The 2018 Ford Focus is a solid, no-nonsense American car with top-notch fuel economy, perfect safety scores, and affordability that’s hard to beat. To make sure your Focus stays in good shape for as long as possible, you’ll have to keep up with routine oil changes—and you’ll need 4.5 quarts of oil to do it in most cases.

The standard engine of the 2018 Ford Focus needs 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 oil at each oil change.
Coarse, black oil is one sign your oil needs to be changed ASAP.
You can change the oil in your Focus yourself with just a few tools in the comfort of your own garage.

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2018 Ford Focus engine oil capacity

Let’s cut straight to the chase: the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder Flex Fuel engine for each trim of the 2018 Ford Focus holds 4.5 quarts of oil or about 4.26 liters. However, Focus models equipped with EcoBoost will need different amounts of oil depending on which EcoBoost engine it has, so be sure to research your specific model before buying your own motor oil.

No matter what Focus engine you have, it’s crucial that you don’t mix up

engine displacement

—the 2.0-liters of volume the four cylinders take up—with the 4.5-quart oil capacity, which is how much oil your car needs at every oil change. These numbers are not interchangeable, and mixing them up could lead to an expensive mess to deal with down the road.

What kind of oil does a 2018 Ford Focus need?

Now that we know the amount of oil you need to buy, we need to talk about what type of oil your Focus needs. Just like putting in the wrong amount of oil could lead to engine problems, using the wrong viscosity or oil grade could also spell trouble for your engine. For the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Flex engine, you need to look for 4.5 quarts of SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil on the shelves of your local auto parts store.

If you’re not familiar with motor oil, those numbers and letters could look daunting, so let’s break it down. The numbers in the oil grade signify the oil’s viscosity, or thickness, while the “W” stands for winter. The 5 before the W means that this oil is pretty thin at freezing temperatures, and the 20 tells us that it still has a low viscosity at boiling temperature. The SAE just means the oil’s viscosity was coded by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

This oil is essential for your Focus because it’s the best viscosity for both cold and hot conditions. Plus, low viscosity equals less wear and tear on your engine!

While Ford recommends using full synthetic oil, you can also use a high-quality synthetic blend or even conventional motor oil as long as it’s still 5W-20. You’ll just have to change your oil more often.

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How often to change oil on a 2018 Ford Focus

We’ve covered how much and what kind—now let’s get to when? If you’re using the manufacturer-recommended full synthetic oil in your 2018 Focus, you can likely get by with

changing your oil

every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. You’ll have to change it every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, however, if you’re using conventional oil.

Since those are fairly wide ranges, you’ll also want to check your oil regularly to make sure you’re not overdue for a change. A good rule of thumb is to check it about once a month or every other time you fill up your gas tank. Here are a few signs your Focus needs an oil change:

Your oil is dark brown or black (clean oil is light brown or amber)

Your oil’s texture is gritty or coarse

You hear strange new noises coming from the engine

You notice a burning or oil smell

Your Focus isn’t performing as well as it usually does

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How to change your oil and oil filter

OK, so you’ve decided it really is time to change the oil in your 2018 Focus!

First, you’ll need to make sure you have the necessary materials and tools. You’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench in order to remove your old oil filter. You may also need ramps or a car jack to wedge underneath your Focus. It’s also handy to have some gloves and a few towels, just in case. Of course, you’ll also need a replacement filter and 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 engine oil.

Once you have your workstation set up, start your engine and let it run for about five minutes while it reaches normal operating temperature. At that point, cut the engine, pop your hood, and follow these steps:

Remove your oil fill cap.

Wedge yourself under the engine to remove the oil drain bolt and washer to drain the old oil, being careful not to burn yourself on the hot oil.

With the filter wrench, remove the old oil filter while the old oil continues to drain.

Install your new filter.

Replace the oil drain bolt with a new washer and tighten it to about 20 lb-ft.

Fill the engine with the new oil and replace the fill cap.

When you’re done, turn your car on for about 30 seconds, allowing the new oil to fill the new filter. Then use your dipstick to check that you put enough oil, adding extra oil if needed. Run your Focus for a few minutes, keeping an eye out for any leaks.

One last step: cleanup. It’s critical that you do not dispose of your old oil on the ground, down a drain, or in a garbage bin. Instead, pour your old oil into the container your new oil came in, then take it to your local lube shop or auto parts store.

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