A workhorse like the Chevrolet Silverado requires some TLC in the form of regular maintenance and oil changes. It’s easier to entrust your mechanic with that work, but it can certainly get pricey. To cut down your costs, you can do your own oil change at home!

Changing your oil may sound complicated but we’re here to make it as easy as pie. Learn how much engine oil the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado holds, what kind of oil it needs, how often to change the oil, and how to complete a successful oil change at home.

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2018 Chevrolet Silverado engine oil capacity

The engine oil capacity of the 2018 Chevy Silverado is dependent on engine size.

The base model Chevrolet Silverado 1500 either comes with a 4.3-liter six-cylinder engine and 6 quarts (or 5.6 liters) of oil capacity or a 5.3-liter eight-cylinder engine and 8 quarts (7.5 liters) of oil capacity.

The more powerful Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD comes with a 6-liter V8 engine and 8 quarts (7.5 liters) of oil capacity.

Don’t get it mixed up—oil capacity and engine displacement are different specs! Oil capacity is the amount of oil you need for every oil change. It’s the most important number you need when purchasing fresh oil to complete an oil change. Engine displacement requires no filling up and simply refers to the volume an engine’s cylinders take up.

Key Takeaway If your 2018 Chevy Silverado has a V6 engine, it takes 6 quarts of oil. If it has a V8 engine, it takes 8 quarts.

What kind of oil does a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado need?

Now that we’ve got the numbers down, we need the actual bottle of oil. There are many brands of oil available on the market, but you can’t just pick one based on the nicest-looking label.

If you're tooling around in a car with a 4.3-liter V6 or 6.0-liter V8 engine, use SAE 5W-30 grade engine oil. If you have the 5.3-liter V8 engine, use SAE 0W-20 grade engine oil.

To avoid engine damage and uphold your vehicle warranty,

Chevrolet

recommends full synthetic engine oil that meets Dexos 1 specifications, like the GM-approved

ACDelco® full synthetic motor oil

What do all the numbers and letters mean? Let’s decode them:

SAE: The acronym for Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes oil viscosity. Basically, this is a stamp of approval.

W: Stands for “winter.” The numbers to the left of the W pertain to the oil’s cold weather viscosity rating.

The first single-digit number: This is the cold weather viscosity rating. In our case, it’s the “5” in 5W-30 and “0” in 0W-20. Zero is the lowest and thinnest viscosity rating, while 20 is the highest.

The final double-digit number: This is the viscosity rating when the engine is hot and running. In our case, it’s “30” in 5W-30 and “20” in 0W-20, which are moderate ratings—not too thin or thick.

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How often to change the oil on a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado

The 2018 Chevy Silverado needs an oil change every 7,500 miles. If you’re a low-mileage driver and fail to clock in 7,500 miles, Chevrolet still recommends you change your oil once a year.

To make sure your Silverado is in its best condition, check the engine oil every 400 miles—especially before embarking on a long road trip. Luckily, your work will be cut out for you since the Driver Information Center (located in the middle of the instrument cluster) will notify you with a message saying, “CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON.”

If you’re manually checking your oil, look for these signs that indicate an oil change is needed:

Dark brown or black oil (dirty oil looks like a cup of soda)

Oil feels gritty or coarse

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine

Oil smells burnt or smokey

Your vehicle is underperforming

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How to change your oil and oil filter

Time to get your hands dirty! Changing oil requires some prep work and elbow grease. Here are the tools you’ll need:

Socket

Oil filter wrench

Drain pan

Replacement filter

New drain bolt washer

6 to 8 quarts of SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-20 oil, depending on your engine size

Dipstick

Begin by making sure your car is not pointed downhill, then run your engine for five minutes to warm up your vehicle to a normal operating temperature. If you are somewhere cold, you may need to wait a little longer. Once your engine is primed, you can turn your car off, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Twist off the oil fill cap (check pages 338-443 of the

2018 Chevrolet Silverado owner’s manual

for the exact location).

Move under your vehicle, position your drain pan, and remove the drain bolt and washer to drain the old oil.

Use the oil filter wrench to loosen the old oil filter. Wait for the oil to drain into the drain pan.

Completely remove the old oil filter and pour out any remaining oil stuck inside the container.

Install your new oil filter by hand. You may use your oil filter wrench to tighten it a little more.

Replace the drain bolt with the new washer.

Refill the engine with your new oil. Use your dipstick to make sure you have the correct amount of oil.

Reset your oil life system and you’re done!

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