The 2020 Toyota Tundra isn’t for everyone—it’s a pickup truck that excels at off-roading and little else. However, it doesn’t skimp on the safety features and for Toyota owners, it’s a solid truck for rugged adventuring. To keep your 2020 Tundra in peak exploring condition, it’s essential to keep up with a basic

car maintenance schedule

—which includes changing your engine oil.

Here’s a useful guide to your 2020 Tundra’s oil capacity, plus some tips on how to perform an oil change if this is your first go!

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2020 Toyota Tundra engine oil capacity

To start with, how much oil does a 2020 Tundra need? According to your owner’s manual, 8.5 quarts (8.0 liters) will do the trick!

The 2020 Tundra is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine that makes 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. Make sure that you don’t confuse the 5.7-liter engine displacement with the oil capacity.

Engine displacement

measures the volume your engine’s cylinders take up, while the oil capacity measures how much motor oil you need to perform an oil change—two very different things!

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What kind of oil does a 2020 Toyota Tundra need?

Now that we know how much oil your Tundra needs, let’s move on to what type of oil to get!

Toyota recommends using “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” with an SAE 0W-20 rating. If you can find a container with an International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) Certification Mark and GF-5 multigrade label, even better!

What does the SAE oil rating actually mean? The rating refers to how thick the oil is—its viscosity—in different conditions. The “W” stands for winter, with the 0 right before it indicating that the oil will have a thin consistency in cold weather.

The 20 value means that at 212°F, the oil will still be thin, and will therefore run smoothly. What does SAE mean? It’s short for the Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that gives the oil its viscosity rating.

Given the 0W-20 rating of the recommended oil, you can rest easy knowing that your engine will run smoothly no matter the temperatures outside.

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How often to change the oil on a 2020 Toyota Tundra

With all of that information in mind, it’s time to

change your oil

It’s generally good practice to change the oil in your vehicle every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. However, if your Tundra spends a lot of time in your garage, every six months may be a better metric. It’s important to check your oil regularly to keep your engine healthy.

To make sure you don’t miss warning signs that your oil needs to be changed, make it a habit to check your oil once a month or every other time you refuel. Here are some red flags to watch out for:

If the oil is a dark brown or black color—healthy oil is more of a light brown or amber color

If the oil is coarse or gritty

Strange noises coming from the engine

Anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Engine performance is poorer than usual

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How to change your oil and oil filter

You’ve determined that your Tundra needs an oil change and you’ve decided to DIY it! Now what?

First, get your tools ready. You’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench to remove the old oil filter. Make sure you have the replacement filter and 8.5 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil.

Staying in “Park”, turn on your Tundra’s engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature—this should take around five minutes. Then, turn off the engine, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Take off the oil fill cap

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer (you’ll have to get under your truck for this part) and drain the old oil into the drain pan

Take out the old oil filter while the rest of the oil drains

Install the new filter where the old filter was

Apply the oil drain bolt with a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Pour the new oil into the engine

Replace the fill cap

Once these steps are successfully completed, turn on your truck again for about 30 seconds. Use the dipstick to check the oil levels and see if they need to be topped off. Once you’re done, run the vehicle for a few minutes and watch for any leaks. Your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Don’t forget the cleanup part of any maintenance! Do not dump the dirty oil in the garbage, down the drain, or on the ground. Instead, seal the old oil in a plastic container and drop it off at a local recycling center.