may be known as simply adequate and unexceptional, but it's a solid vehicle for your everyday commuting needs. If you want to keep your MKS on the road for years to come and perform its oil changes, you'll need to know its oil capacity.

You can save some money in the maintenance department by handling minor maintenance tasks, like changing your own oil, on your own. Changing your own oil is easy and simple—but you'll have to know the right type of oil to use and the total engine oil capacity of your 2011 Lincoln MKS.

In this article—brought to you by

Jerry

, the

licensed broker

for

car insurance

—you'll find all the information needed in order to start handling your own oil changes. Let’s go over your 2011 Lincoln MKS oil capacity, the correct brand of oil to buy, and (later on) how to find savings on your

Lincoln car insurance cost

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2011 Lincoln MKS engine oil capacity

The first thing that you'll need to know if you're going to be changing your own oil is just how much oil your car needs. For your 2011 Lincoln MKS, your engine oil capacity is exactly 5.5 quarts.

What kind of oil does a 2011 Lincoln MKS use?

Next, you'll need to know what type of oil to use for your Lincoln. Not all motor oils are the same, and if you don’t use the right kind, it could prove disastrous for your engine.

For your 2011 Lincoln MKS 3.7L V6 engine, you'll need synthetic motor oil with a viscosity rating of 5W-20.

The different types of oil are defined by their viscosity ratings, which is a measure of the oil’s overall thickness.

The first number represents the viscosity of the oil at “cold start” or “winter temperature,” which is 0°F. The second number represents the oil’s viscosity at normal operating temperature, which is 212°F.

You should be able to use pretty much any synthetic 5W-20 oil for your 2011 Lincoln MKS. That being said, not all brands are equal in quality. Here are some recommendations to get you started:

Manufacturer’s recommendation:

Ford

(Lincoln’s parent company) recommends using

Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

for your MKS.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil in a 2011 Lincoln MKS

A good rule of thumb to follow is that you should change your oil every 7,500 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first.

Besides your regular routine oil changes, you may need to top off or replace the engine oil if you notice that it has degraded. Consider checking your oil levels with a dipstick and keeping an eye out for the following symptoms at least once a month:

Motor oil that has changed color from amber to dark brown or black

Motor oil that feels coarse or gritty between your fingers

Motor oil that has visible debris in it

Strange noises

are coming from your engine

A noticeable decrease in your car’s overall performance

If you notice any of these issues, you should change your oil right away.

MORE:

How to test an oil pump

How to change your oil and oil filter

When the time for an oil change rolls around, you'll need to have your fresh oil ready, as well as a fresh oil filter, a drain pan, a socket wrench, and a filter wrench. Let’s get started!

Here's what to do:

Start the engine and allow your MKS to run for 5-10 minutes until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Once it’s warmed up, shut the engine off.

Pop the hood. Then, locate the oil fill cap and remove it.

From underneath the engine bay, locate and remove the oil drain bolt. Just make sure that you have positioned the drain pan underneath beforehand, as the oil will begin draining immediately.

While you're waiting for the oil to drain, remove the old

oil filter

using your filter wrench. Once the oil has completely drained out, you can install the fresh oil filter.

Next, replace the oil drain bolt, making sure to tighten it securely. Then it’s time to add the fresh motor oil.

Finally, replace the oil fill cap, close the hood, and run the engine for another few minutes to test for leaks.

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.

And that's all there is to it! From now on you'll be able to change your own oil and save yourself some money!

When you're cleaning up, make sure to properly dispose of the old oil as mandated by law—that means pouring it into a sealable container and delivering it to a recycling center or participating auto parts store.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

In addition to your car's routine maintenance and oil changes, you'll also have to do regular “maintenance” on your auto insurance policy.

If you don’t want to end up overpaying for your coverage, it’s a good idea to shop around for quotes every six months to see if switching providers will get you a better deal.

But nobody really has the time for all that—and that’s where

Jerry

comes in.

Jerry is a

licensed insurance broker

and comparison shopping tool that finds the best deals for you. Just put in a few pieces of information about you and your car, and Jerry will get to work comparing the best policies at your coverage level across dozens of top providers.

“I was struggling because I wanted great insurance for my new car.
Jerry
was so helpful, and the team answered all of my questions. Now I have the policy type I was looking for!” —Avery W.