Your 2018 Toyota Highlander’s oil capacity will vary depending on which of the two engines it has. The smaller 2.7-liter 4-cylinder takes 4.6 quarts of oil, while the heftier 3.5-liter V6 takes 5.8 quarts.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is a reliable three-row family crossover with an abundance of the two features families typically want the most from their cars—great safety features and high fuel economy. This is a car that does both of these things brilliantly.
Toyota had two engines on offer when the 2018 Toyota Highlander was in production—a 2.7-liter inline four and a 3.5-liter V6. Toyota has individual recommendations for both of these engines, so we’ll go over those here in a moment.
Jerry
, the trusted brokerage app for car insurance
, put together this helpful guide that will tell you everything you need to know about the oil capacity of your 2018 Toyota Highlander, how to decipher all those weird numbers you’ll find on motor oil, and how to do the actual oil change itself (it’s easier than you think!). We'll even help you find the cheapest Toyota Highlander car insurance
. Let's get started! 2018 Toyota Highlander engine oil capacity
There are technically three engines for the 2018 Toyota Highlander, though the third is just a hybrid version of the 3.5-liter V6 that’s supported by three electric motors. But the two primary engines—an inline four and the V6—have their own oil capacities.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander’s 2.7-liter I4 engine takes 4.6 quarts of oil, while the 3.5-liter V6 (and its non-identical twin, the V6 hybrid) both take 5.8 quarts. These numbers both take the oil filter into consideration.
We’re throwing around lots of numbers, and it’s easy to confuse engine displacement and oil capacity. Engine displacement refers to the engine’s cylinder volume, not its engine oil capacity. For instance, the V6 has 3.5 liters of cylinder volume and takes 5.8 quarts of oil.
MORE: How much should an oil change cost?
What kind of oil does a 2018 Toyota Highlander need?
Types of engine oil can be a little confusing at first until you understand what all those numbers mean. Let’s discuss what type of engine oil your 2018 Toyota Highlander needs next, shall we?
First, make sure you’re using full-synthetic motor oil. Synthetic oil is man-made, and most modern cars use full-synthetic oil. Your 2018 Toyota Highlander is no exception.
Toyota recommends using Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic motor oil
. SAE 5W-20 oil can be used only if you replace it with SAE OW-20 the next time you change your oil. What the heck do all of these numbers mean, though?
“SAE” is short for Society of Automotive Engineers, a group of experts who created a system of classifying oil viscosity (a fancy way of saying how thick oil is). “0W” reads as “zero degrees Fahrenheit, Winter”. It just means the oil moves better in freezing weather than 5W oil does.
The “20” in that number represents the speed at which oil moves through the engine while it’s running at 212 degrees or normal operating temperatures.
How often to change the oil on a 2018 Toyota Highlander
Now that we know what kind of oil your 2018 Toyota Highlander needs, we should talk about how often to change it. There’s no need to change your oil early, but you certainly don’t want to let it get too old either.
Toyota recommends you get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, which is pretty standard for most vehicles. But if you aren’t driving your Highlander often (or if it’s off the road for an extended period), consider getting the oil changed every six months until the road time goes back to normal.
Some experts say full-synthetic oil can last up to 10,000 miles, but that’s a high cap and certainly not a safe number to aim for. It’s always better to replace engine oil earlier than later.
Not sure if you need an oil change? Here’s how you can check your oil to be sure:
Old motor oil will look dark brown or black
If you rub the oil between your fingers it might feel gritty or coarse, it’s too old
You might smell burning oil, or another burning smell, when the oil is too old
The engine might perform poorly or sound labored
How to change your oil and oil filter
There are two ways you can get an oil change. Option A, pay a mechanic to do it. That’s always a safe route to take, and let’s be honest, some of us are pretty short on free time. But if you do have more time to spare, and if you’d like to save a decent amount of money, you could just change the oil yourself.
Changing your own oil isn’t nearly as complicated or risky as you probably think it is. In fact, this is one of the very easiest DIY car projects you can take on! Here’s what you’d need to do:
Buy your motor oil. Be sure to check the volumes of oil you’re buying. You may need more than one container
Collect a few basic tools. This will include a socket wrench, drain pan, some rags, and a filter wrench
Run the engine for a few minutes, until it reaches its normal operating temperature, then shut it down. Warm oil is a lot easier to work with, and this keeps it from getting too hot
Remove the oil fill cap, set your drain pan under the oil drain bolt, and remove the drain bolt and washer. You should toss and replace the washer with each oil change
Remove the old oil filter, then wait until all the oil is drained
Once the oil is fully drained, simply install the new oil filter and reinstall the drain bolt and new washer
Refill the motor oil and then screw the fill cap back on
Once you’re all done (and possibly cleaned up), check your dipstick to make sure you have the right amount of oil, and then run the engine for five to minutes and watch under the car for leaks. 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. Your car's oil pressure light
might be displaying, but it should turn off soon enough if everything is working. Please be sure to take your old motor oil to a recycling center in a sealed container. Spent motor oil is dangerous to both you and the environment and should be handled with care.
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