🔧 Pilot - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

On your Pilot, an oil change removes dirty oil and replaces the oil filter so the engine stays lubricated and protected. You’ll drain the old oil from the oil pan, swap the filter, then refill with the correct oil and reset the oil life.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.0-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the Pilot with jack stands (never the jack alone).
• 🔥 Engine oil can be very hot—wear gloves and let it cool a few minutes.
• 🧯 Keep oil off the exhaust and away from open flames.
• ♻️ Collect all oil in a drain pan and recycle it properly.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 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
• Oil drain pan (10-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Socket extension (3/8" drive)
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive)
• Oil filter cap wrench 65mm 14-flute (specialty)
• Flat trim clip remover (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

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

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park the Pilot on a level surface, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Warm the engine for 2–3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Gather oil, filter, and a new crush washer before you start (don’t reuse the old washer).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the front of the Pilot

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front at the center front jacking point.
• Set the Pilot down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper support points.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the lower engine cover access (if equipped)

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Use a 10mm socket with a ratchet (3/8" drive) to remove any small bolts holding the access panel/cover.
• Use a flat trim clip remover (specialty) to pop out plastic clips (a clip remover is a small pry tool made to remove push-clips without breaking them).

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Position the oil drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain bolt.
• Use a 17mm socket with a ratchet (3/8" drive) to loosen the drain bolt, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5–10 minutes).

Step 4: Reinstall the drain bolt with a new crush washer

• Wipe the drain hole area with shop rags.
• Install a new oil drain plug crush washer on the drain bolt.
• Thread the drain bolt in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (3/8" drive) with a 17mm socket to tighten the drain bolt: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the oil drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the oil filter (oil will spill when it comes off).
• Use the oil filter cap wrench 65mm 14-flute (specialty) with a ratchet (3/8" drive) and socket extension (3/8" drive) to loosen the oil filter.
• Unscrew the filter by hand and keep it upright as you remove it.
• Check that the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter (don’t leave it stuck on the engine).

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh 0W-20 full synthetic (use a clean finger).
• Screw the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches, then snug it.
• If you are using a torque wrench, tighten the oil filter to: Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).
• Hand-tight is usually enough—don’t over-tighten.

Step 7: Reinstall the lower cover and lower the Pilot

• Reinstall the access cover using the 10mm socket, ratchet (3/8" drive), and any clips with the flat trim clip remover (specialty).
• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift slightly, remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum), then lower the Pilot.

Step 8: Refill with new oil and verify the level

• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap.
• Use a funnel and add 0W-20 full synthetic (start with about 5.5 quarts).
• Reinstall the oil cap, start the engine for 30–60 seconds, then shut it off.
• Wait 2 minutes, then check the dipstick and top off as needed to reach the upper mark (do not overfill).
• Wipe any spilled oil with shop rags.

Step 9: Reset the oil life (Maintenance Minder)

• Path A (center screen): Use the touchscreen: Home > Settings > Vehicle > Maintenance Info > Reset.
• Path B (gauge/MID): Use steering wheel buttons to open Maintenance/Oil Life, then select reset (menu wording varies by display style).

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Start the engine and look underneath for leaks at the drain bolt and oil filter.
• 📏 Recheck the dipstick after a short 5-minute drive; top off if needed.
• ♻️ Pour used oil into a sealed container and take it (and the old filter) to an oil recycling drop-off.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹4,500-₹9,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,500-₹5,500 (parts only)

You Save: ₹2,000-₹3,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹800-₹1,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 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.