How many quarts of oil does a 3.5 liter V6 engine take?
Most 3.5-liter V6 engines take about 5 to 6 quarts of oil when performing a full drain and fill with a new filter. The exact capacity depends on the specific engine family, model year, and whether the oil filter is included in the change.
In this piece, we break down typical capacities across popular 3.5L V6 families and offer guidance on how to confirm the exact amount for your vehicle. Because the 3.5L V6 designation spans multiple brands and generations, the numbers can vary significantly from one application to another.
Common 3.5L V6 families and their typical capacities
Below are representative capacities for several widely used 3.5L V6 families. Note that exact numbers can vary by model year, presence of an oil cooler, and whether the change includes the filter. Use these as a general guide and verify with your owner's manual or dealer docs.
- Toyota 2GR-FE/2GR-FKS 3.5L V6: roughly 6.4 quarts (6.0 L) with filter
- Honda J35 3.5L V6: typically about 5.5 to 5.7 quarts with filter
- Nissan VQ35DE 3.5L V6: around 5.1 quarts with filter
- Ford 3.5L EcoBoost: about 5.8 to 6.0 quarts with filter
- Hyundai/Kia Lambda II 3.5L V6: approximately 6.0 to 6.3 quarts with filter
In practice, the precise capacity for your car may lie outside these ranges depending on your exact engine variant and configuration. Always refer to official specifications for your vehicle when planning an oil change.
How to confirm your exact capacity
To ensure you add the correct amount of oil for your specific vehicle, use the following steps. This helps avoid overfilling or underfilling, which can affect engine performance and longevity.
- Identify the exact engine code and model year of your vehicle.
- Check the owner's manual or the official service/repair manual for the listed oil capacity, including or excluding the filter as specified.
- If online manuals are unavailable, contact the dealership or the engine manufacturer’s customer support for the precise figure.
- When performing an oil change, start with the recommended capacity, run the engine for a few minutes, turn it off, wait for 5–10 minutes, then recheck with the dipstick and top up as needed to reach the proper level.
Accurately knowing the correct oil capacity helps ensure proper lubrication, optimal engine performance, and reliable oil-change intervals.
Summary
For a 3.5-liter V6, expect roughly 5 to 6 quarts of oil for a standard drain-and-fill with a new filter, but exact capacity varies by engine family and year. Representative examples include about 6.4 quarts for Toyota’s 2GR-FE/2GR-FKS, 5.5–5.7 quarts for the Honda J35, around 5.1 quarts for the Nissan VQ35DE, roughly 5.8–6.0 quarts for the Ford EcoBoost 3.5, and about 6.0–6.3 quarts for the Hyundai/Kia Lambda II. Always verify with the official manual or dealer sources for your specific vehicle to ensure accuracy.
