is an elegant machine—stylish, agile, and affordable. You can probably even ride yours into the 200,000-mile club, so long as you take care of its maintenance needs. And to do that, you’ll need to know its engine oil capacity.

To keep your Mazda’s maintenance expenses down, it's a good idea to start changing your own oil. Before you can do that though, you'll need to know what type of oil and uses and its total engine oil capacity.

You can find all that information in your owner's manual. Or, to make things easier, you could just read this article on the 2016 Mazda 3’s engine oil capacity, brought to you by

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2016 Mazda 3 engine oil capacity

The first thing that you'll need to know before you can begin changing your own oil is how much oil your Mazda needs.

The 2016 Mazda 3 has an engine oil capacity of exactly 4.4 quarts. It’s important to know this because adding too much or too little could lead to serious engine problems.

What kind of oil does a 2016 Mazda 3 need?

So, your Mazda needs 4.4 quarts of oil—but what kind of oil does it need? You might be surprised to learn that not all motor oils are the same, and they're certainly not interchangeable.

For your Mazda 3 you'll need fully synthetic motor oil with a viscosity rating of 0W-20.

Using an oil type that's not approved for your vehicle can result in an improperly cooled/lubricated engine, which could quickly lead to overheating and severe engine damage.

If you're not familiar with oil viscosity ratings, don't worry. They're fairly simple to understand.

The first number in this expression indicates an oil's viscosity at 0°F, which is sometimes referred to as cold start temperature or winter temperature. The second number in the expression indicates the oil's viscosity at 212°F, which is sometimes called normal operating temperature.

As long as you use a synthetic motor oil product with that rating, you should be fine. If you're not sure where to start, consider using one of these brands:

The genuine article: The manufacturer’s recommended oil is Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil in a 2016 Mazda 3

You should change your Mazda 3 synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. If you don't feel like you'll remember to do so, it might be easier to go based on time instead of mileage. If you want to do that, change the oil every six months.

You should also change the oil if you ever notice that your engine is making strange sounds or emitting strange smells while you drive, or if you notice a sudden drop in your Mazda's performance.

Every time you check your oil (which you should do at least once a month), you should be looking to see if your oil is leaking. At the same time, you should also keep an eye out for these common oil problems:

The oil is contaminated with physical debris

The oil is frothy or foamy

The oil has changed colors from a bright amber to darkbrown or black

The oil feels coarse or gritty

MORE:

Can you add oil to a hot engine?

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know what type of oil your car needs, how much oil it needs, and how often it needs a change, it's finally time to learn how to change your oil!

First, you'll need to make sure that you have all the right tools and materials. You will need to have fresh oil, a fresh oil filter, a drain pan, a filter wrench, and a socket wrench.

Once you have what you need, do the following:

Start the engine of your 2016 Mazda 3 and allow it to run for 5-15 minutes.

When the engine has warmed up to its standard operating temperature, shut the engine off.

Move around to the front of the car, lift the hood, then find and remove the oil fill cap.

From underneath the engine bay, locate and remove the oil drain bolt. Make sure to use the drain pan to catch the old oil (which will begin pouring out as soon as you remove the bolt).

As the old oil is draining, use your filter wrench to remove the old oil filter. Then, install the fresh oil filter after all the oil is finished draining.

Reattach the oil drain bolt and secure it tightly.

Use the fresh motor oil that you purchased to replace the oil you just drained. Pour it directly into the opening underneath the oil fill cap.

Replace the oil fill cap, close the hood, and run the engine for another few minutes to see if there are any 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.

And just like that, you are a pro at changing the oil in your 2016 Mazda 3!

As you're cleaning up, remember to pour used oil from the pan into a sealable container (an old shampoo bottle or used milk jug works well). As soon as you get the chance, you'll need to take that old oil to a recycling center.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

We’ve gone over how you can save time and money by making smart decisions regarding your Mazda's maintenance needs. But not all maintenance needs are about gears and grease.

It's just as important to stay up-to-date on the maintenance for your auto insurance policy—and doing so can save you a lot more money!

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