How to Change Oil in a Honda Civic

Whether you’re changing your oil every three months or on another maintenance schedule, it’s important to understand how to safely and effectively replace engine oil. Tackle your own oil change in your Honda Civic by following this guide and using a VIN lookup tool to find the right oil and filter.

Prepare Your Civic

While an oil change is a great place to start with your DIY car maintenance, it still comes with some safety concerns. Be sure you have a clean, flat surface to change your oil on and room to maneuver around your Civic.

Be sure you have the right oil and filter before you begin. It’s a good idea to have some safety gear, as you may be working around hot oil. Invest in a drain pan to collect your spent oil. Finally, some wrenches and other tools will help you with a stubborn drain plug and other components.

Drain the Oil Reservoir

Move your oil pan underneath your oil reservoir and use a wrench to carefully remove the drain plug. Your engine oil may come out quickly and may be hot, so be sure you’re in a safe position and have the proper hand and eye protection.

Inspect the Drain Plug

While you’re waiting for your oil reservoir to completely drain, take some time to inspect the drain plug. This durable component has a gasket to prevent leaks. Check both the threading on the drain plug and the gasket for signs of damage. You may need to replace one or both of these parts to ensure your oil change process goes easily in the future. Once the oil slows to a drip, it’s time to plug your oil reservoir.

Replace the Oil Filter

A key component of any oil change is to replace the oil filter. Your Honda Civic uses an oil filter to ensure the oil is clean and free from contaminants as it lubricates your engine. An old filter not only works inefficiently, but may restrict the flow of your oil.

Carefully remove the oil filter. Be sure you have an exact match or a similar aftermarket option. If you’ve chosen an incorrect oil filter, it may not install correctly or may not work efficiently.

Inspect and Lubricate the Filter Gasket

Before you swap out your oil filter, take a look at the gasket at the bottom of the old filter. As filters age, the gasket can loosen and slip off. Your new filter comes with its own gasket, so be sure you remove the old filter gasket from your Civic before installing the new one. Consider using lubricant to ensure a tight fit for your oil filter.

Refill Your Oil Reservoir

Finally, it’s time to refill your oil. Choose a premium oil brand that is designed for your Honda Civic. Whether you choose high-performance, standard or high-mileage oil, use the correct weight and amount to fill your oil reservoir to the correct limit.

Replace the oil reservoir cap, check the oil level and start up your Honda to check for signs of leaks or performance issues. Now that you know how to change oil, be sure you choose affordable, high-end oil and oil filter options to get the most out of your DIY project.