The 2016 Honda Civic 2.0 is a phenomenal little car that is well-suited to weekend cruises down open roads or morning commutes to the office. Its comfortable interior, excellent handling, and sporty engine combine to make the Civic a wonderful choice for casual drivers and enthusiasts alike. But to keep your Honda in top form, you'll need to know its engine oil capacity—4.4 quarts.

Owning a car in this day and age isn't cheap. From

car insurance

premiums to the price of fuel and even

routine vehicle maintenance

, it can feel like your car has a never-ending appetite for money. Performing your own maintenance—like oil changes—is a slick way to save some cash—but don't forget to check your

owner's manual

for the engine oil capacity first.

If you've lost your manual or just want a little extra guidance regarding your car's oil capacity, don't stress. Today, we'll cover all the facts about your 2016 Honda Civic 2.0 engine oil capacity so you can service your vehicle like a professional.

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2016 Honda Civic 2.0 engine oil capacity

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in your 2016 Honda Civic holds 4.4 quarts or 4.2 liters of motor oil.

Before we move on, it's prudent to note the difference between your car's oil capacity and engine displacement. While

engine displacement

refers to the total 2.0-liter volume occupied by the motor's cylinders, oil capacity represents the amount of oil the engine can hold for lubrication purposes.

These two terms are completely different, and you should never use them interchangeably.

What kind of oil does a 2016 Honda Civic 2.0 take?

In addition to your car's oil capacity, you'll also need to know its oil type. That's right—not all automotive motor oil is the same, and you need to fill your Civic with the proper kind.

Instead of grabbing the first container of oil you find at the parts store, look for SAE 0W-20. That's the type of oil your owner's manual recommends using, and it's always wise to purchase the manufacturer's recommendation.

But what exactly does that mean? Don't worry—engine oil codes have relatively simple meanings, and we'll break them down so you can understand.

The "SAE" stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers. That's the group of industry pros that assign codes to motor oil. The numbers, on the other hand, describe the oil's thickness or viscosity, and they help us identify the oil's intended application.

The first number in the code—here, it's a "0"—explains how thick the oil is when your engine is cold. You can remember the first number because it's next to the "W," which means winter. The final number—" 20"—tells us how viscous the oil is once your motor is warmed up and running.

The oil's viscosity determines its use, and small numbers mean the oil is thinner—we use thin oils for automotive engines because they can move through the motor efficiently and smoothly.

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How frequently should you replace the oil on a 2016 Honda Civic 2.0?

Honda says you should replace the oil in your 2016 Civic 2.0 every 7,500 miles or at least every six months.

But you can't just change your oil every six months and then forget about it—you'll need to remember to monitor its level and condition in between changes. When you get ready to inspect your oil, keep an eye out for these signs that it needs to be replaced:

The oil looks dark brown or black (clean oil looks like dark, amber-colored honey and is semi-transparent)

Muddy, chunky, or sludgy oil

The oil is gritty or grainy

Your Civic's engine is emitting nasty odors, like oil, smoke, or burning

Your Honda's engine performance suddenly decreases

Your Civic's motor is making unusual or new noises, like knocking

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How to change your 2016 Honda Civic 2.0 oil and oil filter

Once you're sure of your Civic's oil capacity and type, you're ready to start changing it. You'll need the following tools and supplies:

A 17-millimeter socket and a ratchet wrench

Something to lift your Civic off the ground, like a jack and jack stands or ramps

A torque wrench

An oil filter wrench

Clean 0W-20 replacement oil

A new oil filter

A funnel

A towel or rag to clean the mess

A drain pan

Don't crawl under your Civic just yet—first, start it up and let it idle for around five minutes. You don't have to perform this step, but doing so will warm up the engine enough to cause the oil to drain more quickly. When your Honda is warm, shut it off and start working on the steps below.

Remove your Civic's oil fill cap and pull up the dipstick (this step removes the vacuum, which causes the oil to drain more rapidly).

Crawl under your Honda and remove its oil drain plug. Use the drain pan to contain the old oil that spills out.

While the oil is draining, remove the used oil filter.

Lubricate the new oil filter by applying a thin layer of oil to its gasket before screwing it into its housing. Remember, don't over-tighten the filter—turn it only until it feels secure, and then stop.

Replace the oil drain bolt, and use a torque wrench to tighten it to 30 lb-ft.

Fill your 2016 Honda Civic with clean 0W-20 motor oil.

Once those steps are complete, start your Civic one more time and allow it to run for 30 seconds. Then, shut it off,

use your dipstick to check the oil

, and confirm that the level is within the appropriate range.

The last step you need to complete is to recycle your old oil. To do this, transfer the dirty oil into the new oil container and return it to the auto parts store or your local recycling center.

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