Oil Change

I bought a 2005 Honda Pilot EX-L
Now I want to do oil change by myself.

Could you please tell me:

1. What kind of Oil I should use?
2. Where is the oil filter? Under the Car? Do I need any special tool
to replace the oil filter?

Thank you very much!!!!


David

 

i'm loathe to advise you do /anything/ to this vehicle until you locate
the owners manual. and read it.

 

Any name brand of 5W-20 oil should be suitable. Exxon Superflo seems to
be nearly identical to Honda branded oil (in the US). Get fresh stock
with GF-4 noted on the label.

Oil filter is under the car and you will want a small sized oil filter
strap wrench for removing it.

Also of course you need the usual oil change supplies and a correct way
to dispose of the used oil and filter. In our area the curbside
recycling pickup offers used oil bottles (look like milk jugs) and
special bags for the old filter.

John

 

Do you have an owner's manual? It will tell you what oil to
use. Or you can call your local dealer's service center and
ask them. (I'm betting they'll say to use synthetic, for one
thing.) The manual will also give you steps for changing the
oil, possibly with drawings.

I would buy an OEM filter from an online parts site (like
the one below) or the dealer. Then go to Wal-Mart or Pep
Boys and buy a cap filter wrench that fits the new filter
you just bought. (It should fit the filter on your car, too.
Different makes of filter may require different wrench
sizes, even for the same car.)

With the new filter in hand, go looking for it on your
Pilot. It may or may not be the same color. The shape should
be identical, though. From the site below, it looks like
you'll have to get under the car to get to the old filter.
If so, I recommend buying a pair of "Rhino ramps" for oil
change jobs. These are heavy-duty plastic ramps onto which
one drives the front of one's car, to raise the front and
give the technician plenty of room to work. I'd say for most
cars, they're darn near essential. They're about $20 to $30
at Autozone and Wal-Mart. (Last I noticed, I think Autozone
had the best deal in town.)

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.
jsp?inputstate=5&catcgry1=Pilot&catcgry2=2005&catcgry3=5DR+E
XL&catcgry4=KA5AT&catcgry5=OIL+PUMP-OIL+STRAINER+%282%29
(item 9 is the filter)

 

Although the old one may be fatter- IIRC it was less than a year ago Honda
changed to the new, slimmer filters.

Mike

 

That's unusual. I don't change oil any longer because you have find a auto
parts store that takes the oil and then pay them. So, unless you enjoy
changing oil, you really don't save anything over the $20.00 charged by your
local Honda dealer. And, you have proof of service as well.

 

Recycling considerations must vary a lot by location. Here in Arizona I
believe it is a requirement for any place that sells oil to take used oil in
for recycling, free of charge. All the chains take recycle oil and most
advertise it to attract traffic into the store. I take mine to Checker and
buy oil there - fair is fair. I also get to have a look under the car and
not have to schedule anything.

Mike

 

same thing up here in Manitoba Canada they have to take it for free, in fact
one shop I know of uses the recycled oil to heat their shop. He runs it
through some kind of filter and then burns it.

dunno if this is a clean way to get rid of it though.... but he says he saves
about $3000 a month in heating.

t

 

My understanding is that most recycled oil ends up in heating oil, so he
probably isn't off the beam. There is some concern about suspended heavy
metals (particularly cadmium) but I don't see how that applies to engine
oil.

Mike

 

These are pretty common in areas where regulations allow them. See:

http://www.wasteoilboiler.net/waste_oil_boiler_home.html

John

 

i'm surprised it's allowed. some of the antioxidants used in motor oil
in the u.s. are not only banned everywhere else, but their disposal is
supposed to be regulated. not to mention wear products like lead.

 

Where does the lead come from?

Mike