Motor need

Latest answer — August 18, 2026

38 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

OIL is a basic need for a motor because it lubricates moving parts and helps prevent overheating and wear. The clue uses the general mechanical sense of “motor.”

Clue type:
Definition
Oil being added to a car engine.

Thomas Joseph Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 18, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Go by
  2. 7Salon supplies
  3. 11Straight
  4. 12Diva’s piece
  5. 13Prince song
  6. 15Moved carefully
  7. 16Alley prowlers
  8. 18“Edward Scissorhands” star
  9. 21Killer whale
  10. 22Said no to
  11. 24Chest muscle, for short
  12. 25Zeus or Apollo
  13. 26Letter after sigma
  14. 27Kilt pattern
  15. 29Folded food
  16. 30Hotel worker
  17. 31Robe feature
  18. 32Locker room need
  19. 34Prince song
  20. 40Confident
  21. 41Pilot Earhart
  22. 42Love, Latin-style
  23. 43Just

Down

  1. 1Building wing
  2. 2Tell tales
  3. 3Industrious insect
  4. 4Former Spanish coin
  5. 5Long stories
  6. 6Amorous archer
  7. 7Growing plot
  8. 8Stretch of years
  9. 9Designer Claiborne
  10. 10Put into words
  11. 14Surrendered
  12. 16Prince song
  13. 17Capital of Ghana
  14. 19Pocket breads
  15. 20Prince song
  16. 21Make a choice
  17. 22Mafia leader
  18. 23Couple
  19. 25Gal of “Wonder Woman”
  20. 28Nervous laugh
  21. 29More statuesque
  22. 31Note from the boss
  23. 33Impact sound
  24. 34Much of N. Amer.
  25. 35Tooth surrounder
  26. 36Spanish gold
  27. 37Bullfight call
  28. 38Motor need
  29. 39Arthur’s foster brother

The answer to “Motor need” in the Thomas Joseph crossword is OIL — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 18, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 38-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Motor need” answer

OIL (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is OIL.

What does OIL mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of OIL is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant
  • oil paint
  • information or facts

When else has “Motor need” appeared?

Thomas Joseph reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 18, 2026 (most recent) → OIL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Motor need”?

The answer is OIL, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Motor need”?

3 letters: OIL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 18, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 38-Down.

Can “Motor need” have a different answer?

Yes — Thomas Joseph sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Thomas Joseph answers?

The full grid for August 18, 2026 is on the Thomas Joseph answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Thomas Joseph Crossword is published by King Features Syndicate; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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