Honda Civic
1.8L I4 Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil in the 2006
to 2011 Honda Civic equipped with the four cylinder 1.8 liter VTEC engine.
By Paul B. Michaels Author & Photographer Auto Mechanic Since 1989 |
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![]() Honda Civic 1.8L I4 Engine |
![]() Floor Jack & Jack Stands |
![]() Civic Front Jack Point |
This
automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners
of the 8th generation (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, & 2011) Honda
Civic in changing the motor oil and replacing the oil filter on the
1.8L I4 VTEC engine. Owners of other Honda or Acura vehicles such as the Accord, Crosstour, CR-V, CR-Z, Element, Fit, Insight, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, RL, TL. TSX, ZDX, MDX, and RDX may also find these instructions to be helpful. The owners manual for this Honda Civic sedan recommends using SAE 5W-20 oil. Some replacement oil filters with their part numbers are as follows: Mobil 1 M1-110, Fram PH7317, Purolator PL14610, ACDelco PF2057, K&N HP-1010 and Bosch D3323. To complete this oil change you'll need a floor jack, jack stands, an automotive funnel, a 17mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, 4 U.S. quarts of new oil, a new oil filter, an oil catch container and possibly an oil filter wrench such as the Lisle 63600. |
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![]() Passenger Side Raised |
![]() Oil Filler Hole |
![]() Remove Oil Filler Cap |
The first step is
to warm up the engine for a few minutes so that the old oil will drain more
quickly and carry out the majority of the contaminants with it.
Then turn off the engine and engage the emergency parking brake. Raise up the passenger side of the vehicle with the floor jack and secure it with at least one floor jack. I prefer to use two jack stands for extra safety. Move to the engine bay and remove the oil filler cap which will allow air to enter the engine and the old oil to drain out faster. |
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![]() Oil Drain Bolt & Filter |
![]() 17mm Oil Drain Bolt |
![]() Old Oil Filter |
Under the passenger side of the engine, you'll see the oil filter located closer to the front of the car and the horizontally orientated oil drain bolt located further back facing the rear of the car. | ||
![]() Oil Catch Container In Place |
![]() 17mm Socket & Wrench |
![]() Remove Oil Drain Bolt |
Position the oil catch container below the oil drain bolt and remove it with the 17mm socket and ratcheting wrench by turning it counter clockwise ("lefty loosey") until it can be removed completely. Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes, replace the oil drain bolt, and tighten it just past hand tight. Don't over tighten the oil drain bolt or you risk damaging the bolt, the threads, or the oil pan. Then move the oil catch container to just underneath the old oil filter and twist if off by hand or use an oil filter wrench such as the Lisle 63600. I recommend buying the Mobil 1 M1-110 oil filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon. Apply a small amount of new motor oil to the rubber gasket on the new oil filter. This helps the oil filter gasket to form a better seal and also makes it easier to remove during the next oil change. Twist on the new oil filter in a clockwise direction to just past hand tight. Double check to make sure the oil drain bolt and new oil filter are on securely before moving on to the next steps. |
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![]() Twist Off Old Oil Filter |
![]() Fill With New Oil |
![]() Lower Car Off Jack |
Lower the car off
the floor jack and jack stands and park it on a level surface.
The owner's manual for this 2010 Honda Civic sedan indicates that 3.9 US quarts (3.7 liters) of new SAE 5W-20 oil are needed for an oil change with a new oil filter. (The Honda Civic Si requires 4.6 U.S. quarts or 4.4 liters of new oil for an oil change with a new oil filter.) Insert an automotive funnel into the oil filler hole at the top of the engine and pour in about 3.5 quarts of new oil. Run the engine for a few minutes, turn it off, and wait a few minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan. If the oil level on the dipstick is below the "MAX" mark, add a tiny bit of oil and then re-check the dipstick until it reaches the "MAX" mark. It's a good idea to re-check the oil level on the dipstick again after the first drive and then about once a week. Also look for signs of an oil leak on your driveway, garage floor, or parking spot. |
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![]() Replace Oil Filler Cap |
![]() Engine Oil Dipstick |
![]() Check Level On Dipstick |
If your Honda Civic
is equipped with an oil life monitor, here's how you reset it after the oil
change is complete.
Turn the ignition switch to the "ON" position but don't start the engine. Press the SEL/RESET button until the oil life indicator is displayed on the screen. Press and hold and the SEL/RESET button for about ten seconds until the oil life % and maintenance item code start to blink. Release the button. Press and hold the SEL/RESET button again for more than 5 seconds until the maintenance item code disappears and the oil life % changes to "100". For more of my related automotive maintenance or repair instructions, click on the following links: Honda Civic Front Door Speaker Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Cabin Air Filter Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Front Door Panel Removal Guide, Honda Civic Headlight Bulbs Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Third Brake Light Bulb Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Key Fob Battery Replacement Guide, Honda Civic Overhead Map Light Bulb Replacement Guide, and Honda Civic Dome Light Bulb Replacement Guide.
For more, check out all of my
Honda Civic DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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