When it comes to car maintenance, most people are intimidated by anything more than filling their tank with gas or changing the oil every couple of months. However, there is one thing that everyone can do – change your own oil! This guide will walk you through how to perform an oil change on a 2008 Ford Focus in just 20 minutes. If you follow these steps, then you’ll be able to save yourself some money (and get better at car maintenance!) while still being environmentally conscious.
2008 Ford Focus Oil Change Guide [hide]
2008 Ford Focus Oil Type
Before you start it is always better to check owner’s manual first to find a specific oil change interval for your 2008 Ford Focus.
VISCOSITY GRADE
The recommended oil type for your 2008 Ford Focus is SAE 5w-20. This engine oil viscosity grade was made popular by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and it’s part of the standard classification.
CAPACITY
The Ford Focus with a 2.0L 4-cyl engine (engine code Flex) takes 4.5 quarts (with filter) of 5W-20 synthetic oil.
SPECIFICATION OF OIL
Ford will recommend Motorcraft synthetic oil and filter and both of those are very good products. You can use other good quality brands, but if the vehicle is covered by Ford’s extended warranty then you are obliged to use Motorcraft branded products.
Ford recommends checking your oil every time you visit a fuel station since this will give you an idea of how much oil your car consumes.
HIGH MILEAGE OIL FOR 2017 2008 Ford Focus Oil
As the high mileage oil for your 2008 Ford Focus we recommend Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-20. (You can also go with Valvoline if you like, their 5w-20 viscosity is the same as Mobil 1).
2008 Ford Focus Oil Change Intervals
Oil changes intervals for 2008 Ford Focus models varies and not all of them have the same interval. The vehicle’s owner manual for 2008 ford focus will tell you the correct oil change interval based on the type of oil that your car uses and any additional factors such as driving conditions or climate that may affect your decision on how often to change the oil.
The typical recommended oil change interval for 2008 Ford Focus cars is every 5,000 miles or 7,5000 km based on the normal driving conditions. However this may be affected by different factors as well, such as using the car for off-road purposes or simply because you often drive in heavy traffic conditions which causes your engine to work harder thus increasing the oil temperature and causing it to degrade more quickly.
If your vehicle’s recommended oil change interval is 5,000 miles or 7500 km you should check your oil level every time you visit the gas station just before filling up with fresh clean oil. If your car consumes an average amount of oil then the best thing to do is to change the oil and filter at 3,500 miles or 5,500 km and then again every 7,000 miles or 11,000 kms after that. This will keep engine wear down to a minimum while saving you money in the long run instead of having to pay someone else to do it for you.
Best Oil for 2008 Ford Focus
The best oil for your Ford Focus is a 5W-20 semi synthetic oil, or a 10W-30 thin viscosity full synthetic.
While the thin viscosity may sound better, you should stick with thin fluids in cold climates and thick ones in hot ones. While this means you’ll have to switch to a different grade of oil when it’s cold, using one that is too thin in the winter will cause your oil to be used up much faster than necessary. These are our recommendations for your 2008 Ford Focus:
Oil (by manufacturer) – Ford recommends using Motorcraft Oil for 2008 Ford Focus cars.
Motorcraft Oil is a blend of synthetic, premium base oils that are designed to meet the performance requirements of all Ford engines. Motorcraft Synthetic Blend Oil includes an anti-wear additive package and has excellent low temperature fluidity for easier starts and better protection during cold weather. It also provides high temperature load carrying ability and oxidation resistance for long oil life.
Oil (our choice) – We recommend Valvoline 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil for your 2008 Ford Focus. It is better for your car engine than regular oil, and will probably help the engine last longer between rebuilds. This kind of oil also gets better fuel mileage in most cars when it is used, even with the recommended weight of oil.
Oil filter (by manufecturer) – If you are looking for which oil filter is perfect for your 2008 Ford Focus then choos Motorcraft Oil Filter.
How to Change Oil by Yourself – Step by Step
Whether you are a car enthusiast or just someone who wants their engine to run smoothly, changing your own oil is a great way to save time and money! These simple steps will lead you through the process of changing oil and the oil filter in a 2008 Ford Focus.
Step 1.
You will need 5w-20 oil, an oil filter and an oil filter wrench, a 13 millimeter ratchet wrench and an oil drain pan.
The oil filter and oil drain plug are very easy to access near the front of the car. Use a 13 millimeter socket wrench to loosen the oil drain plug.
Wait for the oil to completely drain. If you remove the oil fill cap on top of the engine the oil will drain faster.
Re-insert the oil drain plug and tighten.
Step 2.
Depending on the type of oil filter you have installed, you can use various filter wrenches to remove the oil filter.
Let the oil drain completely and then wipe off the residual oil.
Step 3.
Get a new oil filter and fill it with new oil. Wipe some new oil on the rubber gasket to help it seal when tightened to the car. Tighten the oil filter.
Step 4.
Fill the engine with new oil. Then start the car and check for leaks and check the oil level after.
Step 5.
Start the car and let it run for a second. Check under the car for leaks. If there are no leaks, then check the dipstick to verify the amount of oil.
That’s it!
