The family-favorite 2018 GMC Acadia holds 5 quarts on the 2.5-liter FWD engine and 6 quarts on both the 2.5-liter AWD engine and 3.6-liter engine.

Part of being a responsible car owner is regular vehicle maintenance. If you love saving money and are mechanically minded, change your GMC Acadia’s oil at home! You’ll need different types and amounts of motor oil depending on your SUV's engine.

Instead of searching high and low for your owner’s manual, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the 2018 GMC Acadia oil capacity in this handy guide. Let’s get into it!

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2018 GMC Acadia engine oil capacity

Before we jump into what type of oil to buy, figure out how much oil your SUV needs.

The 2018 GMC Acadia has three drivetrain options, so the amount of motor oil the engine needs depends on the drivetrain. Here’s how much oil your Acadia needs:

2.5-liter four-cylinder FWD engine: 5 quarts or 4.7 liters

2.5-liter four-cylinder AWD engine: 6 quarts or 5.7 liters

3.6-liter six-cylinder engine: 6 quarts or 5.7 liters

Just remember that the 2.5- or 3.6-liter measurement at the beginning of the engine specs is the

engine displacement

—the volume its cylinders take up. Oil capacity is not the same, so the numbers aren’t interchangeable.

What kind of oil does a 2018 GMC Acadia need?

If it’s been a while since you shopped for motor oil, check that you’re buying the right oil type for your Acadia.

GMC recommends buying their fully synthetic oil for the best performance and protection from wear and tear. Specifically, GMC advises buying Dexos synthetic oil that its engineers developed for 2011 and newer GMC models. You can purchase different brands of Dexos-approved oil as long as it’s the right oil type for your engine size. Here’s what you’re shopping for:

2.5-liter four-cylinder FWD and AWD engines: SAE 5W-20 motor oil

3.6-liter six-cylinder engine: SAE 5W-30 motor oil

There are a few exceptions to this. If you’ve got a 2.5-liter engine and can’t find 5W-20 oil, it’s okay to use 0W-20. Just switch back to 5W-20 at the next oil change.

If you live in an extremely cold environment—we’re talking −20 °F—you should use 0W-30 oil, so your engine starts easier.

How to read engine oil specifications

Now, what do those oil specs mean? The numbers simply describe the oil’s viscosity or how thick it is. Let’s decode what SAE 5W-20 means!

SAE means “Society of Automotive Engineers,” and almost all motor oils will have this designation. The “W” refers to winter, and the number 5 before it tells you that the oil stays thin at 0°F. The number 20 or 30 means it also stays thin when the engine temperature climbs over 212°F.

If you shop for motor oil that meets the recommendation for your engine, you’ll notice better performance in cold temperatures, and your engine will be protected from standard wear.

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How often to change oil on a 2018 GMC Acadia

Now that you’re confident in picking out the right motor oil, it’s time to ask yourself whether or not your GMC needs an oil change. Fortunately for you, the 2018 GMC Acadia has a fancy computer system that alerts you when it’s time to change the oil and filter.

The system tracks how many revolutions the engine performs, the engine temperature, and how many miles you’ve driven. Once the alert appears on the dash, change the oil within the next 600 miles.

If the Acadia oil change system gets reset and you don’t think it’s accurate, plan on changing the oil at least every 3,000 miles. Try to check the oil level every month or at every other refuel, and pay attention to these signs that your Acadia needs new oil:

The motor oil looks dark brown or black instead of light brown or amber

The oil feels sandy or gritty when you rub it between your fingers

You hear strange noises coming from the engine

You smell oil, smoke, or burning from the engine

You notice the Acadia drives differently

MORE: How much does an oil change cost?

How to change your oil and oil filter

If you’ve decided your Acadia needs an oil change, roll up your sleeves and get out your supplies. You need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench, which makes it easier to remove the old oil filter. Finally, remember to buy the right synthetic oil for your engine type and pick up a replacement filter. Let’s get started!

First, run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature—usually, it takes around five minutes. Shut off the engine, pop the hood open, and follow these instructions:

Unscrew the oil fill cap and set it somewhere you won’t lose it.

Slide underneath the car and place a drain pan below the engine. Remove the oil drain bolt and washer so the oil drains.

Take out the old oil filter and keep draining the oil.

Install the new filter.

Replace the oil drain bolt with a new washer and tighten it.

Pour the new oil into the engine and screw on the oil fill cap.

Next, switch on the engine and run it for 30 seconds to help the filter absorb some of the new oil. Turn off the engine and check the dipstick to see if you need to top off the engine oil. Then, run the engine for a few minutes and keep an eye out for leaks.

You may have had cars that automatically reset the

oil pressure light

after an oil change. However, the 2018 GMC Acadia doesn’t do this. You must manually reset the engine oil life system, but it’s easy. Press the checkmark button on the driver information center for a few seconds and that’s it!

All that’s left to do is clean up. Put the dirty oil into a sealed container and take it to your local recycling center. Do not pour it out on the ground or throw it in your normal garbage bin. Then, congratulate yourself on a job well done!

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