The 2008 GMC 2500 Duramax is one of the burliest used pickup trucks you can buy, but changing its engine oil doesn’t need to be a monstrous project! At least, not as long as you understand its engine oil capacity.

Maintaining a big truck might seem like a big project—but it’s something you can do effectively at home. Of course, you’ll need a bit of elbow grease, as well as a bit of knowledge regarding your vehicle’s engine.

Learn everything you need to know about at-home oil changes from

Jerry

—the super app that saves drivers time and money on

car insurance

shopping. Our handy guide will discuss your 2008 GMC 2500 Duramax’s engine oil capacity, the type of oil you need, how often you should change your oil, and some extra tips to help lower your

GMC insurance costs

2008 GMC 2500 Duramax engine oil capacity

Your 2008 GMC 2500 Duramax is powered by a massive 6.6L 90-Degree V8 Turbocharged Diesel engine that requires 10 quarts (about 9.5 liters) of oil.

But wait—how can a 6.6-liter engine take 9.5 liters of oil? Well, your engine’s oil capacity is not the same as its displacement. Here’s the difference:

Oil capacity refers to the amount of oil required for each oil change.

Displacement refers to the 6.6-liter volume that each of your engine’s cylinders takes up.

Are you overpaying for your car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Compare Rates Now

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees

4.717k Ratings

5M+Drivers Joined

7M+Cars Garaged

What kind of oil does a 2008 GMC 2500 Duramax need?

Now that you know you need 10 quarts of oil, it’s time to figure out exactly what sort of oil you’ll need to go shopping for. GMC recommends SAE 15W-40 oil.

If you’re not sure what these numbers mean, they simply refer to the oil’s viscosity—or how thick it is. “W” stands for winter, and the number before the “W” tells us the oil’s viscosity in cold temperatures (0°F). The second number tells us its viscosity in very hot temperatures (212°F).

GMC specifically recommends 15W-40 oil because of how it performs in specific weather conditions, as well as the amount of wear and tear it causes to your engine.

When shopping for 15W-40 oil, you’ll notice you have three major options:

Conventional motor oil

Full synthetic motor oil

Synthetic blend motor oil

Per GMC’s recommendations, any of these three types of oil will do—however, it’s important to note that they’re not all created equal! Conventional oil is cheaper than synhetic oil, but it causes more wear and tear to your engine, meaning you’ll need to change your oil more often (more on that later).

Full synthetic motor oil is higher quality and, therefore, more expensive—but it significantly extends the life of your oil changes. Predictably, synthetic blend oil exists somewhere in the middle.

MORE:

How to test an oil pump

How often to change the oil on a 2008 GMC 2500 Duramax

How often you

change your oil

depends on exactly which type of oil you choose to buy.

Experts always recommend full synthetic oil, allowing you to change your oil every 10,000 miles. If you don’t drive too much, this could be as infrequent as once per year!

If you do opt for a synthetic blend or conventional oil, you’ll need to perform oil changes much more often as part of your

basic car maintenance schedule

—about every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. In the end, you’ll likely spend more money on oil because of more frequent changes.

Don’t simply rely on these estimations — or your vehicle’s dashboard warning light — to inform you when it’s time to change your oil. Check your oil level regularly with your vehicle’s included dipstick.

Here are some things to look out for:

Dark brown or black oil resembling Pepsi or Coke. Clean oil should look more like tea — light brown or amber in color.

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine

New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Changes in your vehicle’s performance

Checking your oil monthly, and keeping an eye out for any of the above signs, is a great way to ensure that your engine is always kept in top-notch condition.

MORE:

GMC lug pattern guide

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know exactly what you need to change your oil, it’s time to get started! When you head to the auto parts store for 10 quarts of premium SAE 15W-40 oil, make sure you’ve got the following tools as well:

A socket wrench

A drain pan

A filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter

A replacement filter

Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, run your truck’s engine for a whileuntil it reaches normal operating temperature. This should only take about five minutes unless it's freezing cold out. Once everything is all warmed up, shut your engine off, and proceed with your oil change.

Follow these basic steps:

Remove the oil fill cap.

Crawl underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan.

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain.

Install the new filter.

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

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap.

shouldn't take long to change the oil

, but 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.

You can ensure that you’ve added enough oil to your vehicle by using the car’s dipstick. Then, run your vehicle for a few minutes and check carefully for leaks. Finally, take a look at your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

, which should be off.

Don’t forget to clean up responsibly! Never dump the dirty oil on the ground, down a drain, or in your regular trash can. Instead, place it safely in a sealed container and bring it to a local recycling center for eco-friendly disposal.

Maintain low insurance rates with Jerry

Changing your truck’s oil at home is all about

saving money on your car expenses

. For even more savings, download

Jerry

Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.

After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, our

trustworthy insurance shopping super app

will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They can even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?

“I was looking for a liability insurance plan for my truck until I can afford more coverage.
Jerry
made it simple to shop around for the best deal for me. Thank you!” —Jake L.

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™

Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.

Try GarageGuard™