Ford Explorer oil type and capacity
The Ford Explorer oil type is 5W-30 for every EcoBoost engine (2.0L, 2.3L, 3.0L, and 3.5L). The naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 (2011–2018) and the 2020–2022 3.3L V6 and hybrid take 5W-20. Capacity with the filter is about 6 quarts for the V6 engines and 5 to 5.7 quarts for the four-cylinder EcoBoosts; the 3.0L EcoBoost holds 6.0 quarts in every year from 2020 to 2026.
On this page (6 sections)
Explorer oil type and capacity by year
Find your year and engine. The 2.3L EcoBoost capacity dropped from 5.2 quarts (2020–2022) to 5.0 quarts in the 2026 manual, so use the row for your year.
| Year | Engine | Oil | Oil spec | Capacity | Oil change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-3010 | Check your owner’s manual | 5 qt (4.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2026 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2025 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-309 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2025 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2024 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-309 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2024 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2024 | 3.3L V6 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter10 | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2023 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-309 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2023 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2023 | 3.3L V6 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter10 | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2023 | 3.3L V6 hybrid | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2022 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.2 qt (4.9 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2022 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2022 | 3.3L V6 | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2022 | 3.3L V6 hybrid | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2021 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.2 qt (4.9 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2021 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2021 | 3.3L V6 | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2021 | 3.3L V6 hybrid | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2020 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.2 qt (4.9 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2020 | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-308 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2020 | 3.3L V6 | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2020 | 3.3L V6 hybrid | 5W-208 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles9 |
| 2019 | 3.5L V6 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2019 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2019 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2018 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2018 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-306 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2018 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2017 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2017 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-306 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2017 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2016 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2016 | 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-306 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2016 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2015 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2015 | 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2015 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2014 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2014 | 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2014 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2013 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2013 | 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2013 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 5W-304 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2012 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2012 | 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2011 | 3.5L V6 | 5W-203 | Check your owner’s manual | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first7 |
| 2010 | 4.0L V6 | 5W-201 | Ford WSS-M2C930-A | 5 qt (4.7 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
| 2010 | 4.6L V8 | 5W-201 | Ford WSS-M2C930-A | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
| 2009 | 4.0L V6 | 5W-201 | Ford WSS-M2C930-A | 5 qt (4.7 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
| 2009 | 4.6L V8 | 5W-201 | Ford WSS-M2C930-A | 6 qt (5.7 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
| 2008 | 4.0L V6 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
| 2008 | 4.6L V8 | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide)11 |
Four engines, two grades
The split is simple: turbocharged engines get 5W-30, and the older non-turbo V6 engines get 5W-20. The one exception we found is the 3.3L V6, which Ford moved from 5W-20 (2020–2022 manuals) to 5W-30 in the 2026 manual. When in doubt, the grade is printed on the oil filler cap.
The numbers describe flow: “5W” for cold starts and “30” or “20” for thickness at operating temperature. A thicker hot grade protects the turbocharger bearings, which see high heat.
Spec and synthetic
Ford’s older guides name a spec, such as WSS-M2C930-A for the 2009–2010 4.0L and 4.6L. Newer manuals name one too; the oil bottle lists the specs it meets. Ford asks for oil that meets the spec rather than naming synthetic, though a synthetic or blend that meets it is fine and common.
How often to change Explorer oil
In the 2014 and later manuals we checked, the Explorer uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor: change oil when it asks, and at least once a year or every 10,000 miles. Towing and lots of idling bring the reminder sooner; Ford says the hybrid can go past 10,000 miles. The 2008–2010 Explorer followed Ford’s fixed schedule: 7,500 miles or 6 months normal, 5,000 miles for severe use. See how often to change oil and oil change due.
FAQ
What oil does a 2016 Ford Explorer take?
5W-20 for the 3.5L V6 (6.0 quarts), and 5W-30 for the 2.3L EcoBoost (5.7 quarts) and the 3.5L EcoBoost (6.0 quarts), all with the filter.
What oil does a 2014 Ford Explorer take?
5W-20 for the 3.5L V6 and 5W-30 for the 2.0L and 3.5L EcoBoost. The V6 engines hold 6.0 quarts and the 2.0L holds 5.7.
How much oil does a Ford Explorer 3.0 EcoBoost take?
6.0 quarts of 5W-30 with the filter, in the 2020, 2022, and 2026 manuals.
Can I use 5W-30 instead of 5W-20 in my Explorer?
Use the grade your manual and filler cap call for. Ford changed the 3.3L to 5W-30 only in later manuals; for older years, stick with 5W-20.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by Ford Motor Company. Ford, Explorer, and EcoBoost are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.
Sources
- 2009 Ford Explorer Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2010 Ford Explorer Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2011 Ford Explorer Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2013 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2014 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2016 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2018 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2020 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2022 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2026 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- Ford 2009 Scheduled Maintenance Guide (F-150, Escape, Explorer and other 2009 Ford models) (checked November 12, 2026)