offers a smooth and comfortable ride, accompanied by a powerful engine and fresh exterior styling. To keep your Explorer running at peak performance, you'll need to learn about its engine oil capacity.

Staying on top of normal maintenance, particularly oil changes, is one of the simplest ways to extend the life of your car. If you want to save money and change your own oil, you must first understand your

Ford’s

required oil capacity—as well as the type of oil you should be using.

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2016 Ford Explorer engine oil capacity

Before we get started, let's talk about just how much oil a 2016 Ford Explorer needs. The 2016 Explorer has a 3.5-liter V6 engine, and its oil capacity is 6 quarts.

The 3.5-liter refers to the engine's displacement and should not be confused with its oil capacity! These numbers have different meanings, so it's critical that you understand the difference to avoid poorly filling your engine.

Displacement is the total volume of air and fuel carried by one engine cylinder in an engine cycle. Oil capacity, on the other hand, is the amount of oil the engine can retain to keep it clean and oiled appropriately.

What kind of oil does a 2016 Ford Explorer need?

Now that you know how much oil your Explorer needs, it's time to talk about what kind of oil to use. There will be a lot of different kinds of oil in the stores, but don't worry—you should only be looking for the Ford-recommended SAE 5W-20 fully synthetic motor oil.

Let's take a closer look at this oil type. The "W" means winter, while the 0 indicates that this oil stays thin and fast-flowing even at extremely cold temperatures. Finally, the 20 after the "W" reflects the viscosity (or thickness) of the oil at typical operating temperatures.

Basically, you want an oil that is thin enough to flow properly during a cold start up while still being thin enough to limit engine damage during normal use.

Ford specifically recommends

Motorcraft® SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

in the owner's manual for your vehicle. Generally, it's best to stick to the recommendation, but if you are unable to find Motorcraft oil, another brand will suffice.

MORE: Does insurance cover engine failure?

How often to change oil on a 2016 Ford Explorer

After all of this prep, it's finally time to change the oil!

Ford says that oil changes should be done every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you don't drive much, you should change your oil every six months to keep your engine running smoothly and prevent sludge.

Changing the oil regularly is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running for a long time. Check your oil level often and keep track of when you last had it changed. You can also look out for these signs that it's time to change the oil in your Explorer:

Oil that is black or dark brown

Oil with a coarse or rough feel

Sounds from the engine that are strange or unfamiliar

The smell of smoke or fire from under the hood

Changes in how well your car runs

MORE:

Car Loan for Ford 2022

How to change your oil and oil filter

When you are ready to change your oil, start by getting a socket wrench, a drain pan, a filter wrench, a new filter, and a rag. Don't forget the SAE 5W-20 engine oil!

Start by parking your car on a flat surface and letting the engine warm up to normal operating temperature. After letting the engine run for a few minutes, shut it off, pop the hood, and do the following:

Get under the engine and use the socket wrench to remove the oil drain plug. This will let the oil drain into the pan.

Use the filter wrench to remove the old oil filter, and then let any extra oil drain out.

Clean the surface of the filter, and then screw in the new one.

Put the oil drain bolt back in place and tighten it to 20 lb-ft.

Put the new oil in the engine and put the fill cap back on.

And you’re done! You've saved yourself a trip to the mechanic and a good amount of money. Confirm your engine's oil level with a dipstick, then run it to check for leaks.

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.

Your last step should be cleaning up! Old, dirty oil should never be dumped on the ground or in your trash. Pour the old oil into a sealed container you don't need and take it to a recycling center.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

As a car owner, you understand that changing the engine oil in your Ford Explorer regularly can be really helpful. Regularly going over your

car insurance

is another excellent way to save you time and money—and using

Jerry

is the easiest way to do this.

Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture: Jerry is an app!

Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.

Jerry customers save over $800 a year on car insurance payments!