The Hyundai Elantra is an affordable and sporty sedan that receives great reviews for versatility and affordability. To keep your Hyundai Elantra in top shape, you’ll need to know its oil capacity.

Most vehicle owners know that you have to keep up with regular maintenance, including changing your car's engine oil regularly. You can save some money by changing your car’s oil at home. Before you do that though, you’ll need to know your Hyundai Elantra’s oil capacity.

Here, the

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is breaking down everything you need to know about your 2013 Elantra's oil capacity, how to do an oil change at home, and how to find the best

Hyundai Elantra insurance costs

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2013 Hyundai Elantra engine oil capacity

Before purchasing new engine oil or changing your Hyundai Elantra’s engine oil, you’ll need to know what its oil capacity is. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra’s oil capacity is 4.2 quarts or nearly 4 liters.

Make sure you don’t mix up your engine’s oil capacity with your engine’s displacement, which is the 1.8-liter volume its cylinders take up. Your engine’s oil capacity, on the other hand, is how much oil your Elantra needs at each oil change. Your engine oil capacity and engine displacement measurements aren’t interchangeable, so ensure you keep track of which measurement is which when changing your oil.

What kind of oil does a Hyundai Elantra need?

Now that we’ve covered your Hyundai Elantra’s oil capacity, we can move on to what type of oil your Elantra needs. Each make and model requires a different type of oil depending on its engine specifications, and your Elantra is no exception!

Hyundai recommends a Hyundai Premium Gasoline Engine Oil 5W-20 oil for your Elantra.

That’s a confusing string of numbers and letters if you’re not familiar with engine oil types, so let’s break it down.

The numbers in the oil grade type describe the oil’s viscosity, or how thick it is. The “W” simply stands for winter. The number 5 which directly precedes the “W” tells us that this type of oil has a low viscosity at 0°F. The number 20 at the end of the grade means that it’s also relatively thin when your car is running at a scalding hot 212°F.

In layman's terms, this type of oil performs well under cold weather conditions and its low viscosity creates less wear and tear on your engine. 5W-20 comes in conventional and synthetic forms.

While conventional is more cost-effective, synthetic oils withstand high engine temperatures better and break down slower than conventional oil, which means they’re often a better choice for engine performance.

How often to change the oil in a 2013 Hyundai Elantra

Now that you know what type of oil you need to change the engine oil in your 2013 Hyundai Elantra, it’s time to determine how often you need an

oil and filter change

Hyundai recommends a

basic car maintenance schedule

that includes changing your engine oil every 3000 to 5000 miles. If you don’t drive frequently, it’s a good idea to change your oil every six months to make sure your engine oil is fresh, clean, and functioning the way it should be. You may be able to push your oil change an extra 2000 to 3000 miles if you’re using synthetic oil, but this will largely depend on your driving habits.

If you’re unsure about whether your car needs an oil change, watch out for these common signs that your engine needs new oil:

Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black instead of amber

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine

New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Changes in your vehicle’s performance

Stay on top of your engine oil levels and quality by checking your oil every other time you refill your gas tank.

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once either the 3000 to 5000 miles or six months have passed, you’re ready to set up your garage or driveway to change your Hyundai Elantra’s oil. Here’s what you’ll need:

Funnel

Rags

Oil filter

Oil collection pan

4.2 quarts of 5W-20 conventional or synthetic oil

Run your car's engine for around 5 minutes or until it reaches operating temperature. Afterward, turn your car off, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Put the oil collection pan under your car. Take out the plug and drain the old oil into the pan.

Remove the old oil filter and replace it with a new one.

Put the oil drain plug back.

Remove the engine oil cap under the hood of your Elantra.

Using your funnel, add 4.2 quarts of 5W-20 oil to the reservoir. Make sure nothing is leaking from the bottom of your Elantra while you're putting new oil in your car.

Check the oil dipstick and add more oil as needed.

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.

Remember to put your old oil in a sealed container and bring it to a local recycling center. Engine oil is dangerous to dispose of in your regular garbage bin or by dumping it out somewhere!

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Keeping up with routine maintenance tasks, like changing your car’s oil on a regular basis, is a great way to keep your car running for years to come. But did you know that your

car insurance

policy requires regular maintenance, too?

Experts recommend that you

re-shop for car insurance every six months

to guarantee that you’re getting the best rate. If that sounds like a hassle to you, have no fear—

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