The 2002 Toyota Sequoia is a beastly SUV that combines comfort with muscle. And its comfortable and roomy interior pairs with Toyota's outstanding build quality to make this an excellent vehicle for whatever you can throw at it. But if you want your Sequoia to remain in top shape over time, you'll need to know its engine oil capacity—6.5 quarts.

Owning a car in today's day and age isn't cheap. And between your

car insurance

payments, fuel costs, and even

routine vehicle maintenance

, it might feel like your Sequoia is a money magnet. Replacing your oil and oil filter at home is a smart and simple way to save some cash—but don't forget to check your owner's manual for the oil capacity first.

If you don't have your owner's manual handy, don't stress. Today, we'll explain everything you need to know about your 2002 Toyota Sequoia engine oil capacity so you can change your oil with the confidence of a pro.

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2002 Toyota Sequoia engine oil capacity

The 4.7-liter V8 engine in your 2002 Toyota Sequoia holds 6.5 quarts or 6.2 liters of motor oil.

But don't confuse your engine size with its oil capacity. It's critical that you remember the difference between your Sequoia's

engine displacement

—the 4.7-liter volume of space inhabited by the motor's cylinders—and its oil capacity, which refers to the amount of oil the motor holds for lubrication purposes.

Your Toyota's engine displacement and oil capacity are not the same thing, and you should never use the two terms interchangeably.

What kind of oil does a 2002 Toyota Sequoia take?

You now know your Sequoia's engine oil capacity, but we're not done yet. We still need to discuss its oil type. That's right—there's a lot of variation between different motor oils, and you'll need to fill your 2002 Sequoia with the proper kind.

When it comes time to purchase your replacement oil, look for SAE 5W-30. That's the type of oil your owner's manual recommends using in your 2002 Toyota Sequoia, and you can't go wrong when you follow the manufacturer's instructions.

But what's the meaning behind those letters and numbers? While they may look confusing, oil codes are actually quite simple, and they are useful for explaining the oil's application. Let's look.

The letters "SAE" stand for the Society of Automotive Engineers. That's the organization tasked with writing these codes. And the numbers describe the oil's viscosity or thickness.

The first number—in the case of your Sequoia, "5"—describes the oil's thickness when your engine is cold. You can remember that one because it's next to the "W," which means winter. The final number—"30"—tells us how viscous the oil is when the motor is running and hot.

These codes are important because the oil's use depends on its thickness. We fill our automotive engines with thinner oil—which you can identify by the smaller numbers—because it moves through the motor freely and efficiently.

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How frequently should you change the oil on a 2002 Toyota Sequoia?

Toyota recommends replacing the oil in your 2002 Sequoia every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. But if you prefer tracking the intervals between oil changes in months, you should aim to replace the oil every six months.

But proper engine oil maintenance involves more than just replacing the oil every few thousand miles—you also need to check your oil regularly to ensure its condition and level are healthy. When inspecting your oil, look for these signs that it's time to replace it:

The oil has a black or dark brown color (clean oil looks very similar to dark honey and is partially transparent)

Your oil is muddy, chunky, or sludgy

The motor oil is gritty or grainy

Your Sequoia's engine is spewing foul odors, like oil, smoke, or burning

Your Toyota's engine performance suddenly decreases

Your Sequoia's engine is making unusual or new sounds, like knocking

How to change your 2002 Toyota Sequoia oil and filter

Once you know your 2002 Sequoia's oil type and capacity, you're ready to start changing it. These are the supplies and tools you'll need:

A 14-millimeter socket and a ratchet wrench

Something to lift your Sequoia off the ground, like ramps or a jack with jack stands

A torque wrench

An oil filter wrench

Fresh 5W-30 replacement oil

A clean oil filter

A drain pan

A funnel

A towel or rag to clean any spills

Before you pull the drain plug, start your Toyota and let it run for around five minutes. This step is not essential, but it will cause your Sequoia's engine to warm up enough to allow the oil to drain more efficiently. When the motor is warm, shut it off and start working on the following steps.

Remove your Sequoia's oil fill cap and the dipstick (this removes the vacuum, which causes the oil to drain more quickly).

Crawl beneath your SUV and remove its oil drain plug. Position the drain pan to collect the used oil as it drains.

As the oil is draining, remove the dirty oil filter.

Lubricate the new oil filter by applying a thin layer of fresh oil to the gasket before fitting it into place. Don't over-tighten the oil filter—screw it on only until it feels snug.

Reinstall the oil drain bolt, and use your torque wrench to tighten it to 30 lb-ft.

Fill your 2002 Toyota Sequoia with clean 5W-30 motor oil.

Once these steps are complete, start your Sequoia one more time and let it run for around 30 seconds. Then,

use your dipstick

to check the oil level and ensure it's within the proper range.

Your final step should be to recycle the dirty oil. Do this by transferring the old oil into the new oil bottle and returning it to your local auto parts store.

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