“Large and in charge” is the only way to describe the 2008 Ford Expedition thanks to its powerful engine and best-in-class towing capacity. But to keep this three-row full-size SUV in top form, knowing its engine oil capacity is a must—which is 7 quarts.

When you have a mighty full-size SUV, like the 2008 Ford Expedition, you can expect to pay higher costs for

routine maintenance

compared to smaller sedans. But luckily, you can easily save time and money by changing your own engine oil at home. Of course, you have to know the correct oil capacity and type before you go any further, which you can find in your owner’s manual.

But if you’ve lost your Ford owner’s manual, we got you covered! In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about changing the oil in a 2008 Ford Expedition.

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2008 Ford Expedition engine oil capacity

Let’s begin with the question on everyone’s mind: precisely how much motor oil does a 2008 Ford Expedition need?

With a potent 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V8 engine under the hood, the Ford Expedition has an oil capacity of 7 quarts or 6.6 liters. Keep in mind that your engine’s displacement—or the 5.4-liter volume its cylinders consist of—is not the same as your oil capacity. They are not interchangeable as the oil capacity alludes to the amount of oil necessary for every oil change.

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What kind of oil does a 2008 Ford Expedition need?

Once you know how much motor oil your full-size SUV requires, the next question can only be: precisely what type of oil does a 2008 Ford Expedition need?

Don’t think you can buy just any engine oil off the shelf! For the 2008 Ford Expedition, you’ll need to go with SAE 5W-20 engine oil with a “Certified For Gasoline Engines” trademark symbol from the American Petroleum Institute (API). Ford recommends using

Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

for optimal fuel efficiency and performance power—according to your Ford owner’s manual. Not quite sure what this oil grade means? No sweat, we’ll spell it out for you below.

The numbers describe your motor oil’s viscosity (also known as thickness), while the “W” means winter. The number 5 signifies that the oil has a lower viscosity, which helps your engine perform well under harsher cold weather conditions. At the same time, the number 20 shows us the viscosity of the oil at a normal operating temperature. And lastly, SAE is an acronym for the Society of Automotive Engineers or the professional association that codes oil viscosity.

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How often to change oil on a 2008 Ford Expedition

So you got down the oil capacity and type for your 2008 Ford Expedition, now what? That’s right—it’s time to

change your oil

If you’re going with the Ford recommended premium synthetic blend motor oil for your 2008 Expedition, experts suggest changing out your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles to keep your oil squeaky clean. But if you’re opting for conventional oil, you’ll need to change your engine oil more often—at least every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or about every six months.

Since this is a long time between oil changes, you should consider checking your engine oil level on a regular basis—at least once a month or so. You’ll know it’s time to change your motor oil if you witness any of the following red flags, such as:

Dirty oil that is dark brown or black in appearance (clean oil is light brown or amber)

Engine oil starts to feel coarse

Engine making unusual sounds

New oily, smoky, or burning odors

Changes in your SUV’s performance

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How to change your oil and oil filter

If you’ve determined that your 2008 Ford Expedition needs an oil change, it’s time to gather up all your tools! You’ll need a drain pan, a filter wrench, and a socket wrench. Oh, and let’s not forget to grab seven quarts of premium 5W-20 engine oil and a replacement filter too.

Before you open your hood, run the engine first until it reaches normal operating temperature. Once your engine is good to go—after about five minutes—turn it back off and follow these steps:

Unscrew the engine oil fill cap

Detach the oil drain bolt and washer (it should be located under the engine) and let the old engine oil drain into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to allow the old oil to drain into the drain pan

Put the new oil filter in place

Use a new washer to replace the oil drain bolt

Add new oil to the engine and reattach the engine oil fill cap

Done changing your oil out? Don’t walk about just yet! You’ll want to start your engine again, allowing it to warm up for about 30 seconds so the new motor oil can fill the new oil filter.

If you’re not sure if you’ve added enough motor oil to your SUV’s engine, you can use your engine oil dipstick just in case and add more motor oil as required. Continue letting your SUV run for a couple of minutes more and see if you spot any leaks.

You’ll know that you’ve done a job well done on this vital maintenance service if your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

stops illuminating. If this is the case—congratulations! You’ve successfully changed the oil on a 2008 Ford Expedition.

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