For a vehicle like the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, good maintenance is the key to long and happy ownership.
Whether you decide to change your own oil or have a trusted mechanic do it, it’s important to know what kind of oil it uses and how much oil to use.
What is the oil type and capacity for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox’s three available engines use between 4.2 quarts and 6 quarts of full synthetic oil, depending on the engine type and whether it’s a front-wheel-drive model or all-wheel-drive model.
If you’re starting to feel a little overwhelmed, don’t worry. We’ll go through the different types of oil the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox uses and how much it’ll need to keep running smoothly and reliably. We’ll also dive into a few oil-related issues other owners have run into during their ownership.
Oil Type and Weights Explained
Engine oils are typically separated into conventional, full synthetic and synthetic blend varieties.
Conventional oils are made directly from refined crude oil. Synthetic oil is refined even further to remove impurities and create more uniformed molecules for better longevity. Synthetic blends are a mix of the two varieties.
Oil weights refer to the viscosity, or flow, of an oil at a specific temperature. Typical engine oils range from 0w-20 to 10w-40. The lower the number, the easier it flows at low temperatures.
The first number represents how well the oil flows at low temperatures. The second number represents how well it flows when the engine is up to operating temperatures.
With tighter machining tolerances and stricter emissions requirements, most modern engines rely on full synthetic oils of either 5w or 0w viscosities.
Oil Type and Weights for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox comes equipped with three different engine options: a standard 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder, an optional 2.0L (122 ci) turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 1.6L (97 ci) turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine. All three require full synthetic oil, but at different weights and quantities for each engine and drivetrain configuration.
Let’s look at the 1.5L (92 ci) engine, for starters. You’ll need 4.2 quarts of 0w-20 for front-wheel-drive models and 5.3 quarts for models equipped with all-wheel drive. The difference in oil capacity between the two models is likely due to the extra demands of the AWD system.
In comparison, the 2.0L engine holds 5 quarts of 5w-30 oil on front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive models hold a quart more, for a total of 6 quarts.
The 1.6L turbodiesel engine uses 5w-30 under normal weather conditions. However, owners can switch to 0w-40 when temperatures are below -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The 1.6L holds 5.3 quarts in total.
The above information should come in handy if you plan on doing your own oil changes. Even if you prefer leaving that to a trusted and certified service expert, it’s still good to know just what kind and how much oil your engine needs.
Get to Know Your 2018 Equinox
There’s a lot to learn about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, especially if you plan on buying one. Fortunately, a Vehicle History report gives you a wealth of information about your upcoming purchase, including performance specs, consumer and expert reviews, open recall information and much more.
