Changing your oil at home is easier than you might think, and it’s also a great way to cut down on your car-related expenses. All it takes is the right tools and equipment, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

Read on for everything you need to know about your 2012 Corolla’s engine oil capacity and how to successfully change your oil!

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2012 Toyota Corolla engine oil capacity

The 2012 Toyota Corolla has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with an oil capacity of 4.4 quarts. You’ll often see oil capacities listed as with or without the filter, as the filter absorbs a quantity of oil—our Corolla’s 4.4 quarts is the oil capacity with the filter.

This number has nothing at all to do with the “1.8-liter” spec of the engine, which refers to the engine's displacement. An engine’s displacement is the amount of volume that its cylinders take up—and while it’s an important engine spec, it has no direct correlation with the oil capacity.

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What kind of oil does my 2012 Toyota Corolla need?

If you’re new to the world of car care, you might assume that there’s just one kind of oil out there—but you’d be mistaken! A brief stroll through the oil section of any auto parts store will reveal all manner of choices. The oil that you want for your 2012 Toyota Camry is a premium grade 0W-20 oil that has the API Certification Seal for Gasoline Engines on it.

Toyota

recommends that you go with Genuine Toyota Motor Oil, which is a synthetic oil. But if you can’t find that brand, any premium 0W-20 oil with the same specs is fine. The 2012 Camry’s owner’s manual also states that if you can’t find 0W-20, you can use 5W-20 in a pinch—but you need to change back to 0W-20 at your next change.

The numbers and letter “W” in the oil’s grade give us information about the oil’s viscosity (how thick it is) in a range of temperature conditions. The “0W” means that this oil flows well (has a low viscosity) when it’s very cold out—the “W” stands for “winter”, after all. The “20” means that this oil also stays at a proper viscosity when it’s extremely hot out.

This range means that your Corolla’s engine will perform under cold weather conditions, and also when things get toasty outside.

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How often to change the oil on your 2012 Toyota Corolla

Okay, we know how much oil we need and we know what type—but how do we know when it’s time to change your oil?

According to Toyotya’s recommendations, you should change your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles if you’re using synthetic oil. If you’ve gone with conventional oil, then you’ll need to change it more often—every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you don’t drive a lot, then changing your oil every six months is a good schedule to follow.

That being said, every car is different, and older cars sometimes need their oil changed more frequently. Look for the following indications that your Corolla might be in need of an oil change:

Oil that is black or dark brown in color (fresh oil is a light amber hue)

Oil that feels gritty or has visible debris in it

Strange engine sounds

New odors like burning, smoke, or

oil smells

Decrease in your Corolla’s performance

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How to change your Corolla’s oil and oil filter

The time has come to change your oil! First, gather your supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:

Drain pan and funnel

Shop rags (and disposable gloves, if you like)

Socket wrench

Oil filter wrench for a 2012 Corolla

New oil filler

4.4 quarts of premium 0W-20 oil

You'll also need to be able to easily get under your Corolla, which means getting it up on jack stands. Make sure you’ve done this part safely and correctly!

Start by letting the engine warm up for a few minutes until it’s at normal operating temperature. Once it’s up to temp, shut it off, pop the hood, and away we go:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath your Corolla and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and let the old oil drain into the drain pan. Have it in position before you remove the bolt!

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain until it’s empty

Install the new filter according to the enclosed instructions

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to the appropriate torque—your Toyota dealership can provide you with this spec

Refill the engine with the fresh oil and replace the oil fill cap

Start your Corolla up and let it run for about a minute—this lets the new oil permeate and fill the filter. Check the oil level with your dipstick and carefully top it off if needed.

With the car running, watch for leaks down below for a few minutes. Your

oil pressure light

should turn off if all is well!

Last but not least, clean up. It’s extremely important to dispose of your used oil properly, so place it in a sealed container (the empty oil bottle is perfect for this) and take it to a local recycling center.

Most auto part stores take used oil for recycling, which makes it an easy task to do! And while you’re there, you can reward yourself for accomplishing a new task with some fuzzy dice or something. Go you!

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