Year after year, the Toyota Camry leads the pack as a best-selling sedan, and the 2013 model year was no exception. This reliable, comfortable workhorse of a car has a 4.6-quart engine oil capacity, which you’ll need to keep in mind if you plan to change the oil yourself.

The Toyota Camry has a reputation for longevity, but to keep it running smoothly and efficiently for years to come, you need to keep up with your manufacturer's recommended

car maintenance schedule

. Part of that process includes routinely checking your engine oil, adding some when needed, and getting regular oil changes.

Read on for a guide to everything you need to know about the 2013 Toyota Camry’s engine oil capacity.

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2013 Toyota Camry engine oil capacity

Before you start tinkering with your engine oil, you need to know how much your car holds first.

The 2013 Toyota Camry holds 4.6 quarts of engine oil. It doesn't necessarily have to be entirely full at all times. There is a range indicated on your oil reservoir’s dipstick, which you can check to make sure your engine oil is sufficiently filled.

What kind of oil does a 2013 Toyota Camry need?

If you’re ready to change your engine oil or you just need to top it off, it’s important that you use the right kind of oil. Different car models and engines use different oil types, and they are not interchangeable.

Your best option is to stick with what your 2013 Toyota Camry owner’s manual recommends, and that’s Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic engine oil. But if you need to add oil and can’t get ahold of the

Toyota

brand product, it’s okay to use another brand of SAE 0W-20 synthetic oil.

What matters most is that you get the correct oil grade: 0W-20. Those letters and numbers refer to the engine oil’s viscosity, or thickness, during cold weather conditions and standard engine operation. The acronym SAE stands for the Society for Automotive Engineers, which is the organization that classifies and codes engine oil types.

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How often to change the oil on a 2013 Toyota Camry

Now that you know how much oil to get and what type to buy, you can confidently

change the oil

on your 2013 Toyota Camry. It’s a routine you’ll need to stick to if you want to keep your car running for years down the road.

How often you need to change your Camry’s oil isn’t dependent on time but rather on usage and oil type. That means instead of setting a calendar date to change your engine oil, you should keep an eye on your odometer reading. The 2013 Toyota Camry typically needs an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles if you’re using the manufacturer’s recommended oil type (i.e., full synthetic oil).

That said, you also need to consider the health and level of your engine oil. It’s possible to need an oil change at some point before you’ve driven that far. Or, if you decide to use conventional oil instead of full synthetic, your oil will need to be changed much sooner—every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

You should check your engine oil once a month or with every other gas tank fill-up. And when you check the oil level, take a look at the consistency of your engine oil.

Oil that feels gritty or coarse needs changed so it doesn’t damage your engine. And if you notice your oil is very dark brown or black, instead of the light color of fresh motor oil, consider changing your oil sooner rather than later.

Here are a few other signs that you’re due for an oil change:

Your car’s engine starts making an unusual noise

You smell something like smoke or burning oil

There’s a decline in your vehicle’s performance

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How to change your oil and oil filter

You can take your car to the shop for an oil change, but if you’re the hands-on type, you could save a little money by doing the job yourself. If you decide to tackle this project, the first thing you’ll need to do is gather some materials, including the following:

Socket wrench

Filter wrench

Drain pan for the old oil

Replacement oil filter

Drain plug gasket

Five quarts of SAE 0W-20 synthetic oil

To get started, you’ll want to start the ignition and let the engine run. Keep it running for five or 10 minutes so it can reach its normal temperature.

Then, turn off the ignition and open up the hood. You’re ready to get started with these steps:

Unscrew the oil fill cap.

Slide under the engine and position your drain pan.

Unscrew the oil drain bolt. Remove it along with the old drain plug gasket.

Allow the old oil to drain into the drain pan.

As the oil finishes draining, remove the old oil filter and install the new filter.

Using the new drain plug gasket, replace the oil drain bolt and tighten it to 29 lb-ft.

Add 4.6 quarts of the new engine oil to the tank where you removed the oil fill cap earlier, then replace the cap.

Make sure to leave the hood open and start your ignition again to let your car warm up for a minute or so. Then, check the engine oil level with your dipstick. If it’s still a little low, you can top off the oil if needed.

When you’re all finished, leave the vehicle running for another few minutes so you can check for any oil leaks. Look under the hood and under your vehicle. Finally, you’ll be ready to clean up.

Don’t dump your oil or put it in the trash. Instead, pour it into a sealed container, such as an old oil jug, and take it to an engine oil recycling center. You can find oil recycling at many car parts stores and service centers.

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