Anyone who owns a CRV knows how comfortable of a ride the Honda’s iconic crossover SUV provides. With proper care, your CRV will keep you rolling in stylish and affordable comfort for years! Part of that proper care is staying up to date on your oil changes.

You can always pay a mechanic to change the oil for you, but if you want to save some money, you can handle the task yourself as long as you know exactly what your Honda’s engine oil capacity is.

For that information, you can check your owner’s manual or simply read through this article—brought to you by

Jerry

, the

top-rated licensed broker

for saving money on your

car insurance

. Below, you’ll find the details on your 2012 Honda CRV’s motor oil capacity, along with everything else you’ll need to know in order to start changing your own oil.

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2012 Honda CRV engine oil capacity

Before you can start changing or adding oil to your Honda, you’ll need to know how much oil it holds. The 2012 Honda CRV has an engine oil capacity of 4.2 quarts.

You’ll likely need to buy a full five quarts, though, since motor oil is not typically sold in quantities smaller than a quart.

What kind of oil does a 2012 Honda CRV need?

Knowing that your Honda CRV needs 4.2 quarts of engine oil is a great first step toward being able to change your own oil—but there’s still more information that you’ll need. You have to use the kind with the appropriate viscosity rating.

Viscosity ratings are measurements of how thick a given type of oil is. Different vehicles need oils with different levels of viscosity in order to work correctly. Using the wrong kind could cause issues or void your vehicle warranty.

For your 2012 Honda CRV, you’ll need 0W-20 synthetic motor oil.

The 0W-20 is the viscosity rating. The 0 indicates the oil’s thickness at 0°F, also called “cold start” or “winder temperature”. The 20 indicates the oil’s thickness at 212°F, also called “normal operating temperature.”

As long as you buy a synthetic oil with that viscosity rating, you should be fine. However, if you're looking for the genuine article, it’s always easy to know the recommended oil for a Honda because Honda makes their own brand.

Honda Genuine Motor Oil 0W-20

is a safe and reliable option.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change the oil in a 2012 Honda CRV

On average, you should change the oil in your 2012 Honda CRV every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every six months—whichever comes first. You should also change your oil if you ever notice unusual smells or sounds coming from your engine during use.

On top of that, watch out for signs that your oil has gone bad when you check its level—which you should do at least once a month.

Here are some of the most common signs that your oil needs changing:

The oil level has dropped more rapidly than normal (could be a clue that you have an oil leak)

The oil has changed colors from light brown to very dark brown or black

The oil has visible debris in it

The oil feels course or gritty

Your

engine is making unfamiliar sounds

MORE:

How to find your Honda CR-V radio code

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know when to change your oil, how much oil to use, and what level of viscosity your Honda needs, it’s time to learn how to change your oil! Don’t worry, it’s much easier than you might think.

First, make sure that you have five quarts of fresh 0W-20 synthetic oil, a drain pan, a filter wrench, a socket wrench, and a clean rag to wipe up any spills. Then, just follow these steps:

Start your CRV’s engine and allow it to run until it reaches normal operating temperature.

Shut off the engine, pop the hood, then locate and remove the oil fill cap.

Slide yourself underneath the engine bay. Locate and remove the oil drain bolt. Make sure you have the drain pan in place—the oil will begin draining immediately.

While you wait for the oil to drain, remove the old

oil filter

. Wait until all the oil has completely drained and then install the new filter.

Reattach the oil drain bolt and tighten it securely. Then, add the fresh motor oil to the engine.

Once the oil is refilled, replace the fill cap, wipe up any spilled oil and run your engine for a few minutes to check for leaks.

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.

Finally, clean up by storing your tools and leftover materials and pouring the old oil into an old water bottle or milk jug—you’ll need to drop it off at a recycling center when you get the chance.

Using those simple steps, you’ll be able to change your own oil from now on, which should save you a lot of money over time.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Just like your 2012 Honda CRV needs

regular oil changes and maintenance

, the auto insurance policy that you have for it also needs some regular housekeeping.

Staying on top of your annual review can save you hundreds on

the cost of car insurance

. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a time-consuming and tedious task—that’s why

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