i was thinking about changing my oil on my own when it comes time but ive never done it before. i hear it is fairly quick and easy so why not save a few bucks and time. i was wondering if anyone had pictures or step by step instructions that could help me out with what i need to buy and the tools ill need.

thanks for the help

Do you have an owners manual?

There are detailed instructions along with drawings that show how to do this and other things.

thanks ill have to take a look when i have time. surprises me that they would put them in there lol

This is a very easy car to change the oil on. Everything is easily accessible. All you really need is a drain pan, socket wrench, oil and filter. So easy, a caveman could do it. :D

Very important to have the correct socket or box wrench that fits EXACTLY on the oil pan bolt. I believe it is 17mm. It's quite possible to damage the bolt and then you have problems. Expect it to be on tight and you need to get good "square" leverage on it to turn it. You MUST use the crush washer and be careful not to overtighten the bolt when you put it back in. Good idea to have/get a torque wrench if you plan to do this ongoing.

I know this is for a Civic, but you get the idea.....
http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/engine/18649-oil-change-diy.html

if any of you know how much is it gonna run me to get the tools and supplies i need.

i guess ill need ramps
crush washer
oil
oil filter
oil filter wrench
torque wrench?
and some kind of oil disposal container


am i forgetting anything?

none of these seem overly expensive but seems like the cost could add up for the first time.

Don't think you'll need a ramp. I just use a jack. You will need are wheel chucks tho. Torque wrench, don't need. You might not even need a oil filter wrench, but get one just in case.

what type of oil do you recommend. car has 121000 miles should i look for something like vavoline max life? or just regular?

most people say torque wrench. im a little afraid of tightening the drain bolt too much or leaving it too loose any tips on that?

what are wheel chucks. lots of questions i know

For a car with high mileage, I used Castrol High Mileage 5/20. As far as the drain plug just tighten it with you wrench, it should be fine. When you remove the old oil filter make sure you check to see if the rubber ring is on the old filter, other wise if you install the new filter with the old rubber ring oil may leak out. Also some ppl pour some oil into the new filter b4 installing it. And make sure b4 you install the new filter that you lube the rugger ring with new oil. The wheel chuck go behind the rear tire so that the car will not roll back. More a safety thing. Did you see the link i gave you.
http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/engine/18649-oil-change-diy.html
This is a pretty good DIY.....

When you remove the old oil filter make sure you check to see if the rubber ring is on the old filter, other wise if you install the new filter with the old rubber ring oil may leak out.

I'm guessing most oil changers don't know or care about that one...not me. Many years ago I volunteered to do an oil change on my girl's car. I was extra careful to not let a drop of oil hit the ground since I was doing it at her parent's house. When I was done she started the car and I saw oil under the car. I got back under and saw that it was coming from the filter, so I gave it another 1/4 turn. I was about to tell her to turn the key when it hit me that the filter should have been tight enough when I first put it on. I grabbed the old filter and saw that the :censored: ring wasn't there.

yeah that thread over on 8th civic is very helpful.

wait is the rubber ring part of the filter or the system. meaning take the rubber ring off the old filter and put it onto the new filter or will it just come on on the new filter.

should i just buy a filter at a place like autozone or at the dealership

You don't need an oil filter wrench. The oil filter is supposed to be hand tightened.

Don't think you'll need a ramp. I just use a jack. You will need are wheel chucks tho. Torque wrench, don't need. You might not even need a oil filter wrench, but get one just in case.

Use Ramps as they are safer. Use both feet, one for the gas and one for the brake. Dont forget to use the parking brake. If you use a jack/jackstands, all sorts of things can go wrong...

wait is the rubber ring part of the filter or the system. meaning take the rubber ring off the old filter and put it onto the new filter or will it just come on on the new filter.

should i just buy a filter at a place like autozone or at the dealership

Your old and new filter each have a rubber ring on the open end (you'll see). You don't reuse the old ring and 99.9% of the time the old ring stays on the old filter when you remove it from the car. In my case the old filter's ring stayed on the car...and I didn't notice.

Yes, you can go to any chain like autozone and they'll hook you up with most of what you'll need - oil, filter, filter wrench, jack + stands, etc. Buy a Haynes manual for your Accord while you're there. Your local dealer will have the crush washers (they're cheap) needed for the drain plug.

alright sounds good i really appreciate all the information you have given me guys.

I wouldn't consider 120K miles +/- to be high mileage on a properly maintained Honda. High-mileage oils are mostly marketing tactics. If you look at the used oil analyses on Bobistheoilguy.com you'll see Hinda engines doing very well on many oils, including regular Pennzoil (yellow bottle), Exxon SuperFlo, Texaco Havoline...all good oils. We ran Pennzoil regular and Pennzoil Platinum in our 02 Accord V-6, used oil analyses for both were good at 6,000 miles or so (we do 2/3 highway driving). We're running Renewable Lubricants Bio-Syn in our 03 Accord, the analysis was amazing, just an outstanding oil, made with vegetable oil as the base stock.

bump.

on that civic diy it says to reset the oil life monitor. does the 02 accord coupe have one? i dont think it does but am i wrong?

bump.

on that civic diy it says to reset the oil life monitor. does the 02 accord coupe have one? i dont think it does but am i wrong?

No, it came out in 06 on the Accords. You do have a maintenance needed light which simply comes on every so many miles. You may also want to learn how to do a atf drain and fill while doing your oil changes. Its just as easy as an oil change and should save you big $$$ by doing it yourself.

yeah the maintenance light is easy to take care of. i think i only have around 3 or 4000 on it since the transmission fluid was replaced but i will look into that as well when it comes time

thanks

You may also want to learn how to do a atf drain and fill while doing your oil changes. Its just as easy as an oil change and should save you big $$$ by doing it yourself.

No doubt - my dealer charges $85 for one drain/refill. :eek:

The only problem with changing your own oil, other than the ones mentioned above, is properly disposing of the old oil. In my opinion, it's worth the $25 or so to have the Honda dealer change the oil and filter. You won't have to worry about the car falling off the jack onto you, or over torquing the drain plug, or spilling oil from the filter, or disposing of the oil properly. Your hands will not get scrapped up or dirty.

As for changing oil yourself, there are usually oil drop off points where you can dispose of your oil for free. Just dump the oil from the drain pan into a milk jug and haul it away. I don't mind getting my hands dirty and the less I have to take the car to the dealer the better. I have also seen drain plugs stripped to sh*t by quick lube places and I have also heard horror stories about cars not getting the correct oil filter put on, etc. The dealer just seems to be too expensive and too much of a pain.

yeah you can even take it to a place like autozone to dispose which is in my town rather than 30 mins to the dealership to get serviced. my dealership usually overbooks and i have to wait forever.

Use Ramps as they are safer. Use both feet, one for the gas and one for the brake. Dont forget to use the parking brake. If you use a jack/jackstands, all sorts of things can go wrong...

I really disagree.

I've driven my 96 Accord off of a ramp because it slid in my garage. Oh boy what fun that was.

Using a hydraulic jack, then placing jackstands at the front or rear (or both) is much safer IMO. Jackstands lock into place and as long as you are on a flat surface you should be good to go.

JMO

All the Honda dealers in my area have a quick oil change department. They will give you the oil change for free if it takes longer than 45 minutes.

All the Honda dealers in my area have a quick oil change department. They will give you the oil change for free if it takes longer than 45 minutes.

How do u really, know that really changed the filter? And Used What kind of oil?

i dont know about anyone else but i get more of a feeling of satisfaction when i work and repair things on my own rather than have someone else do it. thats why i intend to start. gonna change it for the first time next week as well as brakes and rotors:thmsup:

If you're just doing oil changes I would recommend ramps over jack and jack stands. I like ramps for when I just need to get under the car because
a) It's faster
b) It's cheaper
c) Chances are the car will roll away from you instead of crushing you in the event something goes awry.

Although you have to make sure you chock the wheels, and make sure that before you take the car off the ramps that you remove what's obstructing the car. Or else you'll shoot the ramps out from underneath the car...possibly destroying shelving units and a stereo in your garage...:paranoid:

However, if you plan on doing brakes, etc. you might want to invest in a jack and jack stands. Jack stands are probably my favorite in general, just make sure you don't work under a car supported only by a jack, and if possible put a tire next to a stand for added insurance.

Oil filter wrenches are used to get the old filter off, not to put one on.
Additionally, make sure you have a container to drain the oil into

The only problem with changing your own oil, other than the ones mentioned above, is properly disposing of the old oil. In my opinion, it's worth the $25 or so to have the Honda dealer change the oil and filter. You won't have to worry about the car falling off the jack onto you, or over torquing the drain plug, or spilling oil from the filter, or disposing of the oil properly. Your hands will not get scrapped up or dirty.

OTOH...you'll know that the work was actually done and done right. You also get to visually inspect the underside of your car while you're down there. If you don't want scraped/dirty hands buy a cheap box of latex gloves - works great.

well im finally home for break from school and got to change the oil. i was amazed how easy it was. the only difficult part was taking the oil drain plug out honda had it in there very tight (last to change the oil). i used a filter wrench to get the filter loose which was actually pretty easy. after mine i then changed the oil on my sisters 03 civic. just as easy but a little more annoying due to where the filter is located.

next on the list is new brakes and rotors as well as removing my intake resonator.

thanks for the help guys:thmsup: