What makes the 2015 GMC Terrain so enjoyable is its overall solid engine performance, but to maintain its reliability you’ll need to be familiar with its engine oil capacity.

A little smaller than a midsized SUV but a little bigger than a compact SUV, the 2015 GMC Terrain offers a unique style to pair with its reliable performance. As with any vehicle, though, it requires regular maintenance to stay in good form. One of the most important services to stay consistent on is your vehicle’s oil changes.

Most people can save a bit of money on these services by DIY-ing their oil changes—even if they’re new to the garage! And here to guide you through the process, the engine oil capacity, the engine oil type, and how frequently to change the oil, is

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2015 GMC Terrain engine oil capacity

So, exactly how much engine oil does the 2015 GMC Terrain require? This vehicle’s 2.4-liter engine has an engine oil capacity of 5 quarts or 4.7 liters.

Try not to confuse the 2.4-liter engine and 4.7-liter engine oil capacity, because those values cannot be interchanged. The former value describes the engine’s displacement or the volume of space taken up by the engine’s cylinders—2.4 liters in this case. The latter value describes how much motor oil the engine needs to run effectively.

What kind of oil does a 2015 GMC Terrain need?

Next, you’ll need to know what kind of oil the 2015 GMC Terrain needs. You shouldn’t simply grab the first motor oil you see on the auto shop shelves since not every oil can work with every engine. The engine in the 2015 GMC Terrain, for example, requires SAE 5W-30 oil.

SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the professional oil grading entity of the auto world. 5W-30 is the oil’s grade and describes the oil’s viscosity at different temperatures. 5 and W (standing for “winter”) tell of low viscosity at the engine’s cold start temperature, while 30 tells us there is a higher viscosity at the engine’s normal operating temperature, a piping hot 212°F.

You can use either conventional oil or synthetic oil as long as the oil grade is the same. Conventional oil has been the go-to for many folks for many years, but synthetic motor oil has a whole range of added benefits including a longer interval between oil changes, increased engine performance, and even better gas mileage.

But just make sure you’re using a 5W-30—or one grade above/below if you’re in an emergency—and your 2015 GMC Terrain will be happy! Looking for some engine oil recommendations? Give these a go:

A good synthetic option:

ACDelco Dexos1 Full Synthetic Engine Oil 5W-30

For protection against daily wear:

Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

For high mileage vehicles:

STP High Mileage Motor Oil 5W-30

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change oil on a 2015 GMC Terrain

After you’re familiar with the amount and the type of oil the 2015 GMC Terrain requires, you’re ready for your next oil change! Whenever that may be…

GMC recommends that the 2015 Terrain gets an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles with the use of synthetic motor oil, and every 3,000 to 5,000 miles with the use of conventional oil. How quickly you’ll reach that mileage benchmark depends on how often you drive. If you’re out on the streets quite often, you’ll probably need oil changes more often than folks who only take their cars to the grocery store twice a month.

Your Terrain’s oil change needs are also affected by—wait for it—the terrain you drive on! Mountainous routes, for example, put your car’s engine under more stress than flatlands.

There are several factors that play into motor oil’s cleanliness and effectiveness, so instead of strictly adhering to mileage or month markers, check your oil about once a month to check for these signs of oil deterioration:

Darker oil color: clean motor oil should be light brown or amber in color.

Gritty or sludgy texture: clean motor oil will be smooth like syrup.

Unfamiliar engine noise: you may hear knocking, squealing, tapping, or other sounds you don’t usually notice.

Oily, burning smell: dirty, contaminated oil will emit a smoky, oily, burning smell.

Decreased engine performance: your gas mileage may be getting worse or your engine may stutter when accelerating or turning on.

MORE:

Oil change cost

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once you determine that it’s time to change your Terrain’s oil, head out to your workspace with these materials:

Socket wrench

Drain pan

Filter wrench

New oil filter

Five quarts of 5W-30 motor oil

Before you start anything else, you’ll need to get your engine up to its normal operating temperature. You can take your vehicle for a quick spin or let it idle for five to 20 minutes—weather depending—and then shut the engine off while you’re on level ground. Then open your hood and follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

With the socket wrench and drain pan, go under the engine to remove the oil drain bolt and allow the old oil to start draining into the pan

Remove the old oil filter

After all the old oil is drained, install the new oil filter

Replace the oil drain bolt and wipe off any excess oil

Refill the engine with five quarts of 5W-30 and replace the oil fill cap

Once the oil fill cap is snuggly in place, turn your engine on and check around the area for any leaks. If all looks dry, your oil change was a success!

Be sure to dump the old oil into a sealable container and bring it to your local recycling center so it can be properly disposed of. Don’t dump any oil on the ground or in your trash.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Now that your oil is changed, consider yourself a regular car maintenance pro. But don’t forget to also do a bit of

car insurance

policy maintenance from time to time! You’ll be ensuring your

GMC Terrain insurance costs

are as low as possible for the coverage you want by reassessing your policy every six months.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to do all the work yourself—

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