🔧 Pilot - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Pilot with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the V6 engine’s internal parts and helps maintain fuel economy, timing system life, and overall reliability.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-75 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool or slightly warm engine only. Hot oil can burn skin.
• ⚠️ Support your Pilot with jack stands if lifting it. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the exhaust and underbody panels. Wipe spills right away.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves. Used oil is messy and can irritate skin.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this oil change.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 17mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Oil drain pan 8-quart minimum
• Long-neck funnel
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 5.7 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Pilot on level ground and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels before lifting the front.
• 🌡️ Let the engine cool for 10-20 minutes if it was recently driven. Warm oil drains faster, but it should not be hot.
• 📘 A crush washer is a soft sealing washer that gets replaced each oil change to help prevent leaks.
• 🔧 A torque wrench tightens bolts to an exact tightness, which helps prevent stripped threads or leaks.
• 📱 Oil life reset will be done from the instrument cluster using the steering wheel controls after the oil change.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise And Secure The Front

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the front of your Pilot at the front center jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the front side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Give the vehicle a small shake by hand to confirm it is stable before going underneath.
• Never crawl under a jack-only vehicle.

Step 2: Remove The Lower Access Cover

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver and trim clip removal tool to remove the clips or fasteners from the lower engine access cover if equipped.
• Set the clips aside in a cup or tray so they do not get lost.

Step 3: Remove The Oil Filler Cap

• Open the hood and remove the engine oil filler cap by hand.
• Pull the engine oil dipstick slightly upward by hand.
• This lets air enter the engine so the old oil drains more smoothly.

Step 4: Drain The Engine Oil

• Place the oil drain pan 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug.
• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the drain plug by hand while pressing it inward slightly, then pull it away quickly to reduce splashing.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug by hand or with a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Watch for wind moving the oil stream.

Step 5: Reinstall The Drain Plug

• Wipe the drain plug and oil pan sealing surface with shop towels.
• Install the new engine oil drain plug crush washer onto the drain plug by hand.
• Thread the drain plug into the oil pan by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Remove The Old Oil Filter

• Move the oil drain pan 8-quart minimum under the oil filter area.
• Use the oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil filter counterclockwise.
• Once loose, spin the oil filter off by hand.
• Check that the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter.
• A gasket is the rubber sealing ring on the filter that prevents leaks.
• Double gaskets cause major oil leaks.

Step 7: Install The New Oil Filter

• Use a gloved finger to lightly coat the new oil filter gasket with fresh 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.
• Thread the new oil filter onto the engine by hand until the gasket touches the mounting surface.
• Tighten the filter by hand an additional 3/4 turn after gasket contact.
• If using the oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench, tighten carefully.
• Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Reinstall The Lower Access Cover

• Use the trim clip removal tool and flat-blade screwdriver to reinstall the lower engine access cover clips or fasteners.
• Make sure the cover is flat and secure so it does not rattle or drag.

Step 9: Lower The Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower your Pilot slowly to the ground with the floor jack.

Step 10: Refill The Engine Oil

• Place the long-neck funnel into the oil filler opening.
• Pour in about 5.3 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil first.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap by hand.
• Push the dipstick fully back into place by hand.

Step 11: Start The Engine And Check For Leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Turn the engine off and wait 3-5 minutes for oil to settle.
• Use shop towels to inspect around the drain plug and oil filter for leaks.
• If a leak is seen at the drain plug, use the 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to verify 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).
• If a leak is seen at the filter, use the oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute and tighten only slightly.

Step 12: Set The Final Oil Level

• Pull the dipstick out by hand and wipe it with shop towels.
• Reinsert it fully, then pull it out again to read the oil level.
• Add oil through the long-neck funnel in small amounts until the level reaches the upper mark.
• Total refill with filter is about 5.7 quarts, but always use the dipstick as the final check.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap and dipstick by hand.

Step 13: Reset The Oil Life Monitor

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Use the steering wheel information buttons to display Engine Oil Life on the instrument cluster.
• Press and hold the RESET button or center selector until the oil life reset screen appears.
• Select Reset, then confirm until oil life shows 100%.
• Turn the ignition OFF.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and confirm the oil pressure warning light turns off within a few seconds.
• ✅ Check under your Pilot again for leaks after the first short drive.
• ✅ Recheck oil level on level ground after 5-10 minutes of engine-off time.
• ✅ Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an approved recycling center or auto parts store.
• ✅ Write down the mileage and date of the oil change.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$80 (parts only)

You Save: $45-$80 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.4-0.7 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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