The 2005 Acura TL is a luxury sedan that, unfortunately, didn’t receive very great reliability ratings. So if you’re still holding onto one, regular oil changes are absolutely essential to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. To get that done at home, you’ll need to know your engine oil capacity—4.5 quarts.

Some vehicles will keep running and running for decades. Others need a little more tender loving care. Either way, DIY oil changes are a great way to save yourself money—and because

regular maintenance

helps keep your engine in tip-top shape, it could save you on expensive

car repairs

later, too.

Whether you’ve lost your owner’s manual, or just want a more comprehensive guide, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through your oil’s capacity, the type of oil you need, and even the basic steps for performing the oil change yourself.

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2005 Acura TL engine oil capacity

First things first: how much oil goes in a 2005 Acura TL?

The ‘05 TL is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that has an oil capacity of 4.5 quarts—or about 4.3 liters.

Confused about how a 3.5-liter engine can hold 4.3 liters of oil? Let us explain. The 3.5-liter label refers to your engine’s displacement—or how much oil is taken up by the cylinders while the engine is working. Your oil capacity articulates how much oil will be needed for each change. The two numbers are never interchangeable.

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What kind of oil does a 2005 Acura TL need?

Oil capacity matters—but oil type matters just as much.

Your 2005 Acura TL requires SAE full synthetic 0W-20 motor oil for optimal engine performance, per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you’re just learning that all engine oils aren’t created equal, let’s break this down for you.

First off, SAE stands for “Society of Automotive Engineers,” which is simply the organization that reviews oils and assigns grades. In this case, the assigned grade is 0W-20.

The numbers in the grade refer to the oil’s viscosity, or thickness. Because your oil’s viscosity will vary at different temperatures, this is indicated in the grade. “W” stands for “winter,” and the number preceding the “W” indicates the viscosity at low temps, while the number after the “W” indicates the viscosity at high heat.

Finally, you’ll want to opt for full synthetic oil, which contains fewer impurities compared to conventional oil.

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How often to change oil on a 2005 Acura TL

Once you’ve made the trip to your local auto store and purchased all the right products, it’s time to

change your oil

Or is it? Fortunately, full synthetic oil—though more expensive—allows you to go a bit longer between oil changes. Experts recommend performing the service every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

If you do opt for conventional oil, make sure you still get the same exact grade, and change your oil more often—every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Either way, these ranges aren’t exactly specific. That’s why it’s important to check your oil regularly. We recommend popping open your hood on a monthly basis and looking out for the following hints that your oil is dark brown or black or feels coarse or gritty.

While driving, you should also pay attention to any new sounds or smells coming from the engine—especially ones that smell like oil, smoke, or burning. And, of course, any changes in your vehicle’s performance could indicate that new oil is necessary right away.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Once it’s time to change your oil, start by collecting your supplies. In addition to five quarts of 0W-20 engine oil and a replacement filter, gather a drain pan, and a socket and filter wrench.

Begin by starting your vehicle and letting it run until it’s at its normal operating temp. If it’s not freezing out, this will take just a few moments.

Once your engine feels warm, turn it off, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Unscrew the oil fill cap

Crawl beneath your car’s engine and take off the oil drain bolt and washer

Allow the old oil to empty into the drain pan

Once the flow of oil slows or stops, take out the old oil filter

Wait a few more minutes for any remaining oil to drain

Carefully install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Using a funnel if necessary, pour the new oil into your engine

Replace the cap

Turn your car on and let it warm up for about 30 seconds, which will allow the new oil to fill the filter. Using your dipstick, ensure you’ve added an appropriate amount of oil to your engine, adding more if needed.

Finally, turn your vehicle back on and—while it’s running—carefully look around for oil leaks. If you did your job correctly, the

oil pressure light

on your vehicle’s dashboard should automatically shut off. (Your oil change light, however, will need to be manually reset.)

One last tip: when cleaning up, never dump the used oil out onto your grass. You shouldn’t put it in your regular garbage bin, either! Always (carefully) pour it into a sealed container for disposal at your nearest recycling center.

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