expenses. It keeps your car’s mechanical components in better condition for longer, and can help you catch small problems before they turn into big ones.

To reduce costs even further, some vehicle owners choose to do easy maintenance tasks at home. An oil change can be a great, easy-to-learn DIY project—but before you do an oil change on your 2008 Prius, make sure you know your car’s engine oil capacity and oil type.

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2008 Toyota Prius engine oil capacity

The 2008 Toyota Prius is fitted with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an engine oil capacity of 3.9 quarts. Keep in mind that it can be easy to confuse your engine oil capacity with your car’s 1.5-liter engine displacement. Engine displacement simply refers to the amount of volume your engine cylinders take up, and has no bearing on the amount of oil you need to perform an oil change.

It’s important to make sure you use the right amount of oil when performing your 2008 Prius’ oil change. Too little oil can lead to problems like poor lubrication and more frequent oil changes, while too much oil can cause bigger issues such as engine damage.

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What kind of oil does a 2008 Toyota Prius need?

The 2008 Toyota Prius

owner’s manual

recommends using ILSAC multigrade engine oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 to perform your oil change. Not sure what that means? Let’s break it down!

The term multigrade engine oil simply refers to a type of lightweight oil that performs well in both high and low temperatures. The 5W represents your oil viscosity in cold weather (the W stands for “winter”) while the 30 represents your oil viscosity in warm temperatures.

There are technical reasons why these exact viscosity numbers matter, but the most important thing to know is that using the correct oil in your car helps maximize fuel economy and improves performance.

If you’re not sure which brand of engine oil you want to buy, you can always ask a friendly auto parts store sales associate for help, or simply follow the manufacturer’s recommendation of Toyota Genuine Motor Oil.

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How often to change oil on a 2008 Toyota Prius

To prevent unnecessary problems like overheating and engine damage, experts recommend changing your car’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you opt for conventional oil, or every 7,500 to 10,000 miles if you choose a fully-synthetic or synthetic-blend motor oil.

However, these mileage recommendations might not work if you put fewer than 7,500 miles per year on your car. Low-mileage drivers should aim to change their oil about once every six months instead.

If you can’t remember when your last oil change was, here are a few things to look out for.

Black or dark brown oil. If your oil is very dark or opaque-looking, it’s probably time for an oil change. Clean oil will be translucent and appear amber or light brown in color.

Oil that looks like sludge. Oil that is thick, slimy, or gritty should be drained and replaced with fresh oil.

There’s a burning smell while driving your car. If you smell smoke or burning while your engine is running, old oil may be causing your engine to overheat.

Odd noises or performance issues. Strange sounds and changes to how your car drives can be triggered by any number of car problems, but old or dirty oil is often the culprit.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Before you attempt your first

oil change

, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional or enroll in a car maintenance class. Of course, these methods may not be an option for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! Check out useful online resources such as Coursera, Udemy, or YouTube for a wide range of excellent, beginner-friendly tutorials.

When you feel like you have a good grasp on at-home oil change basics, go ahead and give it a try! First, make sure your garage or driveway is free from clutter or debris that might get in your way. Then, gather your supplies and place them in an easily accessible area.

Here’s what you’ll need:

New bottle of motor oil

New oil filter

Wrench that fits your drain plug

Oil drip pan

Floor jack and stands

Rags or paper towels

Dipstick

Next, turn on your car and let your engine run until it reaches a normal operating temperature. In most cases, this should only take a few minutes, but it could take a little longer if you’re working in a very cold climate. Once you’ve warmed up your car, turn it off again, then use your floor jack and jack stands to raise it off the floor.

Now you’re ready to begin the oil change itself! Here’s what you need to do:

Unscrew the oil fill cap.

Get under your car, and remove the oil drain bolt and washer.

Allow the old oil to drain into your drip pan.

Remove the old oil filter and replace it with your new one.

Reattach the oil drain bolt using a new washer, and tighten it.

Fill the engine with 3.9 quarts of ILSAC multigrade engine oil.

Let the engine run for a minute to fill your new filter with oil.

Test your oil level with a dipstick, and add more oil if it’s low.

Replace the oil fill cap.

If you’ve followed these steps, then you probably completed your oil change correctly—but it’s still a good idea to double check! Let your car run for a few minutes and keep an eye out for leaks. As long as there’s no leaking and your

oil pressure light

turns off, then you can safely hit the road again.

Pro Tip: Don’t dump your old oil out onto the ground or throw it out with your regular trash. Instead, store it in a sealed container until you can bring it to an auto parts shop that participates in an oil recycling program.

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