Whether you’re blazing a backroad trail or just cruising the city in style, the Toyota 4Runner is a great blend of sport utility and comfortable style. And if you want to keep your SUV in top shape, knowing its engine oil capacity can really help.

Keeping up with routine

car maintenance

is the best way to keep your vehicle running and avoid costly

car repair

bills down the road. But you can save even more money by doing some routine maintenance yourself—and changing your 2005 Toyota 4Runner’s oil yourself is a great place to start.

If you’ve never changed your oil by yourself before,

Jerry

has your back. Not only is our super app the best place to find great deals on

car insurance

, but we also have all the maintenance guides drivers need, including this guide we put together on everything you need to know about your Toyota 4Runner’s oil capacity and needs. We've even included tips on how to save on your

Toyota 4Runner car insurance costs

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2005 Toyota 4Runner engine oil capacity

First of all, you need to know exactly how much engine oil your 2005 Toyota 4Runner needs.

The 2005 4Runner has an oil capacity of 5.5 quarts or 5.2 liters. When you start shopping around for oil, you’ll notice they usually sell 1-quart or 5-quart jugs. You’ll need to buy six quarts of oil to make sure you have enough to fill your oil reservoir—don’t buy less than you need or your engine won’t have enough oil to operate efficiently.

What kind of oil does a 2005 Toyota 4Runner need?

There are many different types of engine oil, and not all of them will work for your 4Runner! Toyota recommends a 5W-30 synthetic oil for the 2005 4Runner, and it’s important to use the manufacturer’s recommendation to keep your vehicle in good working condition—and you could void your warranty if you use the wrong thing.

A 5W-30 oil means the oil’s viscosity. In this case, it is still low at extremely cold temperatures (5W means it’s got a low viscosity at 0 degrees Fahrenheit), and it stays pretty thin (a viscosity of 30) in extreme heat. Using an oil with a low viscosity—like the ones Toyota recommends—is crucial to keeping your engine running at extreme temperatures.

Toyota recommends using synthetic oil, most likely because synthetic oil has extra additives and ingredients to help your engine’s performance. If you want to follow the manufacturer guidelines exactly, you can purchase genuine

Toyota 5W-30 synthetic motor oil

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change oil on a 2005 Toyota 4Runner

Most drivers know they need to change their oil regularly, but how often should you do it? That answer depends on the type of oil you use.

If you use

conventional engine oil

in your 2005 4Runner, you’ll want to get the oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

However, semi-synthetic and full synthetic oils last a bit longer before they need to be changed. You can wait for 7,000 to 10,000 miles between oil changes for full synthetic oil, as long as you

check your oil

levels regularly to make sure you still have enough oil and it’s not dirty.

Your vehicle may start showing signs that it needs an oil change before you hit the mileage limit. If you notice any of the following issues, you’ll want to change the oil soon:

If the oil is dark brown or black (clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda)

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty

New or strange engine noises

Strange burning or smoke smells

Decreased or sluggish engine performance

MORE: Every Toyota sports car you should know

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once your vehicle is ready for an

oil change

, all you need to do is buy new oil, get a replacement filter, and assemble the right tools. You’ll need a socket wrench, a pan to catch the old oil, and a filter wrench.

You’ll want to start your vehicle and let the engine run for a few minutes or until it reaches operating temperature. This will help the oil drain quicker. Once your vehicle is heated up, switch the engine off and open the hood.

Remove the oil fill cap

Position your drain pan and remove the oil drain bolt

Allow all the old oil to drain into the pan, but keep the pan in place! (You’ll see why in the next step)

Remove the old oil filter. There might be some extra engine oil that leaks out when you remove the filter. Wait until it stops draining.

Install new oil filter and replace the drain bolt

Refill oil reservoir with new oil and replace fill cap

Be sure to check that you’ve put enough oil in your engine, then turn your vehicle on again and let the engine run for a few minutes to cycle the new oil. You’ll want to clean up any spilled oil and you can pour all the dirty oil into a sealed container and take it to a recycling facility.

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Routine maintenance is a car owner’s best line of defense when it comes to preventing expensive engine damage, and doing some of that maintenance yourself can save you even more money.

You can also save money on your

Toyota car insurance costs

– no phone calls or paperwork required! Just download

Jerry

, the

trustworthy licensed broker app

, and in under a minute you’ll have customized insurance quotes from the nation’s top providers. You can pick the coverage that’s right for you and a price that won’t break your budget.

And here at Jerry, we know a thing or two about maintenance. We have your car insurance maintenance covered, because every time your policy is due for renewal, we’ll automatically check your rates to make sure you’re still getting the best deals on coverage.

“I just had to buy a new car, and I needed quick help to get insurance before I could get my plates. Because I work so many hours,
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was the ideal choice for getting things done without long phone calls and waiting periods.” —Rosa G.

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