The 2017 Acura MDX requires 5.7 quarts of 0W-20 fully synthetic oil to keep its V6 engine running smoothly. If you own a 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, however, you’ll only need 4.5 quarts of oil.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, changing out your engine oil on your own can help save you costs at the mechanic—and it’s fairly easy to do! That said, it’s crucial to make sure you use the correct oil type and amount for your specific vehicle. Using the wrong oil on that luxury MDX can cause severe damage to your engine and powertrain system.

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2017 Acura MDX engine oil capacity

So exactly how much engine oil does the 2017 Acura MDX take? It depends on your engine.

If you have the 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers the Standard, Technology, and Advance packages, you’ll need 5.7 quarts of oil or 5.4 liters. Should you ever need to change your oil without changing the filter, you’ll only need 5.4 quarts of oil or 5.1 liters.

If you have the smaller 3.0-liter V6 that powers the Sport Hybrid (along with three electric motors), you’ll only need 4.5 quarts or 4.3 liters to change your oil. Without a filter change, this engine takes 4.2 quarts or 4.0 liters.

Note that the “liters” describing your engine (in this case, 3.5 or 3.0) refer to engine displacement and should not be confused with oil capacity. Your engine displacement number tells you how much volume the cylinders take up, which is not interchangeable with how much oil your engine needs.

What kind of oil does a 2017 Acura MDX need?

While the amount of oil your 2017 Acura MDX takes varies by engine, the type of oil it takes does not. According to Acura’s manufacturer recommendation, you will need API premium grade 0W-20 fully synthetic motor oil for both the gas-powered and the hybrid MDX.

What do those digits mean? Though oil grade numbers may appear random, they’re actually encoding useful information about your oil’s viscosity in changing temperatures.

In the first section, the “W” stands for “winter”, and the number “0” means that the oil keeps a low viscosity at freezing temperatures. The “20” indicates that the oil holds onto a higher viscosity when the engine is very hot. “API” just signifies that the oil has an American Petroleum Institute certification seal.

Generally, you want an oil to stay thin in the winter when cold temperatures might naturally thicken it too much, and you want it to stay thick in the summer when heat might naturally thin it out too much. By regulating oil viscosity in this way, your engine can keep up optimal lubrication at any temperature, which preserves its health.

So what is synthetic oil? Essentially, synthetic oil is chemically engineered to have fewer impurities and more uniformity in shape and viscosity than conventional oil. It costs more because of this, but it typically gives you better engine protection and requires you to change the oil less frequently.

If you’re shopping for 2017 Acura MDX motor oil and you’re not sure what to buy, here are some highly-rated options to get you started:

Manufacturer’s choice: If you want to go exactly by the book, Acura recommends using

Acura Genuine Motor Oil

For long-distance commuters: If you’re a high-mileage driver and you’d prefer having more time between oil changes, try

Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife Technology

For better fuel economy: If you own a Sport Hybrid or just want to focus on improved fuel efficiency, you can give

Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy

a shot

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change the oil on a 2017 Acura MDX

Now that you know how much and what type of oil your 2017 Acura MDX needs, it’s time to get your hands dirty with a proper

oil change

But how frequently should you be doing one? This depends on whether you opted for conventional oil or synthetic oil. Acura suggests that you change conventional oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, while synthetic oil can be changed every 7,500 to 10,000 miles instead.

If you aren’t driving your MDX very often, a good rule of thumb is to change out the oil every six months to make sure that it’s clean and functional when you do hit the road. Even if you are piling up mileage, Acura recommends checking your oil level every time you refuel to ensure that the levels are good and that the oil looks healthy.

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

The color appears black or dark brown (clean oil is translucent and amber in color, like tea, whereas dirty oil is more opaque,like dark ink).

The oil feels gritty in texture when you rub it between your fingers.

Your engine has been vibrating while idling or knocking while accelerating (always have a professional mechanic take a look if you’re concerned).

You can smell oil or exhaust fumes, indicating your engine may be overheating (schedule maintenance asap in this case).

Your fuel efficiency has decreased.

You’ve recently put a lot of mileage on your MDX.

MORE:

The most common Acura problems

How to change your oil and oil filter

So it’s been several thousand miles since your last oil change, and signs are saying your oil is dirty. Time to grab a socket wrench, drain pan, and filter wrench, and get started on changing your Acura MDX’s oil. Don’t forget to grab a replacement filter and one or two 5-quart bottles of 0W-20 engine oil.

Before you jump in, it’s important to let the engine run until it hits its normal operating temperature. This should take about five minutes in mild weather. Then turn it off, pop the hood, and follow these steps:

Take off the oil fill cap.

Under the vehicle, locate the drain bolt and washer on the bottom of the engine, and position a drain pan underneath.

Remove the bolt and washer and let the oil drain.

As the oil continues draining, stoop back under the hood, and remove the old oil filter using the filter wrench.

Make sure the engine gasket isn’t stuck to the engine contact surface, and wipe away any dirt and dust.

Install the new filter (apply a layer of new engine oil to the filter gasket).

Put a new washer on the drain bolt. Tighten it to 29 lb-ft using the socket wrench.

Pour the new oil into the engine, and replace the oil fill cap.

Start the engine up again once you’ve finished and let it run for a few minutes, checking under and around your vehicle for any leaks. After about three minutes, turn off the engine and check your oil levels using the dipstick—add more oil if you need to. The oil pressure indicator light should turn off if you’ve done everything correctly.

Remember: to avoid damaging the environment, dispose of your old oil in a sealed container at a local recycling center. Don’t just throw it into the trash!

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Congrats! You’ve successfully changed your 2017 Acura MDX’s oil and saved yourself some money by doing it on your own.

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