Last reviewed: March 28, 2026
What Oil Do I Need?
Don't know your exact year, make, and model? No problem. Answer a few quick questions and we'll point you in the right direction.
What type of vehicle do you have?
How to Find Your Oil Type Without the Quiz
The most reliable way to find your exact oil type is to check your vehicle's owner's manual — it's listed in the maintenance or specifications section. If you don't have the manual handy, many vehicles print the recommended oil weight right on the oil filler cap under the hood. You can also use our free vehicle lookup tool — just select your year, make, and model.
This quiz is designed for situations where you don't have those details available. It uses general patterns across vehicle types to give you a reasonable starting point, but it's always best to verify against your specific vehicle before purchasing oil.
General Oil Weight Patterns
Modern vehicles have largely standardized on thinner oils for fuel economy. Most passenger cars and crossovers built after 2010 use 0W-20 full synthetic. Full-size trucks often use 5W-30. Older vehicles (pre-2005) commonly used 5W-30 or 10W-30 conventional oil. European vehicles frequently require specific manufacturer certifications (like VW 508.00 or BMW LL-17) in addition to the standard viscosity grade.
Oil Quiz Questions
The quiz is based on general patterns — most modern Japanese sedans use 0W-20, most full-size trucks use 5W-30, and so on. It's right about 70-80% of the time for common vehicles. But oil specifications vary by exact model, engine, and model year. This quiz gets you in the right neighborhood; our vehicle lookup tool gets you the exact address. Always verify before buying.
Modern engines are precision-engineered with specific oil passage sizes and tolerances. The oil weight your manufacturer specifies is chosen to flow properly through those passages at every temperature. Using the wrong viscosity can restrict flow, increase friction, reduce fuel economy, and accelerate wear. It's not about oil quality — every major brand makes excellent oil. It's about using the right viscosity for your engine's design.