Engine oil capacity is important to know when changing your oil. Adding too much or too little can cause exhaust leaks, overheating, and even engine failure. If you want to avoid these mishaps, learn everything there is to know about the GMC Envoy’s engine oil in this handy little guide! We’ll tell you how much and what kind of oil the Envoy needs, how often to change it, and the step-by-step process of performing an oil change. Let’s begin!

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GMC Envoy engine oil capacity

The GMC Envoy has two engine oil capacities depending on its engine. The 4.2-liter L6 engine holds 7 quarts of oil and the 5.3-liter V8 engine is a little lighter at 6 quarts.

If you’re new to engine specs, the numbers above may be a blur to you—but it’s easy to understand! The liter measurement is

engine displacement

and refers to the volume taken up by an engine’s cylinders. In general, the bigger the volume, the more capable a vehicle is.

The quart measurement is the engine oil capacity that is needed to properly lubricate an engine. Without engine oil, your engine would quickly overheat and underperform. Too much engine oil and you risk leaks and serious damage to the internals.

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What kind of oil does a GMC Envoy need?

The GMC Envoy needs engine oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M or GM Dexos 1 standards, is certified by the American Petroleum Institute, and has a viscosity rating of SAE 5W-30. One exception—if you live in a climate that falls lower than −20°F, then you may use SAE 0W-30.

Don’t know which bottle to pick up?

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil

would be a great choice for the Envoy!

How to read engine oil viscosity ratings

So, how do you read viscosity ratings? Here’s a breakdown of what “SAE 5W-30” means:

SAE: Stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the group that standardizes engine oil requirements and other vehicle specifications.

5W: Refers to a thin oil viscosity at cold temperatures—0W is the thinnest and 25W is the thickest.

30: Refers to a thin oil viscosity when the engine is hot—20 is the thinnest and 60 is the thickest.

Put it all together and SAE 5W-30 is engine oil that can run in your vehicle through all four seasons of the year!

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How often to change oil on a GMC Envoy

The GMC Envoy should get its oil changed every 7,500 miles or every year, whichever comes first.

If you’ve lost track of your last oil change, no worries! You can keep driving until the CHANGE ENGINE OIL light flashes on your instrument cluster. When you see this, head to the repair shop or change your oil within the next 600 miles.

If you think you’re due for an oil change, pop your hood open, and check if your oil exhibits these signs:

Oil is a dark amber or cola color

Oil is thick and sludgy

Oil is gritty and grainy

But oil change signs won’t always be visible. While you’re driving you may notice that your

engine hesitates during acceleration

or that the smell of oil or burning is particularly strong. In these cases, you may also need to change your oil.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

You will need:

Gloves

Drive-up ramps

Drain pan

Shop rags

15mm socket

Socket wrench

New oil filter and O rings

Funnel

6 to 7 quarts of oil

Sealed container for old oil

Before starting the oil change, you’ll want to lift your Envoy to get decent clearance in its undercarriage. So, park your car on level ground and place the drive-up ramps in front of the front wheels. Carefully drive onto the ramps and now we can start!

Get under the vehicle and position the drain pan below the engine to catch the oil.

Now wear your gloves because this will get messy! Using the socket wrench with the 15mm socket, carefully remove the oil drain plug. Wait for the oil to drain completely.

Wipe the oil drain plug and replace it. Tighten with the socket wrench.

Take this time to clean up oil that has spilled onto the undercarriage with your shop rag.

Next, remove the oil filter and allow the oil to drain into the pan.

While the oil drains, lubricate the new oil filter’s O-ring with oil.

After the oil has drained, tighten the new oil filter into place. It should only be hand-tight!

Head on over to your hood and twist off the oil filler cap.

Place the funnel into the engine and pour 7 or 6 quarts of oil, depending on your engine.

Check your oil with the dipstick and add more oil if necessary.

Now you just need to reset your Envoy’s engine oil life system. You can do so by turning your car on with the engine off. Then, step on the accelerator pedal three times in five seconds—the change engine oil light will flash. Remove the key once the flashing stops and you’re done!

Don’t forget to dispose of the old engine oil in a sealed container and bring it to your local repair shop or recycling center. You should never throw away oil in the garbage or sewer.

MORE: How much should an oil change cost?

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