🔧 Accord - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

Changing your oil and oil filter keeps your engine lubricated and removes dirty oil and debris that can cause extra wear. On your Accord, this is a straightforward job: drain the old oil, replace the filter, then refill with the correct oil and reset the oil life monitor.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.5-1.0 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands before going underneath.
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot—let the engine cool 10-20 minutes if it was just driven.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the exhaust and belts; wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Do not crawl under a car supported only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (7-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Oil filter wrench (65mm 14-flute cap type) (specialty)
• Flat trim clip tool
• 10mm socket
• Shop towels

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Run the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap to help the oil drain faster.
• Lift the front with a floor jack and support it securely on jack stands.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Slide the drain pan under the engine area.
• Use a 10mm socket and flat trim clip tool to remove the bolts/clips holding the small access panel or splash shield.
• Set the bolts/clips aside so you don’t lose them.

Step 2: Drain the old engine oil

• Locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan.
• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing it by hand and let the oil drain into the drain pan.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new one from your parts list.

Step 3: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench with a 17mm socket to tighten the drain plug: Torque to 39 N·m (29 ft-lbs).
• Wipe the area clean with shop towels.

Step 4: Remove the oil filter

• Move the drain pan under the oil filter (some oil will spill).
• Use an oil filter wrench (65mm 14-flute cap type) to loosen the filter counterclockwise.
• Spin the filter off by hand and let it drain into the pan.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter (it can stick to the engine).

Step 5: Install the new oil filter

• Put a thin film of new oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket using a gloved finger.
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the engine, then tighten 3/4 turn more by hand. Hand-tight is correct here.
• Wipe the filter area clean with shop towels.

Step 6: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reposition the shield/access panel.
• Use the 10mm socket and any removed clips to reinstall it snugly (do not overtighten plastic clips/bolts).

Step 7: Refill with fresh oil

• Lower the car from the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Pour in 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic (this is the typical fill with filter change).
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, and verify the level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 2-3 minutes for oil to settle.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinsert, then check the level again.
• Add oil in small amounts as needed to reach the upper mark on the dipstick (do not overfill).
• Look under the car for any leaks around the drain plug and oil filter.

Step 9: Reset the Maintenance Minder (oil life)

• Turn the key to ON (II) without starting the engine.
• Press the SEL/RESET knob/button until the oil life (%) is displayed.
• Press and hold SEL/RESET for about 10 seconds until the oil life starts blinking.
• Release, then press and hold SEL/RESET again for about 5 seconds to reset to 100%.

---

✅ After Repair

• Recheck the dipstick level the next morning (cold engine) and top off if needed.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter properly at an oil recycling drop-off.
• Keep an eye on the driveway for the next day or two—any drip means recheck the drain plug and filter tightness.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $30-$60 (parts only)

You Save: $60-$100 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1.0 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.