With great fuel economy, a sporty driving experience, and quirky styling, the 2008 Honda Civic coupe is efficient and fun to drive. Whether you have the gas-powered version or the hybrid, you’ll have to make sure you get the oil changed every 5000 to 7500 miles—and if you’re changing the oil on your own, you’re going to need to know its oil capacity.

With a used car like the 2008 Honda Civic, repair and maintenance costs can start adding up. If you’re thinking that changing your own oil is a way to cut costs, you’re right! Doing regular maintenance on your car can make it last longer—and there’s nothing to stop you from doing the oil change right from the comfort of your garage.

Aside from your car owner’s manual,

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2008 Honda Civic engine oil capacity

Before you

change your oil

, you’re going to need to know the Civic’s oil capacity so you know how much oil to pull off the shelf at the hardware store.

Your 2008 Honda Civic will either have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, 2.0-liter four-cylinder, or a hybrid 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with a 20-hp electric motor. All of these engines have an oil capacity of 3.9 quarts or 3.7 liters.

You may think it’s odd that engines with different engine displacement numbers need the same amount of oil—but remember, the 1.8, 2.0, and 1.3 refer to how much room the engine’s cylinders take up, not how much oil it needs. Putting the wrong amount of oil into your engine can be detrimental to its performance, so make sure that you don’t confuse the oil capacity and the engine displacement numbers.

What kind of oil does a 2008 Honda Civic need?

Before you head to the hardware store, you’ll also need to know what oil type your 2008 Honda Civic needs. Some oil types function better in certain conditions, and using the wrong type can put unnecessary wear on your engine.

Honda recommends using 5W-20 oil for your 2008 Civic. Oil labels can seem like alien jargon at first, but once you know what the letters and numbers mean, decoding them is a piece of cake. Let’s look at the numbers first—they tell us how thick the oil is. The “5” means that the oil has a low viscosity at 0°F, while the 20 indicates that the oil runs thin as high as 212°F.

Now for the “W”—this letter indicates winter-ready oil. All in all, the oil label tells us that 5W-20 oil has a low viscosity in a wide range of temperatures—which is good news for your engine. If the oil had a high viscosity, it would be harder for your engine to function.

There are other considerations when choosing the best oil for your engine—should you get synthetic or conventional oil? Is high-performance oil a better choice? For your 2008 Honda Civic, your owner’s manual suggests using 5W-20 motor oil to keep your engine running at peak performance.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil on a 2008 Honda Civic

You’ve got the right type and right amount of oil—now it’s time to change your oil!

Honda recommends changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles as part of your

basic car maintenance schedule

. If your car spends a lot of time in the garage, however, you should change your oil every six months regardless of how many miles you put on.

With synthetic oil and high-performance options, you can wait longer (and put on more miles) between oil changes. It’s recommended that you change synthetic oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

It can be easy to forget how long it’s been since your last oil change. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your oil level once a month or every other time you refuel. Checking your oil can also alert you to engine problems long before other signs appear.

Here are some signs that your oil needs to be changed:

The oil is dark brown or black, similar in color to cola(Clean oil will show up as light brown or amber, more like a cup of tea.)

The oil feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar noises when you start or run the engine

Smells like oil, smoke, or burning when you run your vehicle

Noticeable changes in your vehicle’s performance

MORE:

How to check and decode a Honda VIN

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know what and how much oil to use, it’s time to plan your oil change!

If your Honda Civic is due for an oil change and you’re ready to DIY it, the first step is to prepare your tools and supplies. Gather a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench to remove the old oil filter. You’ll also need to buy a replacement filter and five quarts of manufacturer-recommended 5W-20 engine oil.

Then, run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature (about five minutes). Once your Civic is warmed up, turn off the engine.

Now, open the hood, put on your gloves and other safety equipment, and follow these steps:

Take off the oil fill cap

Place the drain pan underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer. The old oil should fall into the drain pan.

Take out the old oil filter while the oil drains

Install the new filter

Once the oil has drained, replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer. Tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Use new oil to refill the engine and replace the fill cap

The dipstick will tell you if you’ve added enough oil. Once the bolts and caps are replaced and the oil is full, run the vehicle for a few minutes to see if there are any leaks. The

oil pressure light

on your dash should turn off, indicating that the oil change was a success!

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

And don’t forget the last step: cleaning up. The old oil has to be disposed of properly—do not pour it on the ground or put it in the garbage. Seal the oil in a plastic container and bring it to a local recycling center.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

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