Sam’s Club gas has been my go-to gas station in recent years. And although I have never been one to worry about the gas I put in my car, I have recently become more particular.
So I started wondering if Sam’s Club gas is top-tier and if they have ethanol. This is what we found..
Does Sam’s Club Gas Have Ethanol?
Sam’s Club does not specify whether their fuels contain ethanol or not. However, as most of the fuel sold in the United States does contain about 10% ethanol, it is safe to assume that Sam’s Club gas also contains ethanol.
This article takes a look at Sam’s Club gas: the brand, the quality, who can buy it, and whether it’s ok for your vehicle.

Why Is Ethanol Added To Gasoline?
Currently, around 97% of all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains ethanol. There are three main types of ethanol gas to choose from: E85, which contains 85% ethanol; E10, which contains 10% ethanol; and E15, which contains 15% ethanol.
Ethanol, which is produced through the processes of fermentation and distillation, is blended with gasoline to make a cleaner mix and which puts fewer emissions into the environment.
This ethanol mix also keeps the car in better shape by increasing the octane rating of the fuel. This prevents ‘engine knocking’ and ‘drivability’ (or degree of smoothness and steadiness) of the car.
Ethanol is usually made from fermented corn and is found in most alcoholic beverages. The type of ethanol that is put into gasoline is different from normal alcohol ethanol. To make the ethanol suitable for vehicles, it has to go into a separate refinery where other chemicals are blended through it. After this, the ethanol is no longer safe for humans to consume but is fine for vehicles.
The ethanol is made from natural resources and burns slightly cleaner and emits fewer pollutants than regular gas by itself, however, there is currently ongoing argument about the sustainability and environmental impact of the production of ethanol in the US.
Read: Can Sam’s Club Look Up Receipts?
Does Sam’s Club Gas Have Diesel?
Sam’s Club sells regular, premium, and diesel fuel, and most major forms of payments are accepted. However, nearly all Sam’s Club gas stations are only available to Sam’s Club members.
The gas prices at Sam’s Club gas stations are nearly always lower than regular stations, ranging from 5 cents to 25 cents less per gallon. Members also report that Sam’s Club gas hold their prices lower for longer when general prices go up.
You do need to sign up to a membership if you want to purchase fuel from Sam’s Club. The annual membership fees are $45 for Club and $100 for Plus, and both memberships come with associated benefits, deals, savings, and rewards.
Savings at the pump depend on how much you drive, how much gas you use and how often you plan to shop at Sam’s Club warehouses in general. The benefits of joining up are available on the Sam’s Club membership page.
What Brand Of Gas Does Sam’s Club Sell?
Sam’s Club, which is owned and operated by its parent company Walmart, sells its own brand of gasoline, so the brand is simply the Sam’s Club brand.
Sam’s Club does not source fuel from a sole oil company. Instead, Sam’s Club operates as an unbranded, independent gas station. Their gas, although not ‘Top Tier’, is reported to still be of a high quality, and the Sam’s Club customer satisfaction guarantee also applies to fuel sales.
Moreover, Sam’s Club company (as with all fuel retailers) are mandated to follow the US government’s basic guidelines, EPA and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and other official regulations.
Read: Does Sam’s Club Have A Food Court?
Can Customers Find Out Which Country Or State The Gasoline They Buy Comes From?
Petroleum refineries in the US make gasoline and other petroleum products from crude oil and other liquids that are produced in the United States (or imported from other countries). Nearly all of the gasoline sold in the United States is produced in the United States.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) cannot identify the specific origin of gasoline sold at fueling stations. The gasoline a company sells in its branded fueling stations (such as Sam’s Club) is not necessarily produced by that company.
Gasoline brands get mixed during shipment. This means that the only difference between gasoline at one company’s fueling stations and gasoline sold by another company is the small amount of additives that are blended into the gasoline after it leaves pipelines and before it gets to fueling stations.
What Is Top Tier Gas?
Top Tier gas is a brand-name fuel that has been treated with specific additives and detergents to help prevent and even reverse carbon build-up inside car engines.
Carbon build up can cause a range of mechanical problems in your engine. However, while no car absolutely requires Top Tier gasoline, there are benefits to running your engine on high-quality fuel.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had begun to regulate the minimum level of detergents in gasoline for road vehicles in 1996. Testing had revealed that car emissions were getting cleaner, but after a few thousand miles, carbon build-up was causing pollution well above acceptable limits.
Automakers began researching the value of a quality fuel they could recommend to customers and improve the reliability of their car brands. In 2004, Top Tier was launched to certify fuel companies as offering fuel that met these companies ‘standards. The Top Tier qualifications apply to diesel fuel as well.
Should I Buy Sam’s Club Gas?
According to Sam’s Club members, the main reason you’d want to be buying your gas at Sam’s Club gas stations is because it’s so cheap compared to everywhere else.
The reasons for these savings is that places like Sam’s Club (and Costco) can buy fuel in bulk from refineries. This means they save as a wholesaler and then pass those savings on to the consumer – in this case to their club members.
Sam’s Club gas, although not certified as Top Tier, is still a quality fuel which is served from company stations which abide by the proper legislations and safety regulations.
It’s important to remember though, that Sam’s Club fuel stations can get very busy: if you don’t like queueing up, then avoid the busy hours.
You can’t use Cash to pay for Sam’s Club fuel. They only accepts card (all the major credit cards) and contactless payments, any of the Sam’s Club cards, the Sam’s Club Scan & Go app, or a Walmart rewards card.
And you can’t get gas after closing, and Sam’s Club gas stations are not 24/7. It’s best to check the hours of a Sam’s gas station before you go there, as they don’t have consistent hours from state to state.
Summary
Sam’s Club gasoline does contain ethanol, but so does nearly all fuel sold in the United States.
Sam’s Club don’t specify how much ethanol is in the fuel they sell, and neither do they reveal details of the origin of their fuel.
However, Sam’s Club members generally agree that the fuel is both reliable and affordable.