The 2012 Honda CR-V uses 4.2 quarts of 0W-20 motor oil—follow these easy steps to make sure that your DIY oil change is a huge success and not a huge mess.

Written by Matt Nightingale

Reviewed by Melanie Reiff

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

2012 Honda CR-V engine oil capacity
How often to change the oil on a 2012 Honda CR-V
Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

The 2012

Honda CR-V

combines comfort and practicality, making it one of the best family SUVs around. But, if you want the CR-V to be a member of the family for a long time, you’ll need to know how much oil to put in its engine.

Keeping your vehicle in good repair is one of the most effective ways to keep your cost of ownership down, and changing your vehicle’s oil is one of the easiest things you can do to make sure your car stays in tip-top shape. But, to do it right, you’ll need to know your vehicle’s oil type and capacity.

All that information is available in your CR-V’s owner’s manual. But if your manual is not within reach, never fear:

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while we’re at it.

2012 Honda CR-V engine oil capacity

Knowing how much oil your car’s engine needs can help you extend its life by years. Too little oil can cause your engine to heat up from friction and seize. But, too much oil can have a similar effect.

All 2012 Honda CR-Vs have the same oil capacity, requiring 4.2 quarts (3.97 liters) to keep their 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines running smoothly and efficiently.

It’s important to know that oil capacity and engine displacement are not the same things. Engine displacement is the total volume of the cylinders in your car’s engine — it’s the “2.4-liter” in “2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine”. Oil capacity refers to the amount of oil your engine needs to continue running smoothly.

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What kind of oil does a 2012 Honda CR-V need?

Now that you know how much oil to use in your Honda CR-V, you need to know what kind to use. Honda recommends using 0W-20 Honda Genuine Motor Oil.

Those letters and numbers are very important to the oil selection process. The first number and letter tell you how easily the oil flows in cold weather. The lower the number, the thicker it is in winter, which is what the “W” stands for. Low viscosity means that the oil will coat and protect your vehicle in the harsh winter weather.

The second number refers to the oil’s viscosity in the hot summer months. A higher number means that the oil will get pretty thin in scorching hot weather.

Be sure to use the correct oil in your Honda CR-V. If you put the wrong oil in your engine, you may experience diminished fuel economy, diminished engine performance, and even engine breakdown.

While the 2012 Honda CR-V owner’s manual recommends 0W-20 Honda Genuine Motor Oil, you’re not necessarily restricted to it. Consider the following motor oil options for your CR-V’s specific needs:

By the manual: You can follow Honda’s specs to the letter by using

Honda Genuine Motor Oil 0W-20

For high-mileage vehicles: If your CR-V has a few more miles on it, try

10W-40 synthetic

oil.

High-quality synthetic blend: If you want to baby your CR-V give it

ACDelco SAE full synthetic 0W-20 oil

MORE: Can you mix synthetic oil with regular oil?

How often to change the oil on a 2012 Honda CR-V

Sticking to your manufacturer’s oil change schedule is important to the long-term health of your vehicle. Honda recommends changing your CR-V’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you drive less frequently, you can probably get away with changing your oil twice a year.

Conventional oil tends to break down faster than synthetic oil. If you choose to use synthetic oil, you can go a little longer between oil changes—between 7,500 and 10,000 miles.

A lot can happen between oil changes, however, so you should still keep an eye out for signs that you might need an early change. The following are some of the big ones:

Dirty motor oil: clean motor oil should look like a glass of iced tea. If it’s dark like cola, it’s time for a change.

Grimy motor oil: motor oil should be silky to the touch. Gritty oil should be changed.

Your

engine is making weird sounds

: ticking or knocking sounds coming from your engine could mean it’s time for an oil change.

Burning oil smell: burning, smokey smells indicate a potential oil problem.

Your car has lost fuel efficiency: if you find you’re filling up your car more than normal, an oil change may solve the problem.

MORE:

How much oil should come out during an oil change?

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How to change your oil and oil filter

If you’re going to change your 2012 Honda CR-V’s engine oil yourself, you’re going to need the right tools to get the job done. Stop by your local automotive store and pick up the following:

Socket wrench

Drain pan

Filter wrench

Five quarts of 0W-20 motor oil (or 10-W40 synthetic)

To begin, start your car and allow it to run for about five minutes—until it reaches normal operating temperature. Once the engine is warm, shut the car off and follow these simple steps:

Pop the hood and remove the oil fill cap.

Position the drain pan directly under the engine.

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and drain the oil.

Take out the old

oil filter

and install the new one.

Using a new washer, replace the drain bolt and tighten it to 32 pound-feet.

Put4.2 quarts of 0W-20 or 10W-40 synthetic motor into the engine.

Use your CR-V’s dipstick to ensure that you’ve used the correct quantity, then replace the fill cap. Start up your car and allow it to idle for a couple of minutes. Look for leaks and ensure that the oil light on your instrument display is off.

Once everything looks good, you’ll need to dispose of the old oil. Many cities allow you to leave the old oil with your curbside recycling. If your area doesn’t allow that, you’ll have to arrange to take the sealed container to your local recycling center.

Never dump the old oil down a drain or throw it away in your regular garbage. Motor oil can contain toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause environmental problems.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

You can avoid costly engine repairs by keeping up with regular maintenance and oil changes on your own — just a few dollars of preventative care at home could save you hundreds in the long run. You can save even more money by shopping for car insurance using the

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