The 2010 Toyota Corolla may not seem all that fancy, but if you’re looking for great value, long-term reliability, and excellent fuel economy ratings, then you can’t go wrong with this budget buy. To keep it in the best shape possible, you should familiarize yourself with all its specs—including the 4.4-quart oil capacity.

Toyota’s 2010 Corolla comes in one body style—the sedan—but there are several trims to choose from. By learning your engine’s oil needs, you can do maintenance all on your own, saving money (and maybe even time) in the process.

Here to guide you through the 2010 Toyota Corolla’s engine oil capacity specs is

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2010 Toyota Corolla engine oil capacity

We’ll cut to the chase: the 2010 Toyota Corolla’s 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine has an oil capacity of 4.4 quarts. And yes, the oil capacity remains the same no matter which trim or model you have. Even if you drive the manual or the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder XRS sedan, your engine will take 4 quarts of oil.

Pro Tip Do not confuse your engine’s displacement—or the 1.8-liter volume the cylinders take up—with oil capacity. These numbers represent different things and should never be interchanged.

What kind of oil does a 2010 Toyota Corolla need?

Okay, so now that we’ve got the engine’s oil capacity out of the way, you’ll also need to consider what kind of oil it takes to keep things running efficiently. Don’t just pull any old oil off the shelf—you’ll specifically want to search for SAE 5W-20 grade full synthetic oil or SAE 0W-20 grade full synthetic oil.

So what exactly do we mean by SAE 5W-20 oil? The numbers you see mean the oil’s viscosity, which essentially just means how thick it is. The number 5 before W (which stands for winter) means that the oil has a low viscosity at 0°F, while the 20 means the oil stays pretty thin even at a searing 212°F.

It’s best to stick to the manufacturer’s recommendation, so look out for Toyota genuine motor oil—or the equivalent that satisfies the International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee’s (ILSAC) guidelines in 5W-20.

Using the proper oil will ensure your engine can perform its best while protecting itself from harsh aging. This is because synthetic oil is specially made with synthetic chemical compounds that are more stable, making it harder to deteriorate.

You can browse online for oil before going to the store to familiarize yourself with options, but your local auto parts and service shop store should be able to give you the full rundown on what’s best. When in doubt, use Toyota Genuine 0W-20 or 5W-20 Motor oil.

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How often to change the oil on a 2010 Toyota Corolla

Knowing when to change the oil on your 2010 Toyota Corolla is another important factor in keeping your vehicle healthy, but it’s not always a hard and fast rule.

Toyota recommends that you should change your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles if you’re using synthetic oil every time.

If you’re in a pinch and need to use conventional formula, however, you should change your oil after 3,000 miles—just be sure to use synthetic on the next run and don’t push it past this mileage or you could run into problems.

But again, don’t forget to pay attention to your car’s specific needs. You will need to check your oil levels monthly (or every other refuel) to ensure everything is still running smoothly. Here are some symptoms that it’s time to change your oil:

The oil is dark brown or black—rather than light brown or amber, which is the color of clean oil

The oil feels gritty or course

There are strange and unfamiliar noises emitting from the engine

There are new and strange smells like smoke, burning, or strong oil odor

Your vehicle has dropped in performance

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The best Toyota Tacoma aftermarket parts

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know your Corolla’s oil specs and when to change it, it’s time to learn how to change it. First, get together your materials to do the job: a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench. You’ll also need to remember to get a replacement filter and five quarts of advanced synthetic 5W-20 engine oil.

To begin, let your engine run for five minutes, or until your Corolla reaches normal operating temperature. Once it gets there, shut off the engine, open the hood, and follow our nifty guide:

Take off the oil fill cap

Position yourself under the engine, remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and drain the oil into the drain pan

Take out the old oil filter while the oil continues to drain

Put in the new filter

Use a new washer to replace the oil drain bolt and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Top off the engine with the new oil and replace the oil fill cap

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.

Check your dipstick to ensure there’s enough oil in the engine. Once finished, all you have to do is run your car for a few moments and keep an eye out for any leaks. If you don’t see any liquid escape and your dashboard’s oil pressure light turns off, then you have successfully changed your oil—congrats!

Oh, and one more thing: don’t forget to clean up! Don’t dump dirty oil on the ground or litter. To properly dispose of the old oil, you should instead seal up the oil container to bring to a local recycling center.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Change can be hard—it often means you’re going to have to put in extra work with no guarantees that things will turn out better than before. But here at

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