The 2010 Toyota Tundra not only offers strong engine options with an incredible towing capacity but it’s also got great safety scores too. If you want to keep this tough full-size pickup truck in tiptop shape though, you’ll need to know the engine oil capacity—5.5 quarts or 7.9 quarts depending on the engine.

Owning a heavy-duty pickup truck can start to add up quickly, from expensive insurance to costly gas prices at the pump. But you can save on the 2010 Toyota Tundra ownership costs by changing your oil from the comfort of your own home. Your Toyota owner’s manual will guide you on the proper oil type and capacity for your model but if you lost it—we’ve got you covered.

Let’s look at everything you need to know about changing the oil on a 2010 Toyota Tundra.

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How to save on Toyota Tundra car insurance costs

2010 Toyota Tundra engine oil capacity

So how much engine oil does your 2010 Toyota Tundra need? It depends on the engine—and you have three to choose from!

If your Tundra is powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine, then it has an oil capacity of 5.5 quarts or 5.2 liters. But if you have a more powerful 4.6-liter or 5.7-liter V8 engine under your hood, then your oil capacity will go up a few notches to 7.9 quarts or 7.48 liters.

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What kind of oil does a 2010 Toyota Tundra need?

After taking your engine into account, you’ll have your Tundra’s oil capacity. From there, you’ll need to choose the right oil according to your engine.

With a V6 engine, you’ll have to look for an SAE 5W-30 with an ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee) Certification Mark. With a mighty V8 engine under your hood, you’ll need to opt for the SAE 0W-20 instead. Either way, Toyota recommends that drivers stick with

Toyota Genuine Motor Oil

—though any high-quality SAE 5W-30 or 0W-20 will do if you can’t find the genuine oil.

Not sure how to decipher these codes? Let’s break down what these engine oil ratings mean.

SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers—the organization that codes oil viscosity. The numbers in the oil grade refer to the thickness of the oil’s viscosity, while the “W” simply stands for winter. The numbers 5 and 0 before the “W” indicates that the oil has a lower viscosity which allows the engine to start easier in colder weather. On the other hand, the numbers 30 and 20 after the “W” indicate the oil viscosity when the oil is at its operating temperature.

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How often to change oil on a 2010 Toyota Tundra

Now that you know the oil capacity and type on the 2010 Toyota Tundra, it’s about time to

change your oil

—or is it?

That depends on the type of oil you're using and how often you drive, among other factors. If you’re using conventional oil, Toyota recommends changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, while the automaker suggests changing synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

Considering these are vastly different ranges, it’s always a good idea to check your oil level regularly. Here are a couple of warning signs that your oil needs to be changed:

Engine oil appears dark brown or black, while clean oil is light brown or amber

Engine oil feels coarse or gritty

Strange noises coming from the engine

New oily, smokey, or burning odors

Changes in your truck’s performance

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The most common Toyota problems

How to change your oil and oil filter

If you’ve checked off all the warning signs above, then it’s time for an oil change! But you’ll need to round up all your supplies first: a drain pan, filter wrench, replacement filter, socket wrench, and of course—5.5 quarts of 5W-30 or 7.9 quarts of 0W-20.

Once you’ve gathered all your materials, start by running the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. It should take no more than five minutes in normal weather. After this point, turn off the engine, pop the hood, and follow these step-by-step instructions:

Unscrew the oil fill cap

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer underneath the engine, allowing the old oil to drain into the drain pan

Unscrew the old oil filter, allowing the old oil to continue draining

Replace the old filter with the new filter

Install the oil drain bolt using a new washer

Add new oil to the engine and replace the oil fill cap

After the oil has been changed, you’ll want to turn your engine on and let it warm up for 30 seconds or so to allow the new oil to fill the new filter. If you’re not sure if you’ve added enough motor oil to the engine, you can use a dipstick and top it off if required.

Once you’ve added enough oil, let your pickup truck run for a few minutes longer, and keep an eye out for any leaks. If you’ve been successful in your oil change quest, then the

oil pressure light

on your dashboard should turn off on its own.

And last, but certainly not least: clean up after yourself! Don’t throw dirty motor oil on the ground or in your garbage bin. You can just as easily place your old oil in a sealed container and take it to your local recycling center.

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