Bring Your Own Oil (BYOO), or Buy Your Own Oil means just that. By bringing your own oil and filter, you can save on cost and also guarantee the quality of the oil that goes in your car. But where to start, and how much do you really want to know about engine oil? If you’re like me, you want to know just enough to pick an oil for your car, and then never have to think about it again.
The first place to start is your Owner’s Manual. It will state a specification and viscosity grade. Here are some examples for the 10 most popular vehicles sold in Canada and the synthetic motor oil they specify, and the approximate capacity:
| 2024 Ford F-150 – SAE 5W-30, API Starburst, Motorcraft®, 5.7L-10.88L |
| 2024 Toyota RAV 4 – SAE 0W-16 or 0W-20, ILSAC GF-6B, Toyota Genuine Motor Oil, 4.3L |
| 2024 GMC Sierra 2.7L 1500 – SAE 5W-30, GM dexos®1 Gen 3, 6 quarts |
| 2024 RAM 1500 – SAE 0W-20, API Starburst, Mopar® MS-6395, 4.7-7.1L |
| 2024 Honda CR-V – SAE 0W-20, API Starburst, API SN or higher, 3.5L |
| 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – SAE 5W-30, GM dexos®1 Gen 3, 8 quarts |
| 2024 Nissan Rogue – SAE 0W-20, API Starburst, API SP, 4.7L |
| 2024 Honda Civic – SAE 0W-20, API Starburst, 3.7L-4.4L |
| 2024 Ford Escape – SAE 0W-20, API Starburst, Motorcraft®, 4.73L-5.8L |
| 2024 Hyundai Kona – SAE 0W-20, Quaker State, 4.5 quarts |
In general then, for a car or SUV, you’ll need about one 5L jug of oil. For trucks, you’ll need up to two 5L jugs of oil. Then pick your viscosity, e.g. 5W-30. Find an oil that meets your budget and look at the front and back of the jug to see if it has the API Starburst, if required:
Then look at the fine print on the front or back of the jug for any other specifications required, e.g. ILSAC GF-6B, GM dexos®1 Gen 3, MS-6395, API SN, API SP. And if you’re wondering, API SP is higher than API SN. It goes alphabetical. There, you’ve picked your oil. Then, wait for it to go on sale and buy one or two jugs.
Next, pick-up a new oil filter and any o-rings or gaskets that go with the oil filter, as well as a new drain plug washer if applicable. Your Owner’s Manual may again provide a good starting point. Online auto parts websites such as RockAuto and PartsAvatar also provide good starting points for choosing the oil and filter and other parts that are right for your car. Whether you plan to keep your car for 5 years or 25 years, we can help you pick a BYOO kit that’s right for you.
Once you’ve settled on a Bring Your Own Oil (BYOO) kit that works best for you, it’s a good idea to stick with that kit for a while. If you want to really get technical, you can opt for a Used Oil Analysis to see if there are any metal wear particles in your used engine oil. But really, if you change your oil every 5,000-10,000 kms, or twice per year, this is probably the best insurance you can get for your car. Keep your receipt to remember what you purchased last time. You can then rest assured that you’ve gained full control of the quality of oil and filter that goes in your engine, for your specific application. Collect your kit, give us a call, then relax and watch as the old oil is drained and the new oil is filled.