Focus is an affordable compact car with above-average reliability ratings. However, to keep it running for as long as possible, you’ll need to know its engine oil capacity—which is 4.5 quarts (or about 4.3 liters).

A 2009 Ford Focus needs 4.5 quarts or 4.3 liters of motor oil.
Ford recommends that you use SAE 5W-20 synthetic blend oil in your ‘09 Focus.
You can save money by changing the oil in your 2009 Focus at home.

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2009 Ford Focus engine oil capacity

First things first: exactly how much oil does a 2009 Ford Focus need?

This little compact vehicle is run by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that requires 4.5 quarts or 4.3 liters of motor oil.

Be careful to never confuse your engine’s oil capacity with your engine’s displacement—or the amount of oil taken up by the cylinders while your engine does its job. If you only purchase enough oil for your engine’s displacement, you surely won’t have enough!

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What kind of oil does a 2009 Ford Focus need?

Unfortunately, you can’t just go to AutoZone and purchase the cheapest container of oil you find on the shelf. That’s because not all oils are created equal, and Ford recommends specific oil viscosities (or thicknesses) for their various vehicles.

For the 2009 Focus, you should use SAE 5W-20 oil. Not sure what these numbers and letters mean? Let’s break it down:

SAE stands for “Society of Automotive Engineers”—they’re the organization that assigns grades to oils

The “W” here stands for “winter”

The number preceding the W—in this case, 5—refers to the oil’s viscosity in very cold temperatures

The number following the W—in this case, 20—refers to the oil’s viscosity in extremely hot temperatures

Finally, you’ll have to choose between conventional oil, full synthetic oil, and synthetic blend oil. While all will work in your Focus’ engine, Ford specifically recommends synthetic blends.

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How often to change oil on a 2009 Ford Focus

Are you ready to

change your oil

? How do you know?!

Well, Ford recommends changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you’re using conventional oil. The average American drives over 14,000 miles per year, so oil changes could be necessary every couple of months.

However, if you opt for full synthetic or synthetic blend oils, then you can drive a bit longer between oil changes. Experts recommend changing your synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

Whichever oil type you choose, you should always keep a careful eye on your engine, checking it monthly to ensure the oil levels are safe and looking out for the following signs that your Focus is due for an oil change:

Dirty brown or black oil (clean oil will be light in color)

Oil that feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar sounds coming from the engine

Unusual engine smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Changes in your Ford’s performance

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Ready to change your oil at home? Here are the basic tools you’ll need:

A drain pan

A socket wrench

A filter wrench

5 quarts of 5W-20 engine oil

A new oil filter

Optional: a car jack or jack stands

Optional: tarps or rags to protect your driveway or garage floor

Begin by running the engine for about five minutes or so, until it reaches normal operating temperature. In colder weather, this may take a bit longer.

Once things are nice and toasty, jack up your car (if desired), turn off your engine, pop open your hood, and follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get 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

Once complete, you’ll want to remove your Focus from the jack stands and turn the engine back on. While the car runs, take a careful look around for any leaks. Then, after the filter has had the opportunity to fill with clean oil, use the dipstick to check your oil levels.

If everything was executed properly, your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

But you’re not done yet! Make sure you clean up responsibly by pouring the dirty oil in a sealed container and recycling it at an appropriate center. Never dump dirty oil out on the grass or ground.

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How much does a Ford oil change cost?

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