A 2008 Toyota Avalon is a perfect marriage of reliable Japanese engineering, a class-leading 28 highway miles per gallon, and an impressive interior cabin in terms of space and quality. However, to keep its punchy V6 engine purring, you’ll need to get familiar with its oil capacity.

The Avalon is

Toyota

’s take on a luxury sedan. It still has the affordable price tag and reliability you know and love from Toyota, but with the added refined, upscale trappings you’d expect from a luxury car. If you own a 2008 Toyota Avalon, you can save a couple of bucks by learning to change its oil at home—and we’ll show you how!

But, before you grab any old oil and throw it in your engine, you need to learn your engine’s oil capacity. And, if you’ve never heard of such a thing before,

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2008 Toyota Avalon engine oil capacity

Before we get into what kind of oil your 2008 Toyota Avalon needs, let’s start with an even simpler question: how much oil does it need?

A 2008 Toyota Avalon’s 3.5-liter V6 engine has an oil capacity of 6.4 quarts or 6.1 liters. You may be wondering what the 3.5-liter measure means. That figure is your engine’s displacement or the amount of volume the cylinders occupy in your engine. The 6.1 liters is your engine’s oil capacity or the amount of oil you need each oil change. Although they’re both measured in liters, engine capacity and displacement are not the same thing—so make sure you don’t get these two numbers mixed up!

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What kind of oil does a 2008 Toyota Avalon need?

Next, it’s time to learn which oil is best for your 2008 Toyota Avalon’s engine. When shopping around, whether it’s on Amazon or at your local auto parts shop, look for SAE 5W-30 full synthetic oil. It’s what Toyota recommends you put in your Avalon’s engine to keep it running at its best.

If those numbers and letters are confusing to you, allow us to put it into simpler terms. The “5” and the “30” both refer to the oil’s thickness, or viscosity, while the “W” stands for “winter.” More specifically, the “5” describes the oil’s thickness at lower temperatures, while the “30” describes it at normal engine operating temperature.

All this means is that 5W-30 is the goldilocks for your 2008 Avalon’s engine: it’s just thin enough to keep flowing at temperatures of 0°F and thick enough to perform at temperatures of 212°F.

Now, what about synthetic versus detergent oil? Detergent oil means the oil manufacturer added extra chemicals to the natural oil to combat rust, sludge, and debris buildup. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, is a blend of different chemical lubricants. For their engines, Toyota recommends that you only use synthetic oil.

If you’re not sure which oil to buy, just remember to look for 5W-30.

Owner’s manual recommendation:

Toyota Genuine SAE 5W-30 Full Synthetic motor oil

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How often to change oil on a 2008 Toyota Avalon

Now that you know what oil you need, it’s important to know how often you should change it!

For their vehicles, Toyota recommends that you get an oil change every 5,000 miles. Which, if you drive as much as the average person, rounds out to once every six months.

But, sometimes, your car may need an oil change a little ahead of schedule. Keep an eye, ear, and nose out for the following signs that your oil is prime for a change:

Color changes from light brown (clean oil is amber, like a cup of tea) to dark brown or black (dirty oil is like a cup of black coffee).

Coarse or grittiness in your motor oil

Strange noises coming from the engine

An oil, smoke, or burning smell

Decreased acceleration or overall vehicle performance

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How to change your oil and oil filter

To change your oil yourself, you’ll need the following essential car tools and supplies on hand: a socket wrench, drain pan, a filter wrench, a new oil filter, and 6.4 quarts of 5W-30 oil.

With those tools ready to go, start by running your engine until it reaches its normal operating temperature. Which, under most weather conditions, should take only five minutes. Next, shut the engine off, open the hood, and complete the following steps:

Take off the oil fill cap

Go underneath the engine to remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and drain the old oil into the pan

Take out the old oil filter and keep allowing the old oil to drain out

Install the new oil filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Grab your new oil and refill your engine

Replace the oil fill cap

Grab a dipstick to double-check you’ve added enough oil. 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.

After that, we’d recommend turning your car on for a couple of minutes and checking for any leaks. If you’ve done the job right, that pesky oil pressure light on your dashboard should flip off.

And lastly, but certainly not least, do not just dump your old, dirty oil on the ground or throw it in your garbage can! It’s full of chemicals and needs to be properly disposed of at your local recycling center.

MORE:

What to do if your car’s oil pressure light is on

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Toyota recommends you change your oil every six months. Coincidentally, experts recommend you should shop for car insurance very 6 months.

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