The 2013 Dodge Avenger is an affordable midsize sedan with infamous swagger and personality. With its muscular looks, the Avenger is clearly the cool guy on the block. Keep yours in great shape with routine oil changes!

Lost your owner’s manual, or just want to avoid rifling through the glovebox? Not to worry—here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the 2013 Dodge Avenger’s oil capacity, including how to find the right kind of oil and how to change out the old stuff.

MORE:

How to save money on 2013 Dodge Avenger insurance costs

2013 Dodge Avenger engine oil capacity

The 2013 Dodge Avenger has two different engines available: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6:

For the 4-cylinder engine, the oil capacity is 4.5 quarts or 4.3 liters.

For the V6 engine, the oil capacity is 5.9 quarts or 4.6 liters.

Don’t get this number confused with your engine’s displacement—that’s just another word for how much volume the engine's cylinders take up. Displacement and oil capacity measurements are not interchangeable, so don’t switch them around.

MORE:

Dodge Avenger R/T V6

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

What kind of oil does a 2013 Dodge Avenger need?

Based on your engine, now you know the amount of oil that you need in order to do a proper oil change on your Avenger. But what kind of oil should you get?

You may be surprised at all the different kinds of oil that are available, but when it comes to what you put in your car, quality matters. So, it’s important to get the right kind.

Look for bottles with the API Certification Seal for Gasoline Engines. You should also target oils that meet the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395. Both of these are high standards to ensure that only the best oil goes into your car, which is recommended by the owner’s manual.

As for the specific type of oil, you’ll need SAE 5W-20 engine oil for both engines. Conventional or synthetic oil will work, but oil with additives is advised against being used.

What does that alphabet soup mean? Well, SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, which is the entity responsible for coding oil. The rest of the numbers detail the viscosity, or thickness, of the oil.

The number 5 means that the oil has a low viscosity at 0°F, and the number 20 means that the oil still has a pretty low viscosity at 212°F—an engine’s normal operating temperature. The W just stands for “winter.”

MORE:

Dodge tune-up cost

How often to change the oil on a 2013 Dodge Avenger

Now that you know what kind of oil you need and how much of it to buy, it’s time for an oil change. The

cost of an oil change

at an auto shop can be pricey, so you can save some serious coin by performing one yourself.

If you prefer to use conventional oil in your

Dodge

, you should change it every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Synthetic oil needs changed less often—experts recommend every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

Regardless, you should check your oil level regularly (i.e., once every four weeks or every other stop at the gas station). Here are some signs that it’s time for a change:

Oil is dark-colored (dark brown or black)

Engine making strange noises

Performance changes in the vehicle

Oil feels gritty or coarse

Unusual smells of smoke, burning, or oil

MORE: How much should an oil change cost?

How to change your oil and oil filter

To change your oil at home, you’ll need a drain pan, a socket wrench, a filter wrench, a washer, a replacement filter, and (of course) new oil.

First, let your engine run for a little while until it starts to get hot—around five minutes. Then, shut off the engine, pop open the hood, and do the following:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to 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

Then, you’ll want to let your car warm up for a bit again. Let it run for about 30 seconds—this will get the new oil to fill up the new filter. To make sure you added enough oil, you can use your dipstick. If you haven’t added enough, top it off.

After that, run the car for a few more minutes to see if you can spot any leaks. If all seems well, congratulations! You’ve officially changed your oil. Reset your oil light on your dash so you’ll know when it’s time to do it all over again.

Don’t neglect your old oil, though—make sure that you don’t put any of it on the ground or in your garbage. You’ll want to seal it in a safe container (this is easier to do if it isn’t hot) and contact an auto repair shop or auto parts store for advice on where to safely discard oil in your area.

MORE:

Oil pressure light is on inspection cost

"This app is all about savings!
Jerry
just saved me $193/month on my car insurance. They literally found me the cheapest policies out there and with better coverage! Seriously, just sit back and watch Jerry work its magic.” —Rachel B.

RECOMMENDED