Have you checked your oil lately?!
Today the Honda Odyssey needed an oil change, and I wanted to share the process in changing it! We are planning on taking this to Seattle next month, so it needed to be done before then.
Fun fact:
It is recommended you change your oil every 3,000 miles!I have a pair of car ramps I use for such occasions, however some vehicles are just too low to make it up. ...this van included. I had to use the jack to raise it up then set the ramps under the tires, haha. Of course you don't need to raise it if you have a truck or something you can just crawl under.
I start by removing the oil cap and placing it in the hood latch, this way you can't shut the hood without putting it back on/putting oil in. This also aids in draining the oil quicker. Now, grab the correct size socket/wrench...
...locate your drain plug, and remove it. Be sure you have a drain pan underneath it!
Reinstall and tighten the drain plug after it's finished draining. Now, after that locate your oil filter. They vary in size, so it'll look like a bigger or smaller version of the one pictured.This can be done with your hand in some cases, but some people like to overtighten them, and you may need an oil filter wrench. You will need a few rags, it could get messy.
Fill your oil filter about 1/2 way so theres some in there when you start it. Also make sure when you remove the old filter that the gasket comes off with it (the black ring on top), if it is stuck on there you need to pull it off, otherwise you'll have a big mess and possibly a ruined engine. When you install the new one, hand tighten only!
Be sure to look in your owners manual or google the oil capacity of your vehicle. This particular vehicle takes 4.5 quarts.
After it is filled, reinstall the oil cap. Instead of just stopping there, go a little further. Start the vehicle for 5 seconds, turn it off, then check underneath to ensure there is no leaks. Next, pull out the dipstick and check the oil level. This is done by making sure it's between the crosshatching on the stick.
And that's it! You are good to go for another 3,000 miles! It's not a bad idea to check around while you're under there for any leaks or problems, there could be something you never knew about!
