The 2012 Toyota Highlander was one of the best midsize SUVs of its time and still has a lot to offer a decade later, particularly its fuel economy and safety ratings. But while you’re looking for a used car, you’ll want to know all the little details, like what the oil capacity is.

Oil is essential to keep your car running at its best, so you need to look after it and make sure it’s the right kind of oil and has the right amount in there. But how do you know the right amount?

We’ll explain it all right here.

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2012 Toyota Highlander engine oil capacity

Let’s get started with the basics. How much engine oil does a 2012 Toyota Highlander need?

The Highlander comes with an Inline 4-cylinder base engine and its oil capacity is 6.4 quarts or 6 liters. This is different from the engine’s displacement, which is the volume that the cylinders take up, so don’t get those mixed up. We’re talking about the capacity of oil required every time you change it.

Getting it wrong could mean not having enough oil or making an awful mess by overfilling it.

What kind of oil does a 2012 Toyota Highlander need?

But simply knowing how much oil you need isn’t enough to make sure your oil change is successful. You also need to understand what kind of oil your Highlander needs.

The 2012 Toyota Highlander owner’s manual recommends Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-20 Full-Synthetic motor oil. But what does all of that mean? It’s all about how viscous (or thick) the oil is at certain temperatures, so the first number is its viscosity at 0°F, which is 0. Not very viscous at all. The second number, 20 is how viscous it is at 212°F.

Chances are that won’t mean much to you, but it’s important for the running of your vehicle and it’s useful to have some kind of understanding of what Toyota recommends.

You don’t have to choose the exact oil that they suggest though, so here are our top three suggestions for the 2012 Toyota Highlander:

The genuine article: You won’t go wrong using the official Toyota oil that they suggest, so this is still the best and safest option for most people.

For high-mileage vehicles: If you drive a lot, you might want to use conventional oil which is more affordable than the own-brand version and will still get the job done. We recommend Mobil 1 - High Mileage 0W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil.

A high-quality synthetic blend: If changing the oil isn’t your idea of fun, a synthetic blend can be the best option, so why not this Mobil 1 Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil 0W-20 a try?

MORE: Recommended maintenance schedule for a Toyota

How often to change the oil on a 2012 Toyota Highlander

We’ve mentioned that changing the oil isn’t the most fun part of vehicle ownership, but it is essential and now that you know the oil capacity on your Highlander, it’s time to know how often you need to change it.

Toyota recommends changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles with conventional oil, or every 7,500 to 10,000 miles with synthetic oil. But that doesn’t mean you can just ignore it the rest of the time.

You need to check your oil regularly—at least once a month or every time you refuel your Highlander. So what are you looking for when you check it? These are the signs you need to keep an eye (or ear or nose) out for:

Unfamiliar noises

Changes in performance

Dark brown or black oil

Coarse or gritty oil

A smell of oil, smoke, or burning

If you notice any of those, it’s time for an oil change!

MORE:

Toyota Highlander specs you should know

How to change your oil and oil filter

You can get someone else to do the

oil change

for you, but it can be costly. Here’s our guide to doing it yourself.

You’ll need the right equipment, but none of it’s too complicated or expensive—a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench, as well as a replacement filter. Of course, you’ll also need 6.4 quarts of the new oil.

Run the engine for about five minutes before shutting the engine off and popping the hood to start the oil change. Then follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine, put the drain pan underneath and remove the oil drain bolt and washer

Remove the old oil filter and 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

After this, you’ll need to get for any leaks, so run the engine for a few minutes and watch carefully. Also, make sure that your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

has been turned off.

If that’s all good, you’ve completed your oil change. But you still need to get rid of the old oil, which needs to be done carefully and responsibly. Put it in a sealed container and take it to your local recycling center.

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