With excellent fuel efficiency, top-notch reliability, and a smooth comfortable ride, the 2019 Toyota Camry is a top choice in the family sedan segment. But, if you want to keep your Toyota running smoothly, you should know your Camry’s oil capacity, which is 4.8 or 5.7 quarts, depending on which engine you have.
Vehicle ownership comes with many hidden expenses from fuel costs, to car insurance
, to regular oil changes. Some costs can’t be avoided — regular oil changes are necessary to keep an engine running. But you can reduce your cost of car ownership by changing your oil yourself. All you need is a few affordable tools and the right type and amount of engine oil. In this article, we’ll show you what type of oil to use on your 2019 Toyota Camry, how much oil your Camry takes, and how to change that oil yourself.
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The first thing you need to know is how much oil your 2019 Toyota Camry needs.
All 2019 Camrys came equipped with a standard 203-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. These engines have an oil capacity of 4.8 quarts. It is a common mistake to confuse the engine’s displacement—the 2.5-liter volume of the Camry’s cylinders—with oil capacity. But, engine displacement and oil capacity are not the same things.
A larger 301-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine was also made available on the 2019 Camry’s higher trim models. These motors require 5.7 quarts of oil, so make sure you know which engine is hiding under the hood of your Toyota Camry.
What kind of oil does a 2019 Toyota Camry need?
You also need to know what kind of oil to put into your Camry. Unfortunately, not all engine oil is the same, and the kind you’ll need will depend on which engine you’ve got.
For Camrys with the standard four-cylinder engine, you’ll need to use Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-16 motor oil or an equivalent. If you’re in a bind, you can use SAE 0W-20 motor oil, but be sure to replace it with 0W-16 at your next scheduled oil change.
Toyota recommends using Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-20 motor oil or equivalent for models with V6 engines. 5W-20 oil can be used in a pinch, but again, be sure to replace it with the recommended 0W-20 oil at your next oil change.
You might be wondering what all these numbers and letters mean. The first number refers to your oil’s viscosity — how thick it is and how easily it flows — and the “W” stands for “winter”. The lower the number, the lower the viscosity, so 0W-16 oil will have low viscosity at low temperatures. The other number tells us how thin the oil will get when it’s very hot out—the higher the number, the thinner the oil will get on a hot, hot day.
The “SAE” simply refers to the Society of Automotive Engineers, the organization in charge of coding oil viscosity.
So, zero winter viscosity means your oil will work well in cold weather because of additives preventing it from thickening and running slowly. But, if you have a Camry with a V6 engine, you’ll want 0W-20 motor oil, which gets a little thinner on hot days than the 0W-16 oil used by four-cylinder models.
Synthetic motor oil can be used so long as it is the right viscosity grade. Synthetic oil typically lasts longer than regular motor oil, too.
MORE: How much should an oil change cost?
How often to change the oil on a 2019 Toyota Camry
Now that you know how much and what type of oil to use, you need to know when to use it.
Toyota recommends changing your oil and your oil filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for four-cylinder models, and 7,500 to 10,000 miles for V6 models. While many experts may tell you that synthetic motor oil can last between 7,500 and 10,000 miles, only Toyota vehicles that require 0W-20 motor oil have been approved for 10,000-mile oil change intervals. Camrys for which 0W-20 motor oil is an option should still have their oil changed at the 5,000-mile mark even if you’re using 0W-20 oil.
Of course, when it comes to cars, anything can happen at any time, so it’s a good idea to check your oil regularly.
Here are some telltale signs that it’s time for an oil change:
If your motor oil is dark brown or black, it is dirty and needs to be changed. Good motor oil looks like apple juice, and dirty motor oil looks more like cola.
If your motor oil feels sandy, it’s time for a change. Good oil should feel silky-smooth.
If you’re hearing strange noises coming from the engine, it might be time for an oil change.
If you smell oil
or smoke, it may be a sign that an oil change is in your future.If you notice a drop in your vehicle’s performance, check your oil to see if it’s oil-change time.
How to change your oil and oil filter
Once you’ve determined that an oil change is in order, you can take your Camry to your Toyota dealership to have the procedure done professionally or you can take a shot at doing it yourself. All you need is a socket wrench, an oil pan, an oil filter wrench, and five to six quarts of motor oil, depending on which type of oil your particular Camry requires. Then follow these instructions:
Run your Camry’s engine until it reaches regular running temperature—about five minutes
Shut off the engine once it reaches running temperature
Pop the hood and remove your oil fill cap
Raise the front end of the car with a jack stand or ramps
Place the oil pan underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, allowing the old oil to drain into the pan
While the oil drains, remove the old oil filter
Put in your new oil filter
Replace the drain bolt along with a new washer, tightening to 30 lb-ft for four-cylinder models and 27 lb-ft for V6 models
Fill your engine with the proper amount and type of oil for your engine type, then check it for leaks with the car off, then again with the engine running
Start up your car and let it run for about a minute, allowing the new oil to fill the new oil filter. Check your oil level with your dipstick, and top off your oil as needed.
Once your oil is at the right level, let your car run for a few minutes while you check for leaks. If everything is good, you can reset the maintenance light on your dash cluster. To do this just press your car’s start button twice to enter accessory mode, then use the steering wheel buttons to navigate through the menu options selecting the gear icon, then Settings, then Scheduled Maintenance. When the display asks if you want to reset data, select Yes, and your maintenance light will be reset.
Finally, put the old oil in a sealed container and take it down to your local recycling center. Do not dump the old oil on the ground or place it in your regular garbage.
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