The 2019 Toyota Tundra boasts a cavernous crew cab and several hyper-capable off-road packages, but it has pretty dismal fuel economy. Fortunately, you can save a bit of money by performing DIY oil changes at home—as long as you know that your truck has an 8.5-quart engine oil capacity (equivalent to just over 8 liters).

Pickup trucks, in general, are versatile and utilitarian, but their

routine maintenance

can be quite expensive—primarily due to their massive engines, which require lots of gasoline and oil. Still, it’s important not to cut corners on this maintenance or you could face steep

car repairs

down the line.

If you’re looking to save a bit of money, read on. We’ll tell you all about your 2019 Tundra’s oil capacity, the type of oil you’ll need, and exactly when to perform your next oil change. Let’s get started!

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2019 Toyota Tundra engine oil capacity

Your 2019 Toyota Tundra is powered by one of two massive engines: either a 4.6-liter V8 or a 5.7-liter V8. Either way, your engine oil capacity is 8.5 quarts, or just over 8 liters.

But how can a 4.6-liter and 5.7-liter engine have the same oil capacity?! Well, the numbers indicating the size of the engine refer to their displacement, or how much oil they take up into their cylinders.

Your engine oil capacity indicates how much oil you’ll need for a complete oil change. Although they’re easily confused, these numbers are not interchangeable!

What kind of oil does a 2019 Toyota Tundra need?

8.5 quarts is a lot of oil, so you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest option you can find. However, it’s essential that you purchase the correct oil!

Per the manufacturer’s recommendation, your 2019 Tundra requires SAE 0W-20 full synthetic oil. Not sure what that means? Let’s break it down.

“SAE” stands for the the U.S. Society of Automotive Engineers, which is simply the institution that determines the viscosity of engine oil. An oil grade that includes “SAE” means that the oil meets certain technical standards.

Next up is the oil grade itself. Each of the numbers refer to the oil’s viscosity, or thickness, while “W” stands for “winter.” The number before “W” (in this case, 0) informs us of the oil’s viscosity in extremely cold temperatures, while the number after “W” (in this case, 20) tells us the oil’s viscosity in extremely hot temperatures.

Finally, you’ll notice that your Tundra requires full synthetic oil. Although conventional oil (i.e., mineral oil) can provide adequate lubrication performance, it can't compete with the overall engine performance and protection provided by synthetics.

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How often to change oil on a 2019 Toyota Tundra

Now let’s talk about timing: when, exactly, should you go ahead and

change your oil

Well we have some good news! Full synthetic oil may be a bit more expensive, and you might need quite a bit of it, but you can drive quite a while before your next oil change—7,500 to 10,000 miles to be exact. If you don’t drive often, that may be as seldom as once a year.

If you do need to pinch pennies and opt for conventional oil, beware. You’ll have to change your engine’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Finally, a synthetic blend oil (which combines conventional and full synthetic oils) will land you somewhere in the middle—though you should always check with your Tundra dealership or a trusted mechanic for exact details.

Either way, these are some pretty significant ranges, so it’s important to check your oil level regularly. Here are a few signs that your oil is ready for changing:

The oil is dirty and dark brown or black like cola (rather than clean oil that is light brown or amber like tea)

The oil feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar noises or oily, smokey, or burning smells are coming from the engine

There have been changes in your vehicle’s performance

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How to change your oil and oil filter

It’s finally time to roll up your sleeves and grab a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter. And, obviously, you’ll need a replacement filter and eight quarts of SAE 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.

Start things off by running the engine for about 5 minutes or until it reaches normal operating temperature. Once things are nice and toasty, turn your engine off, open up your truck’s hood, and get started:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

When everything is finished, you’ll want to turn your engine on again and let the engine fill up with the fresh oil. Then, use your dipstick to check your oil levels and add more as needed.

Once you’re done, run the vehicle for a few minutes and watch for any leaks. If you’ve done everything right, your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Don’t forget that you should never dump the dirty oil out on the ground or put it in your garbage bin. Instead, place it in a sealed container and bring it to a local recycling center.