by doing it yourself, you’ll need to know your 2020 Mazda CX-5 engine oil capacity. And in order to figure that out, you need to know which engine your model has.

We’ll talk about the oil capacities of each of the three 2020 CX-5 engines, go over what kind of oil you need to use, and outline the process to change your own oil.

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2020 Mazda CX-5 engine oil capacity

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 was available with four different engines.

The baseline trim comes with the standard 2.0L engine and has an oil capacity of 4.4 quarts, or 4.2 liters.

The Sport,

Touring

, and

Grand Touring

trims were equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine. This engine’s oil capacity is 4.8 quarts or 4.5 liters with the filter included.

The

Grand Touring Reserve

and

Signature

trims’ standard engine was a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4, with an oil capacity of 5.1 quarts (4.8 L).

Finally, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature was available with a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged diesel inline-4. If you have this model, it has a with-filter engine oil capacity of 5.4 quarts (5.1 L).

What kind of oil does a 2020 Mazda CX-5 need?

The oil you need to use also depends on which engine you have, and it’s especially important that you use the right kind—at the very least, make sure you use the right viscosity. Read more in

this section of the owner’s manual

For the base 2.5-liter engine, Mazda recommends using SAE 0W-20 Mazda Genuine Oil. This is a full-synthetic oil, which Mazda says is necessary for optimum fuel economy.

If you have the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, your owner’s manual recommends Mazda Genuine 5W-30 Oil.

Finally, for the 2.2-liter twin-turbo diesel, the recommended lubricant is Mazda Genuine SKYACTIV-D SAE 0W-30 Diesel Engine Oil. Make sure you use oil meant for diesel engines.

Oil viscosity grades explained

If you’re not used to reading these oil names, the four digits separated by a hyphen are the oil’s SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) viscosity grade designation. Viscosity is a fancy word we use to describe how thick a fluid is—the higher the number, the thicker the fluid. Motor oil for modern engines is multi-grade, formulated to behave differently at different temperatures.

The number in front of the W (which stands for “winter”) is the oil’s cold temperature viscosity rating, while the second number is the high-temperature viscosity rating measured at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).

Motor oil thickens as it gets colder and gets thinner when it warms up. A 0W-30 oil is still thinner when hot, despite the fact that its high-temperature viscosity rating is a higher number than its cold temperature rating. 0W-30 oil only gets as thick as an SAE 0 single-grade oil would get in winter temperatures.

A single-grade SAE 30 oil would get too thick in the cold, making it harder to start the engine, while a single-grade SAE 0 would be far too thin at operating temperature to prevent engine wear. With multi-grade oil, you get the best of both worlds!

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How often to change the oil on a 2020 Mazda CX-5

Now that you know what kind of oil to use, you’re ready to

change your oil

But not so fast! Are you sure it’s time? If you’re using synthetic oil, as the owner’s manual suggests, you’ll need to replace it every 7,500 miles. Your Mazda has a wrench indicator light which lets you know when it’s time for an oil change.

However, it’s still a good idea to check your oil once per month. Check the level, and also look out for any of the following signs that might indicate that you need a change:

Oil looks dark and opaque, rather than light and translucent (the way it looked coming out of the bottle)

It feels dirty, coarse, or gritty

Engine is making strange noises and/or smells

Vehicle performance has decreased

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How to change your oil and oil filter

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 owner’s manual says that engine oil changes should be performed by an Authorized Mazda Dealer. Make sure to check that you aren’t voiding any warranty by doing this maintenance yourself.

If you are doing it yourself, you’ll need some supplies: a socket wrench, drain pan, and filter wrench are your main tools. Plus, you’ll need to buy a new replacement filter and the correct amount of the correct type of oil for your engine.

This whole process will also be a lot easier if you have jacks to lift up the vehicle and make it easier to get underneath. We also recommend gloves and rags to help deal with the mess.

If it’s cold, run the engine for about two to three minutes. This will make the engine oil thinner, allowing for easier draining and making it more likely for contaminants to be flushed out along with it.

Now, follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

Find the oil drain plug and washer underneath the engine. Position the drain pan so that it will catch the oil as it flows from the drain.

When you’re ready, remove the oil drain plug and washer to start the draining process. This is where it could get messy.

Unscrew the old oil filter and install the fresh one.

Once all of the oil has drained, replace the oil drain plug with a new washer, tightening to 23-30 lb-ft.

Pour the oil into the oil fill opening, then replace the 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 you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

To finish the job, turn the car on and let it run for about half a minute, allowing the oil to circulate, then check the oil level and check for leaks. You’ll also need to

reset the oil change interval

so that the wrench icon shows up again at the right time.

Finally, make sure to correctly dispose of old engine oil by placing it in a sealed container and taking it to your local recycling center.

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