If you know how much oil to buy for your truck, you can save some money on maintenance costs by performing an oil change yourself. The engine oil capacity for a 2017 Toyota Tacoma is 6.1 quarts or about 5.8 liters.

Performing vehicle maintenance tasks at home can be tricky, particularly if you’re not sure which products are right for your car. Still, taking on these jobs yourself can help you save a lot of money if you do your research first.

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2017 Toyota Tacoma oil capacity

The engine oil capacity for a 2017 Toyota Tacoma is 6.1 quarts or about 5.8 liters. Using too little oil in your vehicle can cause your engine to fail over time, so make sure to monitor the level and maintain the correct amount in your truck.

What type of oil does the 2017 Toyota Tacoma need?

If you take a look at the owner’s manual for your 2017 Tundra, you’ll see that it recommends SAE 0W-20 grade motor oil.

You’ll also need to make sure that the oil you get for your Tacoma is fully synthetic. Not every vehicle requires synthetic oil over conventional oil, but it is recommended by Toyota that you use this type of oil in your truck.

If you’re unsure as to whether the oil you’re purchasing is synthetic or not, it’s best to ask an employee to make sure you’re getting the right product. Using the wrong type of oil in your truck could cause engine issues.

How often should you change the oil in your Toyota Tacoma?

Toyota's recommended maintenance schedule includes an oil change in your Tacoma every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. However, depending on the age and condition of your truck, it’s possible that you’ll need to perform an oil change sooner.

If you happen to use conventional oil instead of synthetic, you’ll need to perform oil changes more often—typically, every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. But again, the manufacturer recommends synthetic oil.

To make sure your oil is still giving your truck’s engine what it needs, it’s a good idea to check your oil level every other week or so to ensure that it looks good and you have enough.

There are a couple of possible indicators that you need an oil change, including:

The oil has a gritty or coarse texture.

The oil is dark brown or black rather than the typical tea-colored oil.

You hear strange noises coming from your engine.

You start to smell oil, smoke, or burning coming from your truck’s hood.

Your truck’s performance starts to suffer.

Your oil change light comes on.

MORE:

The best Toyota Tacoma aftermarket parts

How to change the oil and oil filter in your 2017 Toyota Tacoma

Since you’ve already learned so much about the oil in your Toyota Tacoma, you might be wondering about the actual

oil and filter change

process, too. Changing your oil isn’t the easiest maintenance task in the world, but it’s still definitely something you can do at home with enough practice!

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to successfully change the oil in your 2017 Toyota Tacoma:

First, turn on your Tacoma and wait for the engine to reach normal operating temperature. You should be able to do this by leaving your engine running for about five minutes in warm weather, but you can also perform an oil change after a quick drive.

Once your car reaches operating temperature, shut off the engine and

open the hood of your car

Remove the oil fill cap.

Place a drain pan underneath the drain bolt on your truck. The drain bolt is located underneath your vehicle, so it can help to use jack stands to make it easier to access.

Once your drain pan is in place, remove the oil drain bolt and washer so that the old oil falls into the pan. You might have a few oil splashes here and there, but try to get the majority of the old oil into the pan.

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain.

Install the new filter.

Replace the oil drain bolt with a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft.

Refill the engine with 6.1 quarts of your new 0W-20 motor oil.

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. Make sure to properly dispose of the engine oil at a certified Toyota dealership or your local recycling center!

MORE:

How to remove oil and grease from car doors

Finding insurance for your Toyota Tacoma

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save on your car expenses

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