The 2007 Honda Pilot gives you a lot—an affordable SUV that can go off-road and tow over 3,000 pounds or take a small crowd on the road. To help keep your SUV in top performance, you need to know the engine oil capacity is 4.5 quarts.

Owning an SUV comes with expenses, from

car insurance

maintenance

. If you want to save a little green, you can change the oil yourself—just make sure you know what the owner’s manual recommends for the oil type and capacity before you start!

If the manual is in that alternate dimension where all lost items end up, or you just want info about oil capacity, we have the specs you need on your Pilot.

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2007 Honda Pilot engine oil capacity

Before you start, you need to know how much oil your 2007 Honda Pilot takes.

The 2007 Pilot’s 3.5 L V6 engine has a 4.5 quarts (4.3 liters) oil capacity. The oil capacity is different from the engine’s displacement, 3.5 liters, since that number refers to how much volume the engine’s six cylinders take up. Oil capacity tells you how much oil you need to change the oil—you don’t want to mix the two up.

What kind of oil does a 2007 Honda Pilot need?

Besides knowing your 2007 Pilot needs 4.5 quarts, you also want to think about what oil to use. Based on Honda’s recommendation, look for

Honda Pilot Engine Oil Genuine 5W-20

—it’s best to follow their advice since it’s specific to the Pilot’s engine.

But what does all that mishmash mean? The numbers are the oil’s viscosity (how thick it is), and W refers to Winter. A 5W means the oil can work down to -22°F, so it’s great for the cold. The 20 tells you the oil can go up to about 70°F, so the oil is meant for colder regions.

Look for an SAE seal when you buy motor oil because it refers to the Society of Automotive Engineers, an organization that makes sure everyone uses the same standards for viscosity.

Most options are synthetic blends or full synthetic, so the oil uses either all chemically combined ingredients or adds refined oil to control the characteristics of the oil. It allows the manufacturer to create a better product.

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How often to change the oil on a 2007 Honda Pilot

You also want to think about when to

change your oil

For a 2007 Honda Pilot, change the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if using conventional oil. Even if your vehicle spends a lot of time in the garage instead of on the road, you want to refresh the oil every six months. If using synthetic oil, then you can go every 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes.

Of course, the “when” also depends on your driving habits. You want to check your oil regularly (about once a month or every other time you need to gas up). You should also watch for signs the oil needs changing:

Your oil is a dark brown or black—new oil is amber or light brown

The oil has a coarse or gritty look to it

The engine sounds loud or starts making odd noises

Anything that smells like smoke or other unpleasant odors from the engine

Your vehicle’s performance starts changing

The warning light comes on

It’s always better to check if you suspect something is wrong, especially since low oil levels or dirty oil harms your engine.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

If it’s time to change the oil, you’ll want a few items on hand, including a socket wrench, a drain pan, a filter wrench, and a replacement filter. Of course, don’t forget five quarts of Honda Pilot Engine Oil Genuine 5W-20 while you’re at it. Extras like a funnel, disposable gloves, and shop towels don’t hurt either.

Let the engine warm up by running it for about five minutes. Turn off the engine once it's at average operating temperature. It’s easier to change the oil if you drive the vehicle onto car ramps or have it on a

car jack

—just be sure the SUV is secure before you get under the vehicle. Once everything is ready, do the following:

Pop open the hood and take off the oil fill cap

Slide under the engine with your tools on hand, take off the oil drain bolt and washer, and drain the used oil into the drain pan

Take out the old filter while the oil drains—make sure the gasket isn’t left behind

Rub a tiny amount of clean oil onto the gasket to help it not stick, then install the new filter

Put the oil drain bolt back on with a new washer and tighten the bolt

Add that 4.5 quarts of new oil up top using the funnel, then put the fill cap back on

You’ll want to run your car for about 30 seconds to warm it up and let the new oil distribute throughout the engine. Once you’ve done that, check the oil level using the dipstick and add oil if needed.

Watch out for any leaks while the vehicle is running. The

oil pressure light

should turn off on your dashboard if everything is good to go.

Now to take care of the old oil—be sure you don’t just dump the used oil on the ground or in the garbage. Remember that it’s a safety and fire hazard, so you want to place it in a sealed container, then take it to your local recycling center to get rid of it the right way.