GMC Envoy 4.2 Engine Oil Capacity

The GMC Envoy 4.2’s engine has an oil capacity of seven quarts. Learn more about changing your Envoy’s oil with Jerry!
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
A GMC Envoy 4.2’s inline-6 engine has an oil capacity of seven quarts. The 4.2 name refers to the base 4.2-liter I6 engine that came with the second generation of GMC Envoy models produced from 2002-2009. If your Envoy has the 5.3-liter V8 engine upgrade offered in 2003 and after, your oil capacity will be different!
A GMC Envoy is a luxury-level SUV to boot, as far as GM is concerned, and seven quarts is a luxury level of oil to match. If you’re not sure if you have the 4.2 Envoy, just check your owner’s manual or look at the engine under the hood for clues! Your owner’s manual will also confirm the correct oil capacity of your vehicle’s engine.
If you don’t have your manual or just prefer the sweet calming prose of
Jerry
over the emotionless tone of your car’s owner’s manual, you’re in the right place! We’re going to go over all the quick info you’ll need to change the oil in your 2nd-generation Envoy 4.2. Then we’ll tell you how our top-rated
car insurance
app can reduce your
GMC Envoy insurance costs
!

2002-2009 GMC Envoy 4.2 engine oil capacity

Every GMC Envoy from model years 2002-2009 that was outfitted with a 4.2-liter I-6 LL8 engine has an engine oil capacity of 7 quarts. That’s roughly 6.6 liters, but don’t let the different types of measurements used for your car’s engine confuse you!
When we talk about a 4.2-liter engine, what we’re talking about is engine displacementthe total volume of the engine’s cylinders. Oil capacity and engine displacement are completely different measurements, so don’t go thinking that 4.2 liters of oil will be enough to fill your engine.
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What kind of oil does a GMC Envoy 4.2 need?

Okay, so we know how much oil we need to put in, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves! We still need to make sure we’re putting the right kind of oil in.
That’s right folks, you heard it here first: there are all sorts of different grades of oil, all named based on their viscosity and whether or not they are synthetic. Synthetic oil is usually more expensive than regular motor oil.
The GMC Envoy 4.2’s owner’s manual recommends that you use SAE 5W-30 oil.
What do these numbers mean? The “W” stands for winter, the 5 signifies a low level of viscosity at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the 30 represents the opposite viscosity when the engine is blazing at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Because this oil is relatively viscous at both ends of this spectrum, this oil will likely cause less wear and tear on your SUV’s engine.
Okay, so what's the point of synthetic oil then? “Synthetic” means human-made, but they most likely still used distilled crude oil to make it. We haven’t exactly figured out how to mass-produce petrol or anything.
If you’re not sure what kind of oil to get, here are some good bets: 
  • The genuine article: If you just want to follow the manual and don’t need anything fancy, use any SAE 5W-30 motor oil.
  • For high-mileage vehicles: Mobil 1 - Extended Performance 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
  • GMC’s specially formulated oil: 5W-30 dexos1 oil

How often to change the oil on a GMC Envoy 4.2

Now that you know the type of oil you need, it’s time to perform an oil change!
Your owner’s manual recommends that you change your Envoy 4.2’s oil every 5,000 miles. Many people try to get their oil changed every six months or so, depending on how often they drive.
However, if you’re using synthetic oil, you can wait even longer to get an oil change. Experts suggest that you change synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
That being said, several factors can contribute to oil loss and poor oil condition, so you should check your engine’s oil level regularly—at least once a month. Check for signs of bad oil when you do:
  • Dark brown or black oil—if your oil is clean it’ll look more like tea, whereas dirty oil looks like cola.
  • Corse, gritty, dirty oil
  • Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine 
  • Unfamiliar smells, especially oil, smoke, or burning smells.
  • Changes in your vehicle’s performance
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How to change your oil and oil filter

Let’s say that it turns out that you are due for an oil change. If you’re going to do it yourself, you’re going to need some specific items. These items include:
  • Socket wrench
  • Drain pan
  • Filter wrench
  • Replacement oil filter
  • 7 quarts of 5W-30 engine oil
The first thing you’re going to want to do is run the engine for a while until it’s reached about 100 degrees. This should take no more than 5 minutes. Running your engine before you drain the oil will make the oil more viscous, speeding up the draining process. Then follow these steps:
  • Take off the oil fill cap under the hood.
  • Shimmy underneath the engine with your drain pan prepared to catch the draining oil—note that the oil may come shooting out, so be prepared for a bit of mess and be ready to reposition your pan.
  • Once you’re ready remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and the oil will quickly start draining into the drain pan.
  • Remove the old oil filter, continuing to let the oil drain into the pan.
  • Install the new filter, usually by simply screwing it in place.
  • Put the oil drain bolt back on using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft of torque.
  • Finally, refill your engine with 7 quarts of oil.
You can check that you’ve added enough oil to your engine by looking at your dipstick. There should be a section on the dipstick marking the level within which you want the oil to be.
The very last step is cleanup. You need to recycle dirty oil. It cannot go in the garbage and it will cause damage if you pour it on the ground. Bring your old oil in a sealed container and bring it to your local recycling center.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

And you’ve done it! You’re basically a pro mechanic now, and you’ve set yourself up for plenty of savings on oil changes now that you’ve taught yourself this new basic skill, and it shouldn’t take you very long at all!
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