Keep in mind: Oil capacity, the amount of oil your Ford’s Ecoboost engine needs each time it gets an oil change, differs from your engine’s displacement, the measure of the cylinder volume of your car’s pistons. While the two are easy to confuse, the numbers are not interchangeable.

2020 Ford Ranger oil type

As per the 2020 Ford Ranger’s owner’s manual recommendations, look for SAE 5W-30 synthetic blend engine oil

If this is gibberish to you, don’t worry—SAE simply stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes the oil.

The numbers refer to the oil’s viscosity, with the 5 signifying that the oil has a low viscosity at 0°F. The “W” stands for winter, while the number 30 tells us that the oil is also relatively thin at the smoking hot temperature of 212°F, an engine’s normal operating temperature.

In simple terms: You’re looking for an oil that will perform well in cold and high-temperature conditions. To follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, use API-certified, synthetic blend or full synthetic

Motorcraft Premium Motor Oil

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change oil on a 2020 Ford Ranger

According to Ford's recommended

car maintenance schedule

, you should change your Ranger’s oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or every six months—whichever comes first.

If mile and month benchmarks aren’t your thing, you can check the state of your oil regularly to determine if it’s time for a change. Look out for the following signs that your oil needs to be changed:

Engine oil is gritty

or coarse

Dark brown or black oil (If your oil resembles a cup of coffee, it’s ready to be changed)

Oil, burning, or

smoke smells from the engine

Strange or

loud engine noises

Deterioration in your vehicle’s performance and fuel economy

How to change your oil and oil filter

When changing your Ranger’s oil, the first step is to gather your materials. You will need some essential tools and supplies:

A socket wrench

A drain pan

A filter wrench

A replacement filter

Six quarts of premium 5W-30 engine oil

Next, turn on your engine and allow it to run until it reaches normal operating temperature (roughly five minutes). Then, turn off the engine,

open the hood

, and follow the steps below:

Remove the oil fill cap, oil drain bolt or drain plug, and washer

Using your drain pan, drain out the old oil

Remove the old oil filter

Install the new filter

Using a new washer, replace the oil drain bolt

Refill the engine with your new oil

Replace the fill cap

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before using the dipstick to check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

Once you’ve completed all the steps, run your Ford’s engine for a few minutes and keep an eye out for oil leaks. If everything was done correctly, your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Pro tip: Remember to clean up the old oil by placing it in a sealed container and dropping it off at a local recycling center!

MORE:

What happens if you don’t get an oil change?

“I decided to try
Jerry
because my car insurance had been increasing drastically with each policy renewal. Jerry found me multiple ways to save after entering just a few pieces of info! I’m saving almost $70 a month after choosing Nationwide.” —Ish M.

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™

Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.

Try GarageGuard™