The 2018 GMC Terrain is an affordable and reliable crossover SUV. To get the most out of your Terrain, though, you’ll have to regularly change its oil—which means you’ll need to know its engine oil capacity.

Unfortunately, regular maintenance is an expense that comes with owning any vehicle—including the 2018 GMC Terrain. To keep this expense to a minimum, you can start doing your own oil changes at home—but first, you’ll need to know what the correct oil type and engine oil capacity are for your Terrain.

The owner’s manual for your GMC will have all the important details regarding engine oil maintenance. If you don’t have the manual, though, you can find all of that same information (plus some helpful hints on how to save money on your

GMC Terrain insurance cost

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2018 GMC Terrain engine oil capacity

In order to start changing your own oil, the first thing you’ll need to know is how much oil to use. The 2018 GMC Terrain has an engine oil capacity of exactly 4.2 quarts. So, you’ll need to have at least 5 quarts handy whenever you’re changing the oil since motor oil is sold by the quart.

What kind of oil does a 2018 GMC Terrain need?

Knowing the engine oil capacity for your 2018 GMC Terrain is a great first step toward managing your own oil changes. However, it’s not enough to simply know how much oil to use—you’ll also have to know what kind of oil your Terrain takes.

Not all motor oil products are the same. They’re divided into different categories based on their viscosity rating—which is a measure of how thick the oil is. Using oil with the wrong viscosity rating will result in improper engine lubrication/cooling—which can quickly lead to catastrophic engine damage.

For the 2018 GMC Terrain, you’ll need fully-synthetic motor oil with a viscosity rating of 5W-30. If you’re not familiar with viscosity ratings, a 5W-30 rating means that the oil has a viscosity level of 5 at “winter temperature” or “cold start temperature”—which is 0°F. It also means that it has a viscosity rating of 30 at its “normal operating temperature”—which is 212°F.

As long as you use a fully-synthetic oil with that viscosity rating, you shouldn’t have any oil compatibility issues. That being said, however, some oils will work better than others, depending on their brand and overall quality. If you’re not sure which brand of motor oil to buy, consider using one of these:

For high-mileage vehicles:If you’re looking for an oil that will be good for a GMC Terrain with a lot of miles already on it, consider using the

Edge High Mileage 5W-30

oil made by Castrol.

The best of the best:If you want the very best motor oil for your GMC Terrain (and you don’t mind paying a little extra), then go with

ACDelco’s Dexos1 Full Synthetic engine oil

Best on a budget: Looking for a high-quality motor oil, but not looking to spend a fortune? Go with

Mobil 1’s Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil

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How often to change the oil in a 2018 GMC Terrain

Now that you know what kind of oil to use for your 2018 GMC Terrain, and how much of it to use, you need to know when to actually change the oil. For that model, you’ll want to change the oil every 7,500-10,000 miles or every six months—whichever comes first.

Apart from your regularly scheduled oil changes, you should also change the oil if you notice any issues or problems relating to motor oil. This could include things like strange sounds/smells coming from the engine during vehicle operation or rapidly dropping oil levels—you should be checking the oil level in your GMC at least once a month.

Every time you check your car’s oil, you should also be on the lookout for these warning signs that your oil needs changing:

The oil has changed color from amber to black

The oil feels course or gritty

The oil has visible debris or contaminants in it

The oil looks foamy

If you ever notice any of the issues listed above, you should drain and refill your oil as soon as possible.

MORE:

Are GMCs expensive to maintain?

How to change your oil and oil filter

When the time comes to change your oil, you’ll need to have 5 quarts of fresh 5W-30 motor oil, a fresh oil filter, a filter wrench, a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a rag. If you have all of those things, you can jump in and start changing your oil! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Start the engine of your GMC Terrain, and allow it to run for 5-10 minutes while the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Then, shut off the engine.

Pop the hood. Underneath, locate and remove the oil fill cap—which should be clearly labeled.

From under the engine bay, locate and remove the oil drain bolt. Before you do, though, make sure that you’ve positioned your drain pan underneath—the oil will begin draining immediately.

While the old oil is draining, use your filter wrench to remove the old oil filter. Then, wait for the oil to completely drain out. Once all the old oil is emptied, install the fresh oil filter.

Next, reattach the oil drain bolt. After that, you’ll be able to refill your engine’s oil. Once it's full, replace the oil fill cap.

Start the engine again and allow it to run for another few minutes—this will allow you to check for any leaks.

And it’s as easy as that! Congratulations—you’ve not successfully changed your own oil! Remember to pour the old oil out of the drain pan and into a sealable container (such as an old milk jug). Then, take it to your local recycling center, in accordance with the law.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Handling routine maintenance tasks, like changing your own oil, can save you a lot of money in the long run. Another great way to save money on your car-related expenses is to stay up-to-date on your car insurance maintenance—that means doing a policy review at least once a year.

Reviewing (and possibly switching) the coverage for your GMC Terrain insurance once or twice a year can save you hundreds annually—but it can be very time-consuming and tedious. That’s why

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