🔧 Ridgeline - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the engine oil and oil filter on your Ridgeline keeps the engine lubricated and helps prevent wear. You’ll drain the old oil, replace the drain plug washer, swap the oil filter, then refill with the correct oil and reset the oil-life reminder.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Let the engine cool 20-30 minutes; oil can burn you.
• ⚠️ Support your Ridgeline with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off belts/hoses; wipe spills right away.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this service.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 8-quart)
• Ratchet
• 17mm socket
• Oil filter wrench (cap type)
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Funnel
• Shop towels

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off (warm oil drains faster).
• Gather your oil drain pan, new filter, and new crush washer so you don’t have to crawl out mid-job.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure your Ridgeline

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front of the truck at the correct front jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the proper support points and lower onto them.
• Give the truck a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable. Stable first, then work.

Step 2: Remove the under cover (if equipped)

• If an under cover is blocking access, remove its fasteners using a ratchet and the needed socket (often 10mm socket—if yours uses 10mm hardware, add a 10mm socket).
• Set fasteners aside in a tray so they don’t get lost.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
• Position the drain pan (at least 8-quart) under the oil pan drain bolt.
• Use a ratchet with a 17mm socket to loosen the drain bolt, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to a drip (typically 5-10 minutes).

Step 4: Reinstall drain bolt with a new crush washer

• Remove the old washer from the drain bolt and install the new drain plug crush washer.
• Thread the drain bolt in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range) with a 17mm socket to tighten the drain bolt: Torque to 39 N·m (29 ft-lbs).
• Wipe the area clean using shop towels.

Step 5: Remove the oil filter

• Move the drain pan (at least 8-quart) under the oil filter area (some oil will spill).
• Use an oil filter wrench (cap type) with a ratchet to loosen the oil filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket (O-ring) came off with the old filter. If it’s stuck to the engine, peel it off with your fingers and wipe the sealing surface with shop towels.

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Put a light film of new oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket using your gloved finger.
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten by hand an additional 3/4 turn.
• If you are using a torque spec for your filter wrench, use a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range) with your oil filter wrench (cap type): Torque to 12 N·m (9 ft-lbs).
• Wipe everything clean with shop towels so leaks are easy to spot.

Step 7: Refill with new engine oil

• Lower the truck off the stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum), then remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap.
• Insert a funnel, then pour in 0W-20 full synthetic: start with about 5.5 quarts.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, and set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds, then shut it off.
• Look underneath with safety glasses for leaks around the drain bolt and oil filter.
• Wait 2-3 minutes, then check the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinsert, and recheck.
• Add oil as needed to reach the full mark (typical total fill is about 5.7 quarts with filter, but always confirm by dipstick).

Step 9: Reset the oil life (Maintenance Minder)

• Turn ignition to ON (engine off).
• Using the steering wheel controls, go to the maintenance screen and reset:
  • Select the oil life/maintenance item and hold the reset/enter button until it flashes, then confirm reset.
• If your cluster uses a settings menu: Settings > Vehicle Settings > Maintenance Reset > Oil Life > Reset.

---

✅ After Repair

• Recheck the dipstick one more time after a short 5-10 minute drive.
• Inspect the drain bolt and oil filter area for any fresh oil.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil-recycling drop-off (most parts stores accept it).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $35-$70 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$90 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.0 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.