your gas at Sam’s, keep reading! We have everything you need to know right here! 

Is Sam’s Club Gas Top Tier?

Now that you know a little more about the different types of gas, let’s circle back to our original question: Is Sam’s Club gas top tier?

Hopefully, you already know the answer: Sam’s Club gas is not top tier. That being said, many people still opt for Sam’s Club gas because it is convenient, economical, and will certainly make your car get from point A to point B. 

If you have an older car that isn’t going to last much longer no matter what you do, you can go ahead and stick with non-top tier gas, but if you have a nice new car you want to take care of, all research agrees, you should opt for top tier gas. 

It’s important to note that if you are at Sam’s Club getting supplies for your home and you need gas, opting for non-top tier gas every once and a while certainly isn’t the worst thing for your car. The problems come when you only use non-top tier gas. 

So if you’re a little short on cash this week, don’t worry, selecting the cheaper gas option for your car won’t lead to any problems. 

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What is Top Tier Gas?

Before we dig a little deeper into the gasoline that you can purchase at Sam’s Club, it’s important to understand exactly what top-tier gas is and how it differs from non-top-tier gas. 

Top tier gas was developed in 2004; the name signifies that the gas in the pump is certified and there is more than the minimum standard required for detergent additives to better protect increasingly sophisticated engines from carbon buildup and deposits on the intake valve. 

The process has allowed automobile owners to use regular fuel while still protecting their engines, increasing fuel economy, and gaining the self-cleansing benefits of this apparently superior product. 

Many car companies now recommend that only top-tier gas is used in their machines, however, some consumers are wondering if top-tier gas really does make a difference in your engine or if it is simply a marketing ploy from the automobile and gasoline industries. 

Unfortunately for your bank account, the research shows that top-tier gas really is better for your car and it is worth the higher price point in the long run as your car will run better and stay healthier for longer if you opt for top-tier gas for your engine. 

What is Non-Top Tier Gas?

Now let’s talk about non-top tier gas. The first and most important thing to understand about non-top tier gas is that it is not bad for your car, it’s just not as good as top tier gas. 

So, your car will still run smoothly and have a long successful life with non-top tier gas. However, you may notice that the engine needs more maintenance, you end up purchasing more fuel over time because the car uses more per mile than with top-tier gas, and unfortunately, you may spend a lot more on repairs over the years. 

There are many gas stations that are still offering non-top tier gas, and if you have never heard of this certification before, it’s likely that you have been using both variations of gas in your car for years without much obvious trouble. 

What Kind of Gas does Sam’s Club Sell?

Sam’s Club does not source fuel from a sole oil company as most gas stations do. Instead, Sam’s Club operates as an unbranded, independent gas station.

While this may seem like they are trying to cut corners, it’s actually a good thing! Sam’s Club still needs to adhere to all of the requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) which have very strict gasoline requirements. 

Some research even shows that Sam’s Club gas, though not top tier, has its own additives to protect your engine in order to ensure a high-quality gas. 

The company offers the Sam’s Club Satisfaction Guarantee which offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, i.e. if you are not happy with your purchase, you get your money back. 

That being said, most people won’t be able to tell if they are unhappy with their gas until their car has problems months or even years later, by which point it would be hard to pinpoint exactly what caused the issues. 

Is Sam’s Club Gas the Cheapest?

If you have decided that you trust Sam’s Club’s gas and want to save some money on your next fill-up, you may be wondering if it is the most affordable option. 

It can be quite difficult to compare gas prices between companies as the price fluctuates so much, but overall, Sam’s Club gas prices are typically between 10-20% cheaper than most other stations. 

The exception to this rule is their major competitor, Costco. Even though Costco does over top tier gas, their prices are usually almost $0.25 cheaper per gallon than Sam’s. 

How can Costco do this you ask? Essentially, Costco is undercutting their gas prices in order to drive up business in their stores.

They pride themselves on being your one-stop-shop for literally everything you need in your life, and the plan is to get customers to purchase their gas, as well as their groceries, clothing, appliances, and pretty much everything else when they stop at Costco. 

Sam’s Club could use a similar model, but for some reason, they have decided that lowering their gas prices to meet Costco’s is not financially viable for them at this time. 

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Which Gas Stations Have top tier Gas? 

If you have decided that you want to opt for top-tier gas to keep your car in the best shape possible, Costco isn’t your only option. In fact, most major gas stations are offering top-tier gas. 

Here is a list of the most popular top-tier gas stations: 

  • Chevron
  • Citgo
  • Conoco
  • Exxon
  • Mobil
  • Sunoco
  • Shell
  • Sinclair

If your local station isn’t on this list, don’t worry, it may still offer top-tier gas. Luckily, you don’t have to know ahead of time whether your gas station offers top-tier gas, you can find out when you are at the pump. 

How Do You Know It’s Top Tier Gas?

When you roll up to any gas pump in the country, usually there are several options: regular, midgrade, and premium.

Each of these types of gas can be top tier, and you will easily be able to tell because the pump will have a label that clearly says “Top Tier.”

If you do not see the label, the gasoline is most likely not top-tier certified. 

When it comes to comparing different gas stations’ quality of gasoline, it can be pretty hard to tell. However, as long as it is labeled top tier, you can know you are giving your car safe and good-quality gas. 

How Much More Expensive is Top Tier Gas?

Now that you know pretty much everything there is to know about top-tier gas, you will certainly want to know how much opting for this upgrade is going to cost you. 

Here’s the thing, top-tier gas is usually only $0.03 more per gallon than non-top-tier gas. Although that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, it can add up if you are constantly filling up your car. 

It’s also important to note that this comparison is to other major gasoline chains, and as you already know, Sam’s Club often offers gas that is up to 20% less than the national average. 

Here’s the bottom line: top-tier gas is not a myth, it absolutely makes a difference to the health of your engine, however, if you are going to opt for the cheaper option and go for non-top-tier gas, Sam’s Club has the cheapest option out there. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have a few questions about Sam’s Club and top-tier gas, here are a few questions that are frequently asked by consumers and concise answers, so you have all the information you need: 

Is top-tier gas actually better for your car?

Yes, top-tier gas can help keep your carbon emissions down, increase your fuel economy, and even keep your engine running better for longer. 

Is non-top tier gas bad for your car?

While non-top tier gas is not technically bad for your car, if you use it consistently you may notice that your engine requires more cleaning and maintenance than if you continually use top tier gas. 

Do you need a Sam’s Club membership to buy their gas?

It depends on the location. Some Sam’s Club stations do require a membership to purchase gas, whereas others do not, you simply have to ask to find out (however, most stations do ask for your membership card.) 

Is Sam’s Club gas good gas?

Even though Sam’s Club gas is not certified top tier, it is still good gas. Sam’s Club adds additives of their own to ensure their gasoline is safe for your car, and they strictly follow the EPA and NFPA guidelines so you know you are getting quality gas. 

Conclusion

So, is Sam’s Club gas top tier? Unfortunately, no, the gasoline sold at Sam’s Club is not top tier. 

Deciding which kind of gas you want to put into your car is completely up to you, but hopefully, you now have all the information you need to decide if top-tier is worth the extra cost. 

It’s important to remember that Sam’s Club gas won’t hurt your car if you only use it occasionally, so if you are doing your weekly shopping and need some juice for your engine, you won’t really notice the non-top tier gas. 

References

https://dollarsanity.com/sams-club-gas-quality

Lindsey

Lindsey graduated with an MBA in 2009. Since then, Lindsey has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Lindsey is also the head writer and Co-founder of Rvandplaya.com. Lindsey is based in Morgantown, West Virginia.

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