With excellent safety scores, plenty of cargo space, and a powerful engine, the 2008 Saab 9-3 is a great pick for any driver. If you want to maintain your Saab for years to come or perform your own oil changes, you’re going to need to know its engine oil capacity.

Being a car owner in today’s economy can be tough. Whether you’re thinking about gas, regular maintenance costs, or car insurance, you need to spend a pretty penny to keep your car running in good shape.

That’s why some people choose to take on simple maintenance tasks, like an oil change, at home. Just make sure you take a look at your Saab’s owner’s manual before you break out your tools.

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2008 Saab 9-3 engine oil capacity

Firstly, you need to figure out how much oil your 2008 Saab 9-3 is going to need. Your 2008 Saab 9-3’s engine oil capacity is 6.3 quarts.

Your oil capacity refers to how much oil your engine needs to run and how much oil you’re going to need to purchase for an oil change.

This might sound confusing if you know that your engine is 2.0L—this number is the engine displacement, or the amount of space your cylinders take up, which is totally different.

Mixing these numbers up can be extremely damaging to the engine, so be careful!

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

What kind of oil does a 2008 Saab 9-3 need?

Now that you have an idea of how much oil your Saab needs, you’re going to need to figure out what type of oil you should be looking for. Since motor oil varies, you’re going to need to find the right type and grade that works best with your Saab 9-3’s engine.

Saab recommends that 2008 9-3 drivers use 5W-30 motor oil. The owner's manual also says that 0W-30, 0W-40, and 5W-40 motor oils are safe to use in your vehicle as long as they meet the same quality standards.

To understand why you should be using this grade, you need to understand what the numbers and letters mean. The 5 indicates that the oil has a lower viscosity (thickness) at 0°F, while the 30 tells you it has a thinner consistency at normal operating temperature (212°F). The W tells you that it works well in colder temperatures during winter months.

You’re looking for motor oil that will work well in colder temperatures, is versatile, and will cause less damage to your engine in the long run.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change oil on a 2008 Saab 9-3

Now that you know what type of oil you need, you need to recognize when it’s time for an oil change.

Mechanics recommend that drivers change their Saab’s oil every 7,500 miles. However, this might change depending on how often you drive, or if there are any other signs that you might need an oil change. A better metric is checking on your engine after every other refuel to ensure there are no issues.

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Be on the lookout for the following:

Dirty motor oil: If you notice dark brown,

black, or gritty in engine oil

, that means that your motor oil has collected too much debris

Strange noises: If you hear screeching, that’s a sign that your oil needs to be changed

Weird smells: Smells like oil, smoke, or burning can tell you that your oil needs to be changed

An overall decrease in performance

MORE: How to tune up a car

How to change your oil and oil filter

For your Saab’s oil change, make sure you have the following

essential car tools and supplies

handy:

A socket wrench

A drain pan

A filter wrench to remove the old oil filter

A replacement filter

Seven quarts of premium 5W-30 engine oil

Once you have everything ready follow these steps:

Run your engine to warm your vehicle up (this should take five minutes in normal temperatures)

Turn the engine off and pop the hood open

Take off the oil fill cap

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer. These should be under the engine

Drain 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. Tighten it to 29 lb-ft

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

Run your engine again to check for leaks

Clean your workspace. Put the oil in a sealed container and bring it to a recycling center

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.

Use your dipstick as an indicator of when you’ve added enough oil to your engine. If you’ve done everything correctly, your car's

your car's oil pressure light

should turn off.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Congrats! You’ve just completed an oil change! Now you’ll be set to save hundreds of dollars on car maintenance in the years to come.

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