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How many quarts of oil does a Toyota Tacoma 4-cylinder pickup require?

My tree-hugging son accused me of driving a gas-guzzling, planet-ruining pickup truck yesterday. He says (and I quote), “It takes a billion quarts of oil just to keep this thing running”. I tried to correct him but he stormed off into his wing of the house before I could respond to his ludicrous claim. So I’m better prepared next time, how many quarts of oil does a Toyota Tacoma 4-cylinder pickup take?

avatar
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A
Toyota Tacoma
four-cylinder pickup requires just over 5 quarts of oil to ensure it runs smoothly. Make sure that fact is in your back pocket the next time you have a father-son chat!
Toyota recommends using Toyota Genuine SAE 0W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil when adding oil to your rig, but you can use any full synthetic oil with the proper viscosity if you can’t find Toyota’s preferred brand. A good alternative is Mobil Extended Performance 0W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil.
What does the 0W-20 classification on your motor oil mean? Considering your son is inquisitive (and on the warpath), we’ll help you out. The 0 stands for viscosity, which refers to the oil’s thickness. The W means the oil is certified for winter use. The 20 stands for the oil’s thickness at higher temperatures.
So, for example, the oil that goes into your Tacoma is a hardier type that will run thin and smooth, easily flowing through your engine even amidst the coldest winter temperatures. By contrast, a more typical 5W-20 oil is meant for operating at warmer temperatures and will thicken up in colder temperatures.
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