The 2005 Toyota Camry requires four or five quarts of 5W-30 SAE fully synthetic motor oil to function properly, depending on which engine type it has.

Changing the oil in your car is a huge factor in the

basic car maintenance

that keeps your vehicle running smoothly. But how do you know what kind of oil your car needs, when to change it, or how to perform this maintenance task yourself?

Luckily

Jerry

, the super app that saves drivers time and money on

car insurance

shopping, has created a helpful guide to your Toyota’s engine oil capacity. We’ll discuss how much oil your car needs, what type of oil to use, how to change the oil and filter in your car, and even how to save on

Toyota car insurance costs

! Let’s get started.

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2005 Toyota Camry engine oil capacity

First thing first: depending on which engine type is in your 2005 Toyota Camry—the 2AZ-FE, the 1MZ-FE, or the 3MZ-FE—your vehicle will require four or five quarts (3.8 or 4.7 liters, respectively) of engine oil to function properly. The 2AZ-FE engine requires four quarts, and the other engine types require five.

Note that engine displacement and engine oil capacity are not the same. Displacement refers to the volume an engine’s cylinders take up (ie, 2.0L, 3.0L, or 3.3L), not the amount of oil that your engine needs.

What kind of oil does the 2005 Toyota Camry need?

If you take a look in your owner’s manual, you’ll see that the manufacturer recommends that you use Toyota Genuine SAE 5W-30 Full-Synthetic motor oil in your 2005 Camry. The owner's manual states that the next-best choice is SAE 10W-30 motor oil.

So, what does this actually mean? Those numbers represent your motor oil’s viscosity (or thickness). The “W” stands for winter. The number 0 before the W means that this particular oil type has a low viscosity at 0°F, while the number 20 means that it’s also relatively thin when the temperature reaches 212°F. SAE is an acronym for the Society of Automotive Engineers, which codes oil viscosity.

If you don’t understand most of that, though, there's no need to worry. Just make sure that the oil you purchase for your car is 5W-30 or 10W-30 grade, as using the wrong grade of motor oil can severely damage your engine!

MORE:

Can you add oil to a hot engine?

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How often to change the oil in a 2005 Toyota Camry

It’s recommended that you

change the oil

in your 2005 Toyota Camry every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Fortunately, most auto service shops will put a sticker on your windshield to remind you of when you’ll need your next oil change. If you’re not certain about the last time your oil was changed, though, you can also check your car’s oil health yourself— and, in fact, it’s recommended that you take a look at your car’s oil every month or so just to make sure everything is in good working order.

Some signs that you might be due for an oil change include:

Motor oil that has become dark brown or black, as opposed to the light brown or amber color of clean oil. Clean oil looks like a cup of tea, while dirty oil is like a cup of black coffee.)

Motor oil that feels coarse or gritty is due for a change, too. The grittiness could be from your engine, or it could just be small pieces of carbon that build up in your oil over time. Either way, it’s time for an oil change!

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine could indicate an issue with your engine, or could simply mean that your engine oil is old and tired.

Strange smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning, are good indicators that your oil needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

Changes in your vehicle’s performance could indicate that your car is low on oil.

MORE:

How to test an oil pump

How to change your oil and filter

Ok, so you need an oil change. How do you do it?

If you feel confident changing your oil yourself, you’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and an oil filter wrench to remove the old filter. Of course, you’ll also need a replacement filter and four or five quarts of 5W-30 synthetic engine oil to replace that dirty oil!

Here’s what to do:

Let your engine run for a little while (until it’s warm).

Shut off your engine and open the hood.

Remove the oil fill cap.

Get underneath your engine and place your drain pan underneath the oil reservoir.

Using your socket wrench, carefully remove the oil drain bolt and washer. The oil should begin to flow into the drain pan.

Remove the old oil filter and allow any remaining oil to drain out.

Install a new oil filter.

Replace and tighten the oil drain bolt and washer to a torque of 18 lb-ft.

Refill your engine with four or five quarts of 5W-30 synthetic oil and replace the oil fill cap.

Turn on your car and let your engine warm up for about 30 seconds.

And, just like that, you’ve replaced the oil in your car! Be certain to check your oil level using your car’s dipstick to ensure that you’ve properly refilled your oil reservoir. Finally, place your old, dirty oil into a sealed container and bring it to your local recycling center for proper disposal.

Finding the best insurance for your Toyota

Since you’re already learning how to save money by performing basic car maintenance tasks yourself, why not learn how to save on your

Toyota Camry car insurance

, too? Don’t worry— it’s easy! Just use

Jerry

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The best part? The average user saves close to $900 annually.

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