The compact Ford Focus is immensely popular for a reason—it’s economical, stylish, and versatile. Keep your 2014 Ford Focus in peak shape (and save some money) by learning its oil capacity—and how to change the oil yourself.

It’s vital to keep up with your car’s maintenance, especially if you have an older model that you’d like to keep around for a while. Learning how to take care of basic maintenance chores yourself is not only satisfying, but it’s also budget-friendly.

If you’re unsure where to start,

Jerry

, the driving expert and go-to

car insurance

app, has you covered! Read on for everything you need to know about the oil in your 2014 Ford Focus—including how to change it. It’s way easier than you might think. And sometimes, it’s kind of fun to get your hands dirty!

Stick around until the end for some info on how to save tons on your

Ford Focus car insurance costs

, as well.

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2014 Ford Focus engine oil capacity

Let’s begin at the... beginning: how much engine oil does a 2014 Ford Focus require? The four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine that’s under the hood of your Focus has an oil capacity of 4.5 quarts, or roughly 4.3 liters.

It’s crucial to note that the 2.0-liter volume in your engine’s specs is its displacement, not its oil capacity. An engine’s displacement is a totally different measurement than its oil capacity, so don’t assume that those numbers are the same.

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What kind of oil does a 2014 Ford Focus need?

Okay! Now that we know how much oil your Focus takes, let’s address the type of oil it needs. If you’ve ever shopped for engine oil, you’ll know that there’s quite a large selection available—and not all oils are created equal. Ford recommends Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 synthetic blend for the 2014 Focus.

But… what does that number and letter salad mean? The “SAE” stands for Society of Automotive Engineers and the numbers refer to the oil’s viscosity—in other words, how thick it is. The “W” stands for winter, and the numbers represent the viscosity grade at different temperatures—the 5 right before “W” tells us that this oil’s got a low viscosity at 0°F, while the 20 means that it’s also relatively thin at hotter temperatures.

Long story short, you’re looking for an oil with those specific ratings because it means it will perform well under a broad range of weather conditions and because its low viscosity means less wear and tear on your engine. The higher the viscosity, the harder it will be for the oil to flow through the engine. Imagine thick maple syrup that’s been in the fridge—that’s a high-viscosity liquid.

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Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change oil on a 2014 Ford Focus

Ford recommends changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you’re using the recommended synthetic blend. If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, changing your oil every six months is a good time frame for making sure your engine stays happy.

However, if you’re using full synthetic oil, you can let a lot more time (and miles) go between oil changes. Experts recommend changing synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

That being said, those are pretty big ranges, and every car will have different needs. To ensure you’re on the right oil change schedule,

check your oil level

on a regular basis and watch for signs that your oil needs to be changed:

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine

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

Changes in your vehicle’s performance

Oil indicator light on

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know all about your 2014 Ford Focus oil capacity and type, it’s time to get down to business. Let’s

change some oil

First, gather your tools and materials. You’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter. Don’t forget to buy a replacement filter and five quarts of premium 5W-20 engine oil.

Run the engine for a while until it reaches normal operating temperature. In normal weather, this should only be about five minutes. Once that’s done, shut the engine off, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, carefully 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

Use your dipstick to make sure that you’ve added enough oil to the engine, and top it off if needed—but make sure not to overfill it! Once you’re done, run the vehicle for a few minutes and watch for any leaks.

In the 2014 Ford Focus, you’ll need to

reset the oil light

(aka Oil Life Monitoring System) manually after an oil change. Here’s how:

Turn the ignition key to the ‘on’ position, but don’t start the engine. If you have a push-button start, press and hold the ‘start’ button for two seconds without pressing the brake pedal.

Press both the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time, and keep both pedals fully pressed.

After three seconds, the “Service: Oil reset in prog.” message will be displayed. Keep pressing those pedals. After 25 seconds, the “Service: Oil reset complete message” will be displayed.

If you have a key, release the pedals and turn the key to the ‘off’ position. If you have a push button start, release the pedals and press the start/stop button to turn the car off. The “Service: Oil reset complete” message should no longer be displayed.

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.

The last (but very important) step: clean up. Don’t dump the dirty oil out on the ground, down the drain, or in the trash. Place it in a sealed container and bring it to a local recycling center, or check with your garbage hauler as some companies will accept used motor oil if it’s in a sealed container and placed near the bin.

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

Don’t forget to check your insurance, too—no dipstick needed!

And there you have it. Taking charge of basic automotive tasks like oil changes is not only gratifying, but it will also save you time and money. Go you!

Taking care of your car includes more than just oil changes, though. But don’t worry! This next task is quick, easy, and requires no tools or cleanup. Just download the top-rated

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