A Buick may not be as luxurious as a Cadillac, but it is still a premium vehicle, and the 2018 Buick Encore is no exception. It provides style and performance, but you’ll need to make sure to keep up with the

regular maintenance

for it to stay that way. Oil changes are one of the most regular forms of maintenance on any vehicle and the 2018 Buick Encore needs 4.2 U.S. quarts of oil at every one.

One way to keep costs down if you have a premium or luxury vehicle is to do some of the easier maintenance at home. Oil changes aren’t easy per se, but you can do them yourself if you have the right information, like the amount of oil and type of oil that you need in your Encore.

Read on for that information and to get some tips on how to perform an oil change on your own 2018 Buick Encore in this

car repair

guide.

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2018 Buick Encore engine oil capacity

Knowing how much oil you need is essential if you’re planning on charging the oil yourself. For the 2018 Buick Encore, the magic number is 4.2 U.S. quarts or 4 liters.

While the 2018 Encore only has a 1.4 liter engine, that number is a reference to the engine’s displacement, not the oil capacity. If you only put 1.4 liters of oil into your engine, you’ll be causing big problems for yourself. So make sure, with any vehicle, that you don’t mistake the oil capacity for the engine displacement.

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What kind of oil does a 2018 Buick Encore need?

You know how much oil you need, but you may be asking yourself what kind of oil you need. GM, Buick’s parent company, recommends that you only use synthetic oil that is approved by the company to meet dexos 1 specifications, which will be denoted on the bottle with a sticker.

The 2018 Buick comes with two different types of engines and the recommended viscosity of the oil various for them. For the LE2 1.4 liter turbo engine the manufacturer recommends using an 0W20 oil that meets the dexos 1 specifications as mentioned above.

For the LUV 1.4 liter turbo engine, Buick recommends using a 5W-30 viscosity oil rather than the 0W20. If you aren’t sure which type of engine your Buick has, you can check your owner’s manual.

Buick also notes that you can use a 0W-30 oil in your Encore if you live in an extremely cold area where temperatures regularly drop below -20 degrees Fahrenheit to allow for easier startup.

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How often to change oil on a 2018 Buick Encore

You know how much oil you need and what kind. So the next question is when should you

change your oil

The 2018 Encore comes equipped with an Engine Oil Life System. Buick recommends using that as your guide for when to change your oil. The indicator will turn on, and you should change your oil within 600 miles.

What happens if you forget to reset the monitoring system or if you accidentally reset before you’ve actually changed the oil? You wouldn’t be the first person to do that, in that instance, Buick recommends that you change the oil 3,000 miles after the last oil change or after three months.

Buick also recommends that you check your oil every 400 miles or before any big trips. You can do this by finding the dipstick under the hood (the handle is a loop). After the car is on a level surface and cooled for at least 30 minutes, pull out the dipstick, wipe it off with a clean towel or cloth. Then reinsert it to pull it out for an accurate reading.

When you check your oil keep an eye on the color, if it’s dark brown or black you’ll likely need to change it (oil is supposed to be an amber color). If the oil appears coarse or gritty, you’ll also want to replace it.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Car repair

can be expensive, so you might want to consider changing your own oil to cut down on those repair and maintenance costs. You will need a few tools to do the work properly, and you’ll likely get a little messy.

You’re going to need a socket wrench, a filter wrench, a drain pan, and a new filter. And of course, make sure that you have at least 4.2 U.S. quarts of the correct oil on hand as noted above.

First, you’ll want to get the engine to normal running temperature which will likely only take a few minutes. Once you get there, turn off the engine and open up the hood of the vehicle. You may want to raise the SUV for easier access, but never get under a vehicle that is only supported by a jack.

Next, take off the oil fill cap under the hood. Get under the vehicle and place your drain pan (which should be able to hold more than 4 liters of liquid) under the oil reservoir. Carefully remove the oil drain bolt and washer. If you drop them, you’ll be searching through a drain pan of oil later to find them.

As the oil drains, open the filter and let any excess oil drain from it before you remove the filter using the filter wrench. Once the oil is completely drained attach the new oil filter. After that, wipe down the bolt and opening of any old oil and resecure the bolt.

Once the bolt is in place, you can get out from under the car and fill up the oil reservoir. Make sure there is no oil leaking from the bottom of the SUV. Replace the fill cap and make sure to reset the Engine Oil Life System on your Encore.

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