Changing your car’s engine oil yourself was the norm back in the day. Not just the saved bucks, but the overall feel of getting your hands dirty while working your vehicle was more than enough to motivate car owners. Fast forward to today, you’ll barely see anyone work on their own car, even if you set out in pursuit of it with a torch in your hand!
Part of this antonymic change springs from the fact that cars, engine oils, and oil filters, all have become way better than they used to be in the last couple of decades. Modern technological advancements have deeply influenced the automobile industry thanks to which you don’t need to change your car’s oil that often.
However, some Ford lovers are true to their roots even in these times! And if you’re one of them and you love to get the feel of getting your hands dirty in your car’s essence, it’s not rocket science!
In order for you to change your Ford Explorer’s engine oil, you need to familiarize yourself with a few vital factors involved in the process. You need to know how often you need to change the oil, what kind of oil you should use, and the actual procedure of performing an oil change.
The Ford Explorer, being one of the most loved cars of the past two decades, comes in more than 30 models and builds. As you guessed, most of these cars have some tweaks, and their oiling requirements also vary accordingly. Our tables below will help you navigate seamlessly right through them.
Ford Explorer Engine Oil Capacity
Knowing the exact engine capacity is more important than many car owners think! Being a sucker for perfection really pays off when it comes to filling your engine with motor oil. Overfilling or underfilling the engine can both be equally detrimental to your Ford Explorer’s health.
The Ford Explorer packs an oil capacity of 4.9 liters which is about 5.2 quartz. If you don’t change the filter, you’ll need 4.6 liters of motor oil. Going overboard with the oil will result in spillage. But that’s not the part that makes you go ‘Oh no!’
Overfilling the engine means that the oil will be sitting in the tubing that leads to the chamber. When your Explorer heats, the hot oil from the chamber mixes with the oil in the tubing, and that can have some serious implications!
On the flip side, underfilling the chamber is also a fool’s plan as there won’t be enough oil to lubricate the operation and it will dry the system and burn the oil sooner.
What Type of Oil Does My Ford Explorer Need?
Oil type matters the world, and not even newbies make the mistake of changing the oil without finding out the ideal oil type for the respective car. We’ve created elaborate tables that’ll cover all different Ford Explorer models. But before you go there, here are a few concepts you need to comprehend:
- You see two numbers on the oil (10W-20). The first one describes the viscosity when the oil is cold, and the second one is specific to when the oil is hot after the car has been running.
- In the example, 10 is the first number, and the lower the number, the better it is for cold conditions.
- 20 being the second number, implies the oil’s consistency under extreme load, and the higher it is, the better for hot conditions.
Ford Explorer 5th Generation 2015-2018
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 10W-4015W-405W-40API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-405W-40API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 20W-4025W-4025W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic and Semisynthetic |
| Recommended Brands | Valvoline, Pentosin, Mobil, SHELL, Castrol |
Ford Explorer 5th Generation 2019-2020
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 25W-40API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 10W-4015W-40API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic Only |
| Recommended Brands | Valvoline, SHELL, Castrol |
Ford Explorer 5th Generation 2021-2022
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 15W-5020W-40API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-400W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 10W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic Only |
| Recommended Brands | Castrol, Valvoline, SHELL |
Ford Explorer 6th Generation 2016-2018
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 20W-4025W-4025W-50API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-405W-405W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 10W-4015W-405W-40API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic and Semisynthetic |
| Recommended Brands | Valucraft, SHELL, Valvoline, Pentosin |
Ford Explorer 6th Generation 2019-2020
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 20W-4025W-40API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-400W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 10W-4015W-40API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic Only |
| Recommended Brands | Mobil, Valucraft, SHELL, Castrol |
Ford Explorer 6th Generation 2021-2022
| Oil Grade | Summer: -5 to +45 °C 15W-50API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving”, SN “Resource-Conserving” or ILSAC multigrade engine oil Winter: -30 to +5 °C 0W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil All-Season: +25 to -25 °C 5W-5010W-50API grade SL, SM or SN multigrade engine oil |
| Oil Type | Synthetic Only |
| Recommended Brands | Castrol, Mobil, SHELL |
Checking the Oil Level
- Start by parking your Explorer on flat ground. Wait for at least 15 minutes after turning off the engine to allow it to cool completely. If your car has been sitting in the garage for a long time, just turn on the engine for a couple of minutes. Then, let it sit for 5 more minutes.
- Find the dipstick and pull it out. Make sure that you’ve placed a rag under the opening to prevent spillage.
- Wipe it clean using a clean cloth.
- If your car has a flat dipstick, reinsert it completely, and if the dipstick is non-flat, reinsert it while making sure the apex is facing the engine.
- Pull the stick out one more time. Now check the markings on the dipstick. The upper end will have the ‘full’ mark while the lower end will have the ‘empty’ mark.
- Once you’re satisfied with the reading you got, reinsert the dipstick. Clean it before putting it in just to make sure no dust enters the engine.
Can I Change My Ford Explorer’s Engine Oil Myself?
Ideally, a mechanic is best-suited to change your car’s engine oil. This is simply because they are much more skilled to do this job as they regularly do it, have better tools, and have efficient techniques. Plus, a seasoned mechanic might also figure out other anomalies while changing your car’s oil and oil filter that your eyes might never pick.
However, there’s no law that prevents you from changing it yourself! You can definitely do it if you’re a DIY kind of person who loves to do all chores by yourself. There’s only one thing you need to consider before making this leap—if you have the skill and guidance to change the oil without damaging your car.
It’s not that big a deal, to be honest! Just find out your car’s engine capacity, the recommended oil type, and a basic walkthrough of performing the process, and you’re good to go! Oh, and we’ve already told you two of the three, and the third one is next in line.
Can I Change the Oil Filter Too?
Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will provide you with the necessary guidelines on how often to change your oil and filter.
The way you drive can also have an impact on the oil change interval. If you drive long distances regularly or undergo short trips, you might need to change your oil filter more frequently than someone who mainly drives on highways. Driving in extreme temperatures, towing a trailer, and traveling in the rugged mountains may also cause you to change your oil filter more often.
Changing the filter before it becomes clogged or dirty, thereby damaging your engine, is the key to successful oil filter replacement. Replacing your oil filter with a top-notch oil filter will help increase the longevity of your engine.
There is no sign or warning to remind you that it is time to change your oil filter; even the impact of a clogged or dirty oil filter on your engine will go unnoticed.
- Locate the oil filter. It’ll basically be a cylinder embedded under the engine.
- Place a drain pan under the filter and unscrew it. It might be screwed on too tight so you may use a wrench to open it.
- You can dispose of the old filter after all the oil has drained from it. Put it face down in the same plan to speed up the process.
- Take a new filter, apply fresh oil on its seams, and screw it on.
- Use a wrench to tighten and ensure zero spillage.
- As a measure of extra caution, check the filter for any spills after you pour in the fresh oil. This is the time to see if you’ve screwed on the filter properly or not.
How Often Should I Change the Oil on My Ford Explorer
A routine oil change is one of the essential services for your vehicle to run at its optimal level. Changing oil and filters maintain your vehicle’s engine and allow it to operate smoothly and efficiently. An oil change service reduces wear and tear, absorbs debris and dirt, and minimizes the risk of engine overheating.
Ford Motor Company recommends changing your Ford Explorer oil and filter every 7,500 -10,000 miles or six months for synthetic oil. Conventional oil should usually be changed every 3,000-5,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first.
The recommended interval primarily applies to newer vehicles, not those driven in harsh conditions. Cars that drive longer distances daily, especially on gravel roads, and those used to tow a trailer may require frequent oil changes to keep the engine going.
Before choosing an oil change interval for your Ford Explorer, it is vital to check the manufacturer’s manual to know the specifications.